Oiva - Räsymatto mug, 2,5 dl, red-white

Finnish print designer Maija Louekari (b. 1982) is well-known especially for the textile prints designed for Marimekko. Louekari has studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and in 2003 she won a design competition organised jointly by her university and Marimekko. She has worked as a freelance designer for Marimekko ever since.

Louekari finds inspiration for her patterns from everyday life and the small things, people and sounds that surround her. Also different environments from urban metropolises to Finnish forests contribute to her work. Most of Louekari’s large, uniform patterns have been hand-drawn, and she also likes to experiment with different techniques such as paper cutting. Among her most important works are the Siirtolapuutarha and Räsymatto patterns, originally designed for Marimekko's Oiva tableware range in 2009.

Sami Ruotsalainen is a Finnish designer who graduated with a Master of Arts in ceramic and glass design from the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 2005. Among his best-known works are the Maku tableware series for Arabia and the Oiva collection for Marimekko, which serves as the base for many of the brand’s iconic patterns. Ruotsalainen is the designer behind Oiva’s strong, clean shapes.

With a long-standing career at Marimekko, Ruotsalainen has also worked as an assistant to designer Kristina Isola. In addition to tableware, his portfolio includes textile design.