Tuuli Haapio

In Tuuli Haapio’s exhibition, we dive under the surface of design work: examining the processes of pattern and surface design and product and package illustrations. During her career, Haapio has made a great deal of surface materials, such as wallpapers and tiles, as well as decorating fabrics; carpets, home textiles and upholstery fabrics. Haapio always starts designing the elements based on a concept or a story, even if the end result is a more abstract one. In recent years, she has been especially interested in patterns with a three-dimensional material-based manufacturing process, where 3D-imaging has been utilized at the planning stage. 

The exhibition Under the Surface features patterns from a wallpaper collection designed for Dutch Moooi. Memento Moooi, made in licensing partnership with Moooi and Belgian Arte, was launched in 2022, and the new Green House collection in April 2024 during Milan Design Week. The patterns in the Green House collection are stylized plant and floral motifs reflecting the living environment of the insects inspiring the work. 

In addition to finished products, the exhibition includes samples of the design process: technical and pattern sketches as well as colour samples. The designer’s work is often very organic and requires close cooperation with the manufacturers. Sometimes, the vision is easily realized, sometimes it requires a longer development process and dozens of versions. 

Tuuli Haapio (b. 1982, Hyvinkää), who holds an MA in Textile Arts from Aalto University and a BA in Visual Communication, has worked multiple years at H&M’s headquarters in Stockholm and as a print and concept designer in Amsterdam. In 2015, she joined Dutch designer Marcel Wanders’ studio, where she worked on projects for prestigious global brands, advancing to senior designer and project leader roles.

Today, she leads Haapio Creative from her hometown of Helsinki.

@haapiocreative

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