Design Agency and Studio of the Month

Design Agency of the Month, Finland Connecting the dots through design

Ultra Design & Strategy is a Finnish agency where clear strategic thinking meets solid design execution. The team at Ultra is not afraid to challenge conventions, and they are all about the bigger picture and providing clarity to all projects, from a systems level to the tiniest details.

By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Ultra Design Strategy

The Helsinki-based firm has a combined experience of over 40 years in the automotive industry and strategy. Having worked with companies such as Tesla, Lexus, Toyota and SpaceX, the team have been able to utilise and apply their knowledge at Ultra. “All three of us Ultra founders are from relatively small towns. We have a lot of common sense, as well as limitless levels of ambition,” says Jarno Lehtinen, partner and CEO at Ultra. Since its beginning in 2017, Ultra’s team has grown into a team of 11 people. Some of their clients include one of Finland’s oldest companies Fiskars, modern office-environment pioneer Framery, a US-based autonomous drone maker Skydio, and Running Tide. “We do not shy away from challenges, and we feel that is where our skills are best put to use,” says Joonas Vartola, partner and head of design. Recently, Ultra started working with Maine-based ocean health company Running Tide. They rebalance the carbon cycle and move fast carbon back to the slow cycle in the oceans by data-based multi-pathway systems. “We work with them to create a novel design language and concepts that help create trust with stakeholders. It’s a new industry and the design language does not exist yet,” Vartola explains.

development process right up to the final product.

Turning novel ideas into reality At times, solutions can come from surprising places. This was also the case with Polestar KOJA, a treehouse designed by Ultra team member Kristian Talvitie for the 2021 Polestar Design Contest. KOJA encourages people to think about sustainable local tourism, while bringing them closer to nature.

“The virtual concept design was so good that Polestar wanted to turn it into a real-life design and a full-scale treehouse. We are extremely proud of the fact that we are not just creating concepts – but turning them into reality,” says Olli Laaksonen, partner and head of business development.

According to Laaksonen, the world can sometimes feel fuzzy and muddled, and

Polestar KOJA treehouse from inside. Photo: Polestar

Archipelago lifestyle concept.

Helping companies achieve global ambitions Ultra Design & Strategy have experience in working for large global companies, as well as smaller local ones. The common denominator with all their clients is the highest level of ambition. “We believe that even small companies’ ambition level can be world-class, and we want to help them achieve that,” he adds. Recently, Ultra has worked with Framery, which began as a small-scale company that developed the world’s first connected soundproof pod. Initially, the pods were not made for mass production. They were very time-consuming and heavy to assemble, and the ergonomics of the product, as well as the materials, needed an overhaul. Ultra’s main role was coming up with a concept, followed by the entire research and

Framery One.

Yacht concept - Electric yacht. he believes that design is all about understanding the bigger picture, and finding a way to connect numerous small dots into something meaningful. “The world is changing faster than ever, and Ultra’s aim is to help clients to adjust and adapt to the new times and stay relevant and competitive,” he explains.

With each project, Ultra begins by establishing a thorough understanding of what their client is doing and why. Then, they define and design how they’ll achieve their goals in the best way possible. “We believe in the power of collaboration. We work alongside our clients’ business, design and engineering teams and uplift them and the services they provide, while maintaining a continuous dialogue with the team. A good concept is key, and it’s all about creating long-term future-proof solutions,” says Lehtinen.

A recent collaboration project was the Skydio 2 drone, which is the world’s most advanced consumer flying robot. Its six 4K navigation cameras can see everything in every direction with unprecedented clarity. Ultra continues to work closely with Skydio’s engineering teams and helps them with concepts and industrial design. “Skydio sets a new benchmark in autonomous aviation, and it exemplifies a true paradigm shift in drone flight,” he states.

“Technology has a huge role in our lives and in business. We believe it’s important to ensure that tech doesn’t lead our lives – but we make it work for us through seamless technology integration. We also often say that technological advances are only meaningful when we clearly define their purpose. And this is where we come in: we help brands to identify the point where high-quality product design and high demand meet,” Lehtinen concludes.

www.ultra.fi Instagram: @ ultra.fi LinkedIn: Ultra Design & Strategy

Vehicle concept.

Framery One prototyping.

Framery One prototyping. Skydio 2 drone.

Design Studio of the Month, Finland Finnish fashion with sustainability sewn into the fabric

Nomen Nescio is a Helsinki-based clothing design studio focused on minimalistic and sustainable style and values. When Niina Leskelä couldn’t find clothing that she liked and that reflected her values, she used her skills in design and sewing to create her own new clothing brand.

By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Nomen Nescio

One definition of sustainability is the quality of not being harmful to the environment, or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance. Nomen Nescio is built on these values. To define what that means for them, co-founder and designer Niina Leskelä explains: “Sustainability is not just about using ecological materials; it’s about changing how people think about and use clothes. It’s about timeless design that does not follow seasons or short-term trends. When you choose clothes that you really love and feel comfortable in, instead of buying many pretty garments, your wardrobe is much more functional, and you can easily match the pieces together.” “We are not just another fast fashion brand. We put effort into designing the garments. We have our own design and production cycle and don’t bring out a new collection every season,” she says. This permanent, seasonless collection is updated regularly to improve the garments even further. The choice of colour is also unchanging: at Nomen Nescio, it’s all black. “We think that black is the most usable and suitable colour for all occasions,” says Leskelä.

Another way to ensure a collection is ecological and sustainable is to make the clothes long-lasting, even with heavy use. “We always advise on how to take care of the garments, and we also offer

repair and alteration services,” she says. In the rare case that the client no longer has use for the clothes, they have set up the Nomen Nescio Second Cycle, in which they take back used clothes, and even compensate for them depending on the condition of the garment, or recycle it appropriately.

Functional design Nomen Nescio’s clothing is very functional, without many decorative details. “It’s even more important to me how the garment makes the person wearing it feel, than what it looks like,” says Leskelä of her design philosophy. “During the design process, the clothes are fitted repeatedly by people with different body types, so that I can find the most functional design and overall result. You should be able to feel good and safe in the clothes you wear.” “Although we feel that Nomen Nescio style is very Nordic, it has many mutual aspects with, for example, Japanese minimalism, and it has received a very warm response there,” she explains. They also have stockists all around Europe, as well as Asia. “Many stockists in North America are also closely watching our progress and it is likely that our clothes will be available there in the near future,” she adds.

A decade of dedication The company is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year. The past decade of dedication to changing the way we think about dressing has had many exciting twists and turns. “I am grateful for all that has happened, and I’m excited about the future for Nomen Nescio,” Leskelä says, contemplatively. She remembers how exciting it felt when she first noticed people wearing a Nomen Nescio jacket on the street. Since then, it has grown into an international brand. Along the way, it has been featured in several international fashion publications and visited landmark fashion events, including Paris Fashion Week and Pitti Uomo in Italy.

Last year, their flagship store moved to the heart of the shopping district in Helsinki. “We have a great team here. They all approached us, having recognised themselves in our design and values, and they are strongly committed to Nomen Nescio,” Leskelä says. “Our loyal clients are also part of the family. When they experience that this is exactly what they have been looking for, they often return for more.”

www.nomennescio.fi Instagram: @nomennescio.fi