Kustaa Saksi is a Finnish artist and
designer based in Amsterdam, specialising
in graphic storytelling through patterns,
textile art and installation. Graduating in
2000 from the Lahti Institute of Design,
he moved to Paris where he worked
as an illustrator for many years. After
relocating to the Netherlands, Saksi started
experimenting with different types of
weaving techniques, and discovered his
passion for textiles.
Combining organic qualities with
uniquely detailed textures and rich colour
palettes with experimental material use,
Saksi’s works have been exhibited at the
Victoria and Albert Museum, the Cooper
Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and
in galleries worldwide. Saksi has produced
commissioned artworks for companies such
as Issey Miyake, Lacoste, Nike, Marimekko
and Swedese.FROM PRINT TO PRODUCT
A recent brand collaboration with
Finnish brand Marimekko involved
the design of a range of prints and
homeware. “They let me work quite
freely and I was able to deliver a
collection that matched both our
interests,” says Saksi. “I think it’simportant that the brand’s values and
aesthetic are somewhat similar or
compatible with my visual world.”
Working with screen printing
techniques meant a certain set of
restrictions in terms of detail and colour
use, particularly when designing for
clothing. “It is important that the repeats
work well with the cut patterns,” says
Saksi, who worked closely with the
Marimekko design team throughout the
project. “The final colour combinations
also have to work with the rest of the
collection – so good communication
with in-house designers is obligatory.”DON’T BE A COPYCAT
While it’s natural to be inspired by the
work of practising artists and designers,
widen the net to find references from
architecture or photography or books- anything that sparks your own ideas
will make it more personal to you. “I
think it’s important to develop a strong,
unique visual language that is not based
on anything other than your own skill
and experiences,” advises Saksi. His
own abstract works are often inspired
by visions and dreams happening in the
borderland between sleep and waking.
COMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COMSEPTEMBER 2019
Ka
ng
as
tu
s,^
pr
in
t^ f
or
M
ar
im
ek
ko
S
S^1
5 c
oll
ec
tio
n
Merivuokko (sea anemone) and Meriheinä (sea grass), textile prints, Marimekko SS15 home collectionUNCOVERING LUXURY BRANDS