No, It's not a joke, it looks like that. If you don't believe me, here's the site.
Eero Aarnio-Puppy-Finnish design shop
I said to my friends "oh look, see that doggie, THAT'S FINNISH DESIGN."
As we got a little closer, I noticed that actually it wasn't the real thing, but probably some fake copy made secretly in the woods of Bangladesh. Rightly, I informed my friends about this turn of events.
Firstly they laughed at me for having spotted Finnish design from 100 yards away.
Secondly they laughed at me for the fact that Finnish design consists of plastic puppies that don't look that hard to make, nor expensive.
Thirdly they laughed at me for having noticed that it was a fake from 80 yards away.
Firstly, that specific piece of Finnish design is fairly easy to recognize.
Secondly, that "not so hard to make" product will cost you about 290€ (delivery included)
Thirdly, well, yeah I guess it's a bit weird that I noticed it was a fake. I'll give you that.
I don't think I would ever buy this piece of design by Mr. Aarnio. Mostly because I can't afford it.
But as I've grown old(er) I've learned to appreciate design more and more.
I'm not going to go on and on about how much I love Marimekko, or how I took my Iittala mugs and plates with me when I moved to Italy. Or how I would like to own the Pallo-chair designed by the same dude that designed the green puppy above. Instead, I thought about sharing my thoughts on some of my favorite shops around.
I especially love little design stores that sell things that aren't that fancy-pansy, but more like little everyday objects made in an interesting way. I love the fact that someone takes something ordinary, and turns it into something extraordinary by using a different material or by turning it upsides down creating a whole new way of using it etc. To me, it's not about buying an object, but buying an IDEA.
I once had to switch planes in Munchen while flying home to Finland. Near my gate there was this tiny design shop. It's called Cedon, and it's amazing. I almost missed my flight because of this shop. It was the first time I left my cat home alone for a longer time, and wanted to get a cool gift for my friend who was taking care of her. I found the cutest little pen, shaped like a cat, and it meowed when you wrote something. How can you not love that?? So if you're ever around Terminal 2 in Munchen airport, pop in and get your own catpen.
Cedon design shop at munich airport
Oh, and just in case you didn't realize it already, for me design isn't about having pricey things around the house. Actually, I usually find that the objects that cost the most aren't all that interesting to me, and I probably wouldn't buy them even if I did have the money. Which I don't. But still.
I was recently in Galway, Ireland. What a cool place. Never mind that it rains every day, but the nature is amazing, people are nice and the fish is so good.
(btw, looking for a place to eat? Go to a little restaurant called Ard Bia Nimmos near the city museum. Tell them I sent you).
Anyways, when I travel I try to find the tiniest shops in the smallest streets, because they have the most interesting things to sell. In Galway, next to my hotel there was this shop called MY SHOP Granny likes it. Sometimes I feel intimidated by these little shops if there are no other customers inside, so it took me 4 days to enter. But inside I found the nicest sales person, who knows tons and tons about the products and the artist behind them. Mostly they sell objects made by hand by local artists. I'm a real sucker for hand made stuff, so I almost walked out of there with a dozen things. Instead I bought a little framed picture of a cat and a ball (actually it was named a bear by the artist,but it looked like a cat so we decided to re-name the picture), and a super nice wooden wine bottle cap as a present for the dude that was going to pick me up from the airport when I got home.My Shop Granny likes it
I recently discovered this cool online/offline store (meaning they have both an online-shop and walk in-shops). It's called FAB. Mind you that at this point I haven't bought anything from them, mostly because I'm a little short on cash (thanks to my private German lessons, jawohl!!), but I've certainly eyeballed their site more than a few times. I also love the whole concept, they really seem enthusiastic about the products and about working there, and they have a "smile guarantee". They also have nice things for pets. Go have a lookie-loo.
FAB online store
For almost 10 years I've worked in various offices, selling a product that doesn't exactly make me jump for joy. I've always wondered what it might be like to work with a product(s) that actually interests you, that makes you smile, that makes you wonder and makes your customers happy. To be surrounded by pretty and interesting objects all day long, and you get to marvel at them with the customers that come in and maybe even ask for advice.
Maybe I have this candyappledisgustinglyrosycheeky-picture of design stores, but I would like to see the day when they start to make me sick. That would be the same day when I'd go and buy me a nice thick winter coat for the off chance that hell might be freezing over.
PS. Oh and just to be clear, I wasn't paid or anything to "endorse" these shops. I just think they're nice.
Actually, I'm kinda hoping that they don't sue me for using them as writing material. Fingers crossed.
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