Maija Louekari

In 2003, Maija Louekari, Bachelor of Arts, won the ”Nuoren elämän raamit” (“The Setting for a Young Life”) design competition jointly staged by the University of Art and Design Helsinki and Marimekko with her printed fabric design entitled Hetkiä/Moments. Since then, she has designed prints for Marimekko.

Maija Louekari, how would you describe the fabrics that you have designed and how they came about?
All my works so far have been hand-drawn, sketch-like pictures. They are large, uniform images, particularly suited in complete format to large surfaces such as curtains.

My ideas come from observing my surroundings. Sometimes an idea can be clear and distinct from the very beginning, while at other times things come about by drawing, intuitively. Designing proceeds from my own feelings and experiences, which I want to pass on through my fabrics. I’m interested in people and behaviour, in things that don’t always seem to be so important. The by-products of life, so to speak.

The design process operates continuously in my mind. Sometimes an idea can go on being shaped in my sleep. In that sense, creative design work cannot be distinguished from life. It is equivalent to living. For me, the fabric is like a white paper on which I draw my ideas to become images.

What is the most important quality of a designer?
The most important things for me as a designer are freedom and open-

mindedness. And of course sensing things and listening to oneself.

What’s it like to design for Marimekko?
Designing for Marimekko is the best and most interesting thing that I do at present. I respect Marimekko and its solid history and designers. It’s really marvellous that I, too, can design for Marimekko.

If you could choose, where would you like to see a fabric designed by you?
It would be exciting to see a print for example in giant size on the wall of a building. And in the future, I might like to see a fabric of mine as a bed cover for my own child.

What inspires you in life?
I’m inspired in life by many small things and observations that one can make of completely ordinary everyday life and other people. Different environments are also interesting, both big cities and forests. Of the arts, music perhaps inspires me the most. It has a direct effect, arousing feelings. Music contains colours, rhythms and images that become visual in my head.

Is there any artist that you regard as a model?
I’ve always liked Tove Jansson’s works, both her writing and her images.

What’s the most important thing about your work?
The most important thing is to work with love. I feel the results show whether or not love is present. It’s wonderful to be able to share something of myself with strangers through my fabrics. My own works seem a bit like little children being sent out into the wide world.