X Table

March 1973. The grayling in the Kemijoki River up north in Finnish Lapland are preparing for the spring spawning, while in the south the Järvi family are expecting their second son, Teemu. Over the years, the lives of fish in Lapland and Teemu Järvi intertwine: the boy grows up to be a skilled and prudent fly fisherman. Where grayling made Järvi a fisherman, the University of Art and Design Helsinki turned him into a furniture designer and interior architect. “The world is already crammed full of objects, but too few of them are beautiful and timeless, yet functional. I want to do my part to fix that,” is how he sums up his design philosophy. Järvi takes a long time to refine his ideas, creating a distinctive soul for each of his pieces. His work has been praised for conveying “the impression of tension and dynamism”. He also stresses the importance of seamless cooperation between designer and product manufacturer. Järvi’s work has been recognized in many national and international contests, including the Pro Finnish Design contest (Finland 2001) and the “Caiazza Memorial Challenge” at the Promosedia International Chair Exhibition (Italy 2003). In 2004, Wallpaper* Magazine named him one of 15 Most Wanted Designers in the Future. The Finnish Cultural Foundation has supported him with three grants in 2004a³2006. In parallel with his solo work, Järvi shares his thoughts and a studio with fellow designer Heikki Ruoho. Together they form the team JÄRVI & RUOHO (Finnish for ‘Lake & Grass’) and focus primarily on product, interior, exhibition and furniture design. They are committed to working hard, pushing boundaries, and kicking each others’ asses to achieve the best possible design. The aim: making the client, the end-user, and themselves, happy.