Making sustainable design a worldwide export
University of Art and Design Helsinki –graduate Lincoln Kayiwa wants to design modern household objects, for multiple purposes. Kayiwa has received international praise and media coverage especially for his Dino –clothes rack solution, which is a good example of his simplistic, functional yet aesthetic design. Kayiwa shares this style of design with his architect father, who in turn was influenced by the considerable amount of work he did in Japan.
Kayiwa was initially motivated into entrepreneurship before even graduating by a small Tekes grant, and soon after he applied to the Aalto University start-up center Arabus. He is a strong believer in the significance of brand equity, which is why he chose to start his own company instead of selling his ideas and designs to multiple manufacturers. This way he aims to create a strong, innovative and dynamic brand within 5-10 years and ultimately penetrate international markets.
Realizing this vision in practice is largely about the products themselves. They strive to achieve what he refers to as “enoughness”; each product should be enough on its own instead of needing completion from other products. This is showcased in a porcelain set he is currently designing, where the set’s glasses are designed for serving water and coffee but also wine and beer. Another example would be Kayiwa’s pizza plate that can also be safely used as a picnic tray due to its steadying base. Also central to Kayiwa’s vision is to offer solutions to globally recognized needs, not just traditional Western ones. For instance, when he is designing kitchen ware, he considers the mindset of an average Chinese consumer just as much as that of a Finnish one.
To ensure the future of modern Finnish design, Kayiwa would offer students more time and resources to experiment, as is done for example in Denmark. There students who are close to graduation receive a full scholarship to be able to design without financial pressures. He also has great faith in the potential of Aalto University in developing bridges between designers and the corporate world.
