Oiva - Unikko plate 16 cm, white - red - blue

Textile designer and artist Maija Isola (1927–2001) is arguably Marimekko's best-known pattern designer and one of the international trailblazers of Finnish textile design. Having designed over 500 prints, Isola created timeless classics with her bold use of colour and large-scale patterns, the most famous being Unikko, launched in 1964.

Isola's work brings together artistic freedom, international influences and vibrant, daring patterns.

Kristina Isola is a Finnish textile designer who has followed in the footsteps of her mother, Maija Isola, one of the best-known Marimekko textile designers. Kristiina Isola, who has studied at the Free Art School in Helsinki and at the department of photography of the Institute of Industrial Arts, made her first sketches for fabrics at the age of sixteen as an assistant to her mother.

Between 1978 and 1987, mother and daughter worked together at Marimekko under the joint name Maija Isola / Kristina Isola. Since then, Kristina Isola has created patterns under her own name. She has also been responsible for recolouring many of her mother’s iconic designs – such as Unikko, Melooni, Sateenkaari and Kivet – and adapting them for various products.

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.