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Oona Mäkelä

Hi! I’m Oona Mäkelä and I work as an illustrator, print designer and graphic designer.
You’ll recognise my work by its skillful linework, interesting and vivid colour combinations and a good dose of humour. In my work I prefer to use brush and a pen nib dipped in black ink. Besides drawing on paper I'm fluent in digital working, for example vector.

In Finland I'm represented by Napa Agency. Please don't hesitate to get in touch – let's see how I can help you!

Print design, animation, poster design, event identities, branding, visual update, editorial illustration.

City of Helsinki, Nanso, Makia, Samuji, Vegemessut, Stockmann, Finnish Design Shop, Kustantamo S&S, Helsingin Sanomat, Grafia ry, MKB Lägenhet, Kuvittaja magazine, Marketing Finland, Libero magazine

Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home

Sense of Space exhibition

Click to see more about the project.

Concept Illustrative art +4
Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home
Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home
Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home
Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home
Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home
Sense of Space exhibition

A series of illustrations that were exhibited under the name The Sense of Space at Galleria Kuvitus in 2024.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Architecture Arts and Culture Design Home
Green city / Honor kilpailutyö

My entry for the design competition by Honor. My illustration depicts a sustainable and ecological city.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Video illustration Animals Animation Architecture City Nature Society

Green city / Honor kilpailutyö

Click to see more about the project.

Concept Illustrative art +7
Green city / Honor kilpailutyö

My entry for the design competition by Honor. My illustration depicts a sustainable and ecological city.

Motion design by Senne Marquenie.

Concept Illustrative art Video illustration Animals Animation Architecture City Nature Society
The Science Forum

The 2025 visual identity for the bilingual Science Forum. The identity consists of a poster and materials for social media for the different university towns.

Branding Character art Event concept-design Knowledge visualization Marketing Poster Social Media Arts and Culture Design History Nature People Politics Science and technology Society Wellbeing

The Science Forum

Click to see more about the project.

Branding Character art +14
The Science Forum

The 2025 visual identity for the bilingual Science Forum. The identity consists of a poster and materials for social media for the different university towns.

Branding Character art Event concept-design Knowledge visualization Marketing Poster Social Media Arts and Culture Design History Nature People Politics Science and technology Society Wellbeing
The Science Forum

The 2025 visual identity for the bilingual Science Forum. The identity consists of a poster and materials for social media for the different university towns.

Branding Character art Event concept-design Knowledge visualization Marketing Poster Social Media Arts and Culture Design History Nature People Politics Science and technology Society Wellbeing
Season's Greetings / Finnish Design Shop

Finnish Design Shop commissioned a greeting card to send to their clients and collaborators for Christmas.

Paper product Postcard Social Media Christmas

Season's Greetings / Finnish Design Shop

Click to see more about the project.

Paper product Postcard +2
Season's Greetings / Finnish Design Shop

Finnish Design Shop commissioned a greeting card to send to their clients and collaborators for Christmas.

Paper product Postcard Social Media Christmas
Visual identity / Elab

Visual identity for the Japanese Tokyo based Elab that runs a restaurant as well as workshops based on green values.  The identity consists of a number of small illustrations about the company and hand-written alphabet. Here shown a tenugui – a traditional Japanese multi-use textile – with illustrations printed on it.

Branding Pattern Animals Design Family Food Home Humor Nature People

Visual identity / Elab

Click to see more about the project.

Branding Pattern +8
Visual identity / Elab

Visual identity for the Japanese Tokyo based Elab that runs a restaurant as well as workshops based on green values.  The identity consists of a number of small illustrations about the company and hand-written alphabet. Here shown a tenugui – a traditional Japanese multi-use textile – with illustrations printed on it.

Branding Pattern Animals Design Family Food Home Humor Nature People
Tenant's rights / MKB Lägenhet

Illustrations about the tenant’s rights. Made in collaboration with the Swedish branding agency Garbergs for the client is MKB Lägenhet.

Branding Character art Concept Cover art Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Paper product Social Media City Family Home People

Tenant's rights / MKB Lägenhet

Click to see more about the project.

Branding Character art +11
Tenant's rights / MKB Lägenhet

Illustrations about the tenant’s rights. Made in collaboration with the Swedish branding agency Garbergs for the client is MKB Lägenhet.

Branding Character art Concept Cover art Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Paper product Social Media City Family Home People
Tenant's rights / MKB Lägenhet

Illustrations about the tenant’s rights. Made in collaboration with the Swedish branding agency Garbergs for the client is MKB Lägenhet.

Branding Character art Concept Cover art Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Paper product Social Media City Family Home People
Together / Napa Agency

Background image celebrating the International Women’s day.

Character art Concept Illustrative art Emotions Family Love People Politics Society Wellbeing Youth

Together / Napa Agency

Click to see more about the project.

Character art Concept +9
Japanese Pine / Samuji

Japanese Pine print for Samuji SS24 collection. The print was inspired by trimmed Japanese pines.

Photos © Samuji

Pattern Nature

Japanese Pine / Samuji

Click to see more about the project.

Pattern Nature
Japanese Pine / Samuji

Japanese Pine print for Samuji SS24 collection. The print was inspired by trimmed Japanese pines.

Photos © Samuji

Pattern Nature
Varret print / Samuji

Varret print for Samuji’s AW23 collection.

Photos © Samuji

Pattern Design Fashion Nature

Varret print / Samuji

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Pattern Design +2
Varret print / Samuji

Varret print for Samuji’s AW23 collection.

Photos © Samuji

Pattern Design Fashion Nature
Cosmetics advent calendar / Stockmann

Illustration for the popular annual advent calendar from Stockmann.

Advent Calendar Illustrative art Christmas City Festivities

Cosmetics advent calendar / Stockmann

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Advent Calendar Illustrative art +3
Cosmetics advent calendar / Stockmann

Illustration for the popular annual advent calendar from Stockmann.

Advent Calendar Illustrative art Christmas City Festivities
Advent Calendar / Kulkurit Ry

Advent calendar for the rescue dog organisation Kulkurit. The project is a pro bono collaboration.

Advent Calendar Animals Christmas Festivities Holidays Nature

Advent Calendar / Kulkurit Ry

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Advent Calendar Animals +4
Product Sustainability / Finnish Design Shop

A series of illustrations for Finnish Design Shop that are in use on the website, giving information about the products on sale.

Branding Character art Concept Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Design People

Product Sustainability / Finnish Design Shop

Click to see more about the project.

Branding Character art +6
Product Sustainability / Finnish Design Shop

A series of illustrations for Finnish Design Shop that are in use on the website, giving information about the products on sale.

Branding Character art Concept Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Design People
Product Sustainability / Finnish Design Shop

A series of illustrations for Finnish Design Shop that are in use on the website, giving information about the products on sale.

Branding Character art Concept Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Design People
Product Sustainability / Finnish Design Shop

A series of illustrations for Finnish Design Shop that are in use on the website, giving information about the products on sale.

Branding Character art Concept Illustrative art Knowledge visualization Marketing Design People
Editorial / Kuvittaja magazine

Editorials for Kuvittaja magazine from 2024 to 2025.

Editorial Illustrative art Journalism Knowledge visualization Architecture City People Science and technology Society Wellbeing Work

Editorial / Kuvittaja magazine

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Editorial Illustrative art +9
Editorial / Kuvittaja magazine

Editorials for Kuvittaja magazine from 2024 to 2025.

Editorial Illustrative art Journalism Knowledge visualization Architecture City People Science and technology Society Wellbeing Work
Editorial / Kuvittaja magazine

Editorials for Kuvittaja magazine from 2024 to 2025.

Editorial Illustrative art Journalism Knowledge visualization Architecture City People Science and technology Society Wellbeing Work
Editorial / Kuvittaja magazine

Editorials for Kuvittaja magazine from 2024 to 2025.

Editorial Illustrative art Journalism Knowledge visualization Architecture City People Science and technology Society Wellbeing Work
Editorial / Kuvittaja magazine

Editorials for Kuvittaja magazine from 2024 to 2025.

Editorial Illustrative art Journalism Knowledge visualization Architecture City People Science and technology Society Wellbeing Work
Vieraskuvio

Personal project. Vieraskuvio is an illustrated story made in collaboration with the writer Henri Aalto. The story takes the reader through a house and the memories and dreamy moments within.

Comics and graphic novels Illustrative art Lettering Adventure Architecture Emotions Home People

Vieraskuvio

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Comics and graphic novels Illustrative art +6
Mind / Marketing Finland-lehti

Marketing Finland magazine used my illustration Mind on their cover of issue 1/2025.

Character art Cover art Editorial Illustrative art Journalism Marketing Paper product Abstract Emotions People

Mind / Marketing Finland-lehti

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Character art Cover art +8
See more illustrations in these categories
Branding Character art Advent Calendar Journalism Poster Cover art Concept Pattern Illustrative art Editorial Lettering Marketing Paper product Postcard Comics and graphic novels Social Media Event concept-design Knowledge visualization Video illustration Abstract Animation Architecture Design Animals History Humor Wellbeing People Christmas Holidays Festivities City Home Nature Fashion Youth Family Politics Love Food Adventure Arts and Culture Science and technology Emotions Work Society