Dezeen School Shows: a checkered glass stand influenced by chessboard aesthetics is among the projects from Häme University of Applied Sciences.

Also featured is a ceramic slow feeder for cats, and a drinking glass designed to encourage user interaction.

Häme University of Applied Sciences

Institution: Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK)
Course: Smart and Sustainable Design BA 

School statement:

"Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is shaping the next generation of material‑driven designers in our Smart and Sustainable Design bachelor's degree programme, where forward‑looking experimentation, craft heritage and contemporary design thinking meet.

"Rooted in Finland's long tradition of material innovation, our programme encourages students to push the boundaries of form, technique and sustainable making.

"This selection highlights ten emerging designers and designs from our glass and ceramics students, whose individual works reflect the breadth of approaches within the programme, from sculptural glass explorations to functional ceramic objects and experimental hybrid projects.

"Each piece represents a distinct design voice and a commitment to material curiosity.

"With dedicated glass and ceramics studios, different materials and kilns available to experiment, the emerging designers have the support of our experienced staff to become a creative changemaker and design a more sustainable future."

Nanna Jar by Sanna Vuorenmaa

"Nanna Jar is a playful, candy-like glass object developed in collaboration with Nuutajärvi glassworks. Blurring the boundary between functional container and sculptural piece, the design explores softness, tactility and visual pleasure.

"Its rounded silhouette and opal glass surface create a glossy, almost edible appearance, inviting both use and interaction. Soft pastel tones and simple geometry enhance its sensory appeal, balancing clarity with whimsy.

"The jar reflects a contemporary approach to glass design, where traditional craftsmanship meets emotional engagement and material-driven exploration.

"The glassblowers were Henri Carrara and Julia Öhman."

Student: Sanna Vuorenmaa
Course: Glass Design Collaboration Project
Email: sannarina.vuorenmaa[at]gmail.com

Lost Memories by Adia Cecilia Pfeifer

"Lost Memories is the redefinition of a classic glass. An elegant and unique drinking vessel. The glass's purpose is conscious user interaction, enabling a mindful manner of perception.

"Its shape, weight, and balance redefine how we handle glasses and nourish our bodies with the consumption of fluids. It contributes to the experiences we gather regularly.

"This piece manifested through the collaboration of a learning designer and an ancient craft. The design process highlighted the importance of cherishing experiences, which, for this design, is cultural craftsmanship.

"The glassblower was Kaisa Reponen, assisted by Adia Cecilia Pfeifer."

Student: Adia Cecilia Pfeifer
Course: Glass – Manufacturing Process
Email: a.cecilia.pfeifer[at]gmail.com

Stardust mug by Sanni Salokero

"Inside the fluffiest pink cloud, lives a little girl called Stardust. Every evening, she wakes up from her nap and starts preparing for work. She is in charge of sprinkling the stars on the empty night skies.

"The Stardust mug is a slip-casted piece with a star-shaped handle that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. Its illustrations are sprinkled on the outside.

"Its inspiration lies within whimsy and magic. It intends is to bring glimpses of happiness to your daily life and drinking routines, just by taking a look inside your cupboard."

Student: Sanni Salokero
Course: Ceramics – Manufacturing Process
Email: sanni.salokero[at]gmail.com

Viola lamp by Roosa Huttunen

"Viola lamp combines traditional ceramics slip-casting techniques with industrial 3D technologies to expand the possibilities in slip-casting details and definition.

"In my bachelor's thesis, 'Combining 3D-technologies into ceramics mould making', I discuss the whole process of making a table lamp using this combination."

Student: Roosa Huttunen
Course: Bachelor's Thesis
Email: huttunenroosaa[at]gmail.com

Olmo ceramic jar by Tiina Sihvonen

"Where are my keys anyway? Maybe inside, hidden among small, forgotten things. Olmo is a ceramic jar, a container – something that holds a potential surprise.

"The glaze is food-safe, smooth and pleasant to the touch, and the jar itself can handle an oven's heat.

"It's a product of an independent summer course, where I focused on improving my skills in plaster mould making and slip-casting."

Student: Tiina Sihvonen
Course: Optional Design Project, Summer 2025
Email: siffonen[at]hotmail.com

Pihka by Hannu Kauppinen

"Pihka is a wheel-thrown coffee cup from a project exploring glaze chemistry, specifically the formation of pyroxene crystals.

"The final aesthetic is dictated not just by the glaze formulation, but by the delicate balance of firing schedule, cooling rate, glaze thickness and even the subtle angle of the cup's surface.

"In this cup, the crystals have flowed into an amber hare's fur pattern."

Student: Hannu Kauppinen
Course: Optional Design Project, Summer 2025
Email: hannu.kaup[at]gmail.com

Blossom by Leila Lindsten

"Blossom is a slow feeder designed for cats. As the term slow feeder suggests, the purpose of the dish is to compel cats to eat more slowly.

"The inner petals and pistil of the flower act as walls around the food, which makes eating more challenging for cats, both slowing them down and providing them with valuable mental stimulation.

"As Blossom was designed to serve both cats and their owners, the shape of the dish is ergonomic for easy handling. Blossom is food-safe, durable and perfect for daily use."

Student: Leila Lindsten
Course: Bachelor's Thesis
Email: leilalindsten[at]gmail.com

Kaneli by Tuulikki Raatikainen

"Kaneli is a slip-casted ceramic cup, made with handmade plaster moulds and finished with playful, hand-painted motifs.

"It is a functional everyday object that brings a smile to your face. Kaneli means cinnamon in Finnish, which will inspire users to enjoy a cinnamon bun with their cup of coffee."

Student: Tuulikki Raatikainen
Course: Optional Design Project, Summer 2025
Email: hello[at]tilliceramics.com

HAMK Business Gift by Mikko Achrén, Irina Antturi, Anna Jefimova, Elina Le and Tiia Silvennoinen

"A business gift designed for HAMK Communications, crafted from red clay excavated directly from HAMK's Hämeenlinna campus construction site, when a new Smart&Bio laboratory was built in 2024.

"This hyper-local material eliminates transportation, reinforcing a strong ecological narrative, and a strong sense of place.

"Small and refined, the piece reflects HAMK's renewed brand identity through clean lines and a restrained aesthetic.

"Intended for visiting professors and lecturers, its compact size ensures easy portability.

"More than a gift, it acts as a tangible fragment of the campus – combining sustainability, locality and contemporary design into a meaningful object."

Students: Mikko Achrén, Irina Antturi, Anna Jefimova, Elina Le and Tiia Silvennoinen
Course: Collaboration Project

Checkmate by Sara Minkkinen

"Checkmate glass set is a story about a chess game I played with a friend. Neither of us knew the rules, so we created our own. Imagination and the exploration of possibilities served as the inspiration for the work.

"The central element of the work is its wave-like stand, which, together with the transparent glass, creates a light and floating effect.

"The symmetrical pattern adds contrast to the softness, making the work playful and challenging assumptions. The small vessels on the stand are like chess pieces waiting for their next move."

Student: Sara Minkkinen
Course: Design Methods, Basics of Glass
Email: sara.minkkinen[at]elisanet.fi

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Häme University of Applied Sciences. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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