Launch Recite Me assistive technology
A black and white newspaper advertisement for Artek laid against a bright pink background. Bold headlines read “SUOMEN RADIKAALEIN YRITYS SYNTYI 75 VUOTTA SITTEN.” and the masthead reads “HELSINGIN SANOMAT”. The page features various furniture designs and the website “artek.fi” at the bottom.

The pic and mix portfolio of multi-faceted designer Leo Karhunen

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Date
13 August 2012

Hats off to Leo Karhunen for boldly designing an advert for Artek using only his bare hands and no computer aid whatsoever. This is just one of his brilliant projects in which he gets involved in every aspect possible, (see his about section, you’ll see what I mean) rendering him one hell of a multi-faceted designer. An ideas man as well as an aesthetics-wizard, Leo was behind the successful Heineken Open Source stage at Flow Festival last year, where he helped in allowing the public to suggest what kind of artist they wanted to see on the stage beforehand and then made their dreams come true – “The final lineup included up-and-coming acts and one-offs, ballerinas, a street drummer, freestyle rap and some classic re-union action.” Amazing!

A black and white collage celebrating the 75th anniversary of the design company Artek. Bold text reads “The most radical Finnish company was born 75 years ago.” The layout features various Artek products, including the “Armchair 400” and “Stool 60”, alongside archival photographs and a news clipping about a “$1.2 Million Garden Shed”.
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Leo Karhunen: Artek advert (no computers used)

Two black and white posters for Artek lie on a wooden table alongside a pair of orange scissors. The posters feature images of furniture and the Finnish text “Suomen radikaalein yritys syntyi 75 vuotta sitten.”
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Leo Karhunen: Artek advert (no computers used)

A square white print rests on a bright blue background. It features red abstract shapes and blue lettering that reads “Subculture”, with a small red stamp reading “Stop Modernists” and the text “feat. Chris Lowe”.
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Leo Karhunen: Stop Mdernists ‘Subculture’ artwork

An illustration of a white stone building on a teal and pink background. The building features a ladder leaning against the wall and a fallen ionic column at the base.
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Leo Karhunen: Turku Modern

An open magazine spread features the headline “Designing with people” in bold black type over bright green blocks. The layout includes several blue-tinted photographs of people collaborating in a studio setting alongside blocks of body text.
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Leo Karhunen:

Several stacks of white cards and small circular tokens are scattered across a bright blue surface. The cards feature black and white imagery and bold red and black text, including the phrase “WELL DONE TO THE IDIOT WHO RAN OVER MY PET LIZZARD”.
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Leo Karhunen: Wild Combo, Identity and flyers

A stack of small booklets rests on a bright pink background. The top cover features a black and white photograph of a person beneath a glowing chandelier.
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Leo Karhunen: Turku Modern Zine

A screen print of a white hand reaching up from a black hole against a teal background. A shovel and a ladder are visible beside the hole.
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Leo Karhunen: Turku Modern

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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