Design agency TSTO combines illustrative artistic expession with the practical mindset of graphic design.

Helsinki will get a new design agency in early fall. Dubbed TSTO, the newcomer consists of designers ANTTI UOTILA, MATTI KUNTTU, JAAKKO PIETILÄINEN, JONATAN ERIKSSON, JOHANNES EKHOLM and INKA JÄRVINEN.

”We met back in the Helsinki School for Art and Design, or what is now known as Aalto University. After that, we’ve been working together a lot,” says Inka Järvinen. ”It felt natural to start anew with this crew.”

Graphic design is what brought these people into the School for Art and Design. Järvinen also graduated as a clothing designer. The agency’s members admit to being one another’s fans, because “everyone has something the others don’t.”

Through TSTO, or ‘toimisto’ (Finnish for ‘office, agency’), they work with different creative processes ranging from brand conceptualizing to project planning solutions.

“Our aim is to offer ambitious design to an audience that understands its value,” Järvinen notes.

Small or large agency

Networking has become commonplace for more and more freelancers and new businesses – basically working alone and independently, but surrounded by a larger group of people ready to help out on projects that are too big or require special expertise. This way the business structure stays light, you can work case by case, and thanks to being able to fit resources to the project, expenses go down.

TSTO is one of these businesses. Every one of the designers has been doing freelance work for an extended period. They’ve been working together for a good while, and now the collaboration will take place in their own agency.

“In addition to our common background, we share a visual thinking that is in a way a combination of design and illustration. Our work is based on combining illustrative artistic expression and a user-friendly approach respectful of the roots of graphic design,” Inka Järvinen describes.

“We’re interested in creating strong ways of portrayal that communicate emotions and thoughts. We’re sticking close to the historical base of design, but we’re not afraid to break free from the norm.” †

www.tsto.org

Text Maiju Malk  Photos Kaarle Hurtig

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aalto university, aalto-yliopisto, antti uotila, graafinen suunnittelu, graphic design, inka järvinen, jaakko pietiläinen, johannes ekholm, jonatan eriksson, kaarle hurtig, matti kunttu, taideteollinen korkeakoulu, tsto, university of art and design helsinki