Welcome to this edition of our Design Stories recommendations! This newsletter pays tribute to the recently departed design legend Yrjö Kukkapuro with a special archival feature from 2021. We also visit a beautiful century-old home in Turku and take a trip to Japan’s serene countryside.

Studio Kukkapuro, the home and workspace of Yrjö Kukkapuro and graphic artist Irmeli Kukkapuro, is an international attraction. Design Stories had the pleasure of visiting the studio in spring 2021 and hearing about Yrjö Kukkapuro’s life’s work and the importance of the space and collaboration for creativity.

What to expect from the design landscape of 2025? Finnish Design Shop's interior designers share their hot take on both singular trends and international movements that define the year.

In the Japanese countryside, a contemporary house in Tottori Prefecture brings together sharp Japanese lines and Nordic design. Owners Jun and Yoshiko Maeta invited Design Stories to visit their warm home, filled with music, laughter, and illuminating light that moves throughout the day.

Best known for his ceramic animal figures for Arabia and printed fabrics for Vallila, artist and designer Howard Smith infused his creativity into ceramics, textiles, and a variety of other materials. His first retrospective will open in May in the United States.