NORD+ Beyond, in collaboration with Zurich Design Week, warmly invites you to experience OUT OF THE ORDINARY, a curated exhibition celebrating contemporary Nordic design, art, innovation, and creative thinking.
Open throughout the entire Zurich Design Week, every day between 11:00 - 17.30.
The exhibition will welcome local and international visitors, design professionals, architects, interior designers, media representatives, retailers, investors, cultural leaders, and consumers seeking inspiration from the Nordic region.
PROGRAM
EXHIBITION - Daily at 11:00-17:00
Art: Sasha Huber · Petri Saarikko · Inka Kivalo · Elina Simonen
Fashion: Sofia Ilmonen · Inuikii
Design: Anna Saarinen · Nathalie Lautenbacher · holm° · maley · Birkhäuser · Desico
EXCLUSIVE EVENING EVENTS
22. Sep Nordic Architecture & Heritage: Ambassador Okko-Pekka Salmimies · Aalto Sunila Satu Idstrom-Clavert · helsinkizurich Tommi Mäkynen REGISTRATION
24. Sep An Evening with Alfredo Häberli REGISTRATION
25. Sep Nordic Innovation & Biodiversity in Design: Uute Scientific - Rita Nordin · Ville Kokkonen REGISTRATION
26. Sep Design Talk & Champagne Blending Master Class REGISTRATION
27. Sep Closing Vernissage
SUPPORTED
BY
PARTNERS
TASTING
&
AMBIENTE
Meet the ARTISTS
Sofia Ilmonen is the founder and creative force behind her namesake label, known for its transformable modular garments.
Each piece is built from square modules connected with a button-and-loop system, allowing endless ways to assemble, alter, and reinvent the design. This modular concept encourages longevity by enabling garments to be continuously reconfigured and reimagined.
Sofia’s design philosophy embraces femininity in all its forms, celebrating the diversity and individuality of every body. Through their adaptable structure, her collections are size-inclusive and designed to fit without fixed sizing.
Inka Kivalo is a Finnish textile artist. She mainly works with jacquard weaving techniques to create painting-like wall tapestries that are windows into her colourful worlds.
In 2000 Inka Kivalo was nominated as the Finnish Textile Artist Of The Year and in 2019 she won the Nordic Award in Textile. She has also designed textile prints in Marimekko, and has taught experimental handicraft, jacquard weaving and environmental planning at the University of Art and Design Helsinki.
Today, her work can be found in several art collections around the world.
Sasha Huber is a visual artist of Swiss-Haitian heritage. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, she currently lives and works in Helsinki, Finland. Huber’s work is primarily concerned with history’s influence on the present and focuses mainly on the ramifications of colonialism.
She sees the compressed-air staple gun as a symbolic weapon, capable of producing visually arresting works with the potential to renegotiate unequal power dynamics.
Petri Saarikko
Petri Saarikko is a Helsinki-based artist and designer whose work is invested in experiential understanding of the world, particularly through the prisms of visible light and colour. This interest extends to contemplating how, for example, a painting might transition from daylight into darkness. His work thus embodies a multimodal exploration of entangled social, historical, and philosophical domains.
Studio Nathalie L. focuses in small scale production of porcelain tabletop series. The production is completely handmade in her studio in Kauklahti, Espoo.
Finnish-French ceramist and designer Nathalie Lautenbacher (b.1974) graduated 1999 from the University of Art and Design, Helsinki, from the Department of Ceramics and Glass. Lautenbacher works also as a designer for the Finnish ceramics and glass industry, Iittala and Arabia brands. Since 2002 she has worked as a lecturer at the Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki.
She has received several prizes, such as the Design Plus Award 2002 in Frankfurt Germany and the Bronze Award from Mino Competition 2005 and 2014, Japan. In 2008 she was awarded the Young Designer of the Year in Finland. Her works can be seen in several collections, among others the Rhösska Museum in Sweden. She presents actively her works via exhibitions in Finland and abroad.
Finnish textile engineer Anna Saarinen runs a textile workshop in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town. Here, exclusive rugs are created on traditional looms for private individuals, businesses, and public institutions—all custom-made by hand in close consultation with the client.
Anna Saarinen’s clean Nordic style, her keen eye for color combinations, and her use of natural materials like cotton and linen form the foundation for bringing her clients' visions to life. She draws inspiration for her designs from art, nature, or photographs of the specific room for which a rug is intended.
The Anna Saarinen studio produces woven works of art that embody Scandinavian virtues: the rugs possess a subtle beauty while being incredibly robust, durable, reversible, and washable.
I am a photographer and visual storyteller, and one of Finland’s most respected in my field. My work brings together the visual impact of advertising imagery with the intimacy and presence of portrait photography.
My journey began boldly in my early twenties, moving from Espoo straight into London’s fast-paced fashion world. With a Finnish work ethic, sharp eye, and natural confidence, I quickly adapted to the demands of the industry and earned the trust of leading creatives. I learned photography in the traditional way — on film, by assisting, experimenting, and developing my craft under the guidance of top London professionals.
EVENING EVENTS
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 18.00-21.00
Zürich Design Week & Out of Ordinary Opening
Join us for an informal opening evening with aperitif, DJ and Nordic design and art in the beautiful surroundings of Villa de Sein.
We open the Design Week together with Flos.
Come and Meet Photographer Elina Simonen, Goldsmith Kulmala and Nordic network.
TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 18.00-21.00
NORDIC ARCHITECTURE & HERITAGE EVENING
Finland is internationally known for its design. This evening looks at the heritage behind that reputation and explores the connection between architecture, design, nature, industry and everyday life. A special focus will be placed on Alvar Aalto and Sunila, celebrating Aalto’s contribution to world architecture and design.
Key Notes:
Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Ambassador of Finland to Switzerland and Lichtenstein,
“The importance of design – a Finnish perspective” / “Die Bedeutung von Design – eine finnische Perspektive"
Tommi Mäkynen - Architect and Honorary Consul Zürich
"The Shape of Everyday Life / Die Form des Alltags - Objects, spaces and the culture of living"
Satu Idstrom-Clavert - Pro Aalto Sunila
"Finnish Modernism in Harmony with Nature"
Brand Talk: Finnish Flavours
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 18.00–20.00
AN EVENING WITH ALFREDO HÄBERLI
Key Notes:
Designer Alfredo Häberli:
Alfredo will talk about his career, his approach to design, and his perspectives on the past and present of Nordic design, with a special focus on Iittala, where he is one of the company’s longest-serving designers.
Brand Talk & Apero: Chef Saku Wahlman Champagne Hatt&Söner , Kalevala Distillery
FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 18.00–20.30
NORDIC INNOVATION & BIOVERSITY IN DESIGN
An evening celebrating Design, Art and Nordic Spirit
Design Talk: Rita Nordin - Uute Scientific -
"Creating an entirely new category" - Uute Scientific is building a new business ecosystem around biodiversity-rich nature exposure.
Design Talk: Ville Kokkonen
"Designing Impact: Tracing the Footprint of Material-Driven Product Development"
Brand Talk & Apero: Chef Saku Wahlman Champagne Hatt&Söner
SATURDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 16.00–19.00
DESIGN TALK & CHAMPAGNE BLENDING MASTER CLASS
Design Talk: Tour in Villa de Sein exhibitions with Nord+Beyond
Champagne tasting: Hatt & Söner Champagne tasting evening A special evening combining nordic design, champagne tasting and conversation in the unique atmosphere of Villa de Sein.
>>: REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION
ART, DESIGN and REFRESHMENTS.
JOIN US for the FINAL AFTERNOON!
DISCOVER the EXHIBITION in a RELAXED SUNDAY SETTING.
CLOSING VERNISSAGE
SUNDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 17.00–20.00
Meet the SPEAKERS
Ambassador of Finland to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Mr Salmimies joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1997. Prior to his current posting in Bern, he was Consul General in Los Angeles, representing Finland in thirteen western US states.
Previously he had held the positions of Ambassador and Head of Mission at the Permanent Delegations of Finland to the OECD and to UNESCO in Paris, Ambassador for Team Finland (export and investment promotion), Director of Trade Policy, and Director for Civil Society.
With the Ministry, he also served as Head of Cabinet and Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade, Development and European Affairs, and as Desk Officer for trade policy and transatlantic relations at the EU Delegation of Finland in Brussels.
Satu Idstrom-Clavert
Alvar Aalto designed the Sunila pulp mill and residential area in the years 1936-1939. Sunila is a beautiful suburban area near the woods and the largest finished project of the master architect.
Pro Sunila has managed to raise awareness of the accomplishments of the area and its value as a feat in Finnish architecture, a magnificent piece of city planning and the grand project by Alvar Aalto. Pro Sunila also played a part in ensuring that the apartment buildings were renovated and modernized to the appropriate standards.
Architekt und finnischer Honorarkonsul in Zürich
Tommi Mäkynen, architect and urban designer, studied architecture and urban planning at Helsinki University of Technology, ETSAM Madrid, and urban design at Berlage Institute in Rotterdam. Before graduation, Tommi worked at Helin & Siitonen Architects and Tuomo Siitonen architects giving him a solid basis for prize-winning architecture. After graduating, he co-founded M41LH2, a design office that received international fame for hospitality interiors. These experiences allowed him to develop the cross-scale approach that has guided his work since then.
Tommi co-founded helsinkizurich in 2009. He is co-responsible for the management of the office in Zurich and coordinates many of HZ’s projects across scales in several countries. He has worked on architecture, urban design and planning projects in Switzerland, Germany, Finland, across North and East Europe and in China. Focus areas are urban transformation projects, traffic infrastructure-related developments, master planning, and interiors.
Finnish & Scandivanian Food Shop
Suomikauppa Switzerland is owned by Switzerland United Trade LLC, established in the summer of 2020 in canton Zurich – Switzerland. The company was established with the intention to be a bridge between Finland and Switzerland, bringing Finnish goods to Switzerland for private consumers as well as corporations.
Our store in Wädenswil started as International Supermarkt Wädenswil, and in fall of 2021 we rebranded as Suomikauppa Switzerland, a store that focuses on Finnish and Swedish goods. We aim to be the most comprehensive source of Finnish and Swedish food products in Switzerland.
TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 18.00-21.00
Meet the SPEAKERS
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 18.00–20.00
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Alfredo Häberli Design Development
Alfredo Häberli, born in Buenos Aires in 1964, opened his design studio in 1991 after completing his design studies at the Zurich School of Design and quickly gained international reputation. His oeuvre has been showcased in many monographic exhibitions, including in 2006 at Interieur in Kortrijk as «Guest of Honour», in 2008 with the exhibition «SurroundThings» at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, in 2017 at the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern with «Walk the Line», and in 2021 at the Iittala & Arabia Design Centre in Helsinki. His products are featured in many major collections and mentioned in countless publications.
In 2014 Alfredo Häberli received the prestigious Swiss Grand Prix of Design from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture. For his contribution to Finnish design, he was awarded in 2026 by the Embassy of Finland in Bern with the Knight 1. Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland. Since 1988, Alfredo Häberli has been living with the graphic designer and therapist Stefanie Häberli-Bachmann. The couple are parents of two adult children.
Professional Chef from Savo Finland
Providing cooking and catering services with two decades of experience in culinary arts.
All food components are handmade from selected fresh quality ingredients.
My style leans greatly on European cuisine with French and Nordic being the strongest influence.
Meet the SPEAKERS
FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 18.00–20.30
Rita Nordin is Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Uute Scientific, where she is building the brand and market around a new kind of nature exposure. She is responsible for the Re-Connecting Nature™ ingredient brand, trademark and regulatory strategy.
With more than 20 years of experience in the beauty and consumer goods industry, Rita has worked with leading brands from Procter & Gamble and gained management experience in the textile industry. She has also founded several beauty care start-ups, giving her a rare perspective across the entire consumer goods value chain, from innovation and product development to branding, manufacturing, distribution and the end consumer.
At Uute Scientific, she is particularly interested in how science can move and help create better lives for people through the products, materials and environments of everyday life.
Ville Kokkonen is a Finnish industrial designer born in Helsinki, Finland. He graduated from OCAD in Toronto, Canada, and from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. Early in his career, he worked as a researcher at the Smart Products Research Group in UIAH, specializing in early product concept development and futures research. Since starting his own practice in 2004, Kokkonen has worked with leading companies in the field of design and technology, focusing on strategic design and product development, with clients such as Anora, Nokia, Iittala, Wärtsilä, Ensto, Stora Enso and UPM. Between 2005 to 2014 Kokkonen worked with Artek, first running its R&D program and from 2008 onwards as design director of the company.
Ville Kokkonen Office for Industrial Design GmbH, is based in Switzerland. The office centers on a project portfolio that is probing advanced product properties, craft and material performance, driven by technological and scientific discovery.
Curated By:
