Ordinary design stories. Everyday is best and design is making it better.
Best in Finnish design is constantly improving design of everyday.
Better everyday design is not sold in luxury boutiques for the few but in super markets for everyone as has been done for decades already.
It is all about ordinary design stories.
Through autumn months Proto – Designers of Northern Finland together with its partners will share ordinary stories of everyday design as told by ordinary Finnish people in an exhibition at Proto Design Centre in Pikisaari. The ambition of Finnish design has for decades been to constantly improve everyday life of ordinary people, us all – with easier to use, aesthetic, long lasting designs. Many tools and objects have been used for years.
What is internationally unique is that we have been able to buy the best design for everyday in small village shops and later super markets all over the country. We dare to claim this has made design in Finland more democratic.
We believe there is no other country where awareness of design and its meaning for the quality of everyday life is as widely spread as in Finland. Visit homes of ordinary people in Finland, and everyday design objects you will most likely find there, will be a proof of this.
Instructions
Everyday life is the best!
Which Finnish design object makes your every day better? Share your story with us.
Make a video or shoot a photo of the Finnish design object that most improves your everyday life, and share it in Instagram and Facebook.
Add @Arki.Everyday with hashtags
#Arki.Everyday
#Proto2026
#Oulu2026
If you know the producer of the product, add it with #
The stories lay the foundation for an exhibition and seminar organized by the Design Center Proto in the fall of 2026. Proto ry has the right to redistribute the pictures and stories submitted to the Arki.Everyday campaign on its own social media channels as part of the project’s communication. Proto ry also has the right to use tagged images on its website as well as in connection with the exhibition and seminar held at the end of the European Capital of Culture year.
In collaboration with Proto
Design and Crafts Council of Ireland
Irish Festival of Oulu
Interested in collaboration — Contact
Päivi Tahkokallio, Proto2026 Programme, Programme Director, paivi@tahkokallio.fi