Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Finland’s Top Creative Agencies 2018
Co-founders Ilmari Mansikkamäki (left) and Sid Kumpurinne (right).
Collective creative know-how What happens when you pool together young creatives with a wide range of knowledge and specialist skills? Secret Synapse is a design agency that believes its collective versatility allows the designers to throw themselves into projects and bring a fresh angle to their work. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Ville Aro
Secret Synapse co-founders Sid Kumpurinne and Ilmari Mansikkamäki were classmates at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki, and Lahti Institute of Design graduate Riku Tuppela joined the team later. What sets them apart from other design agencies is that each worker is also a shareholder in the company. “We work individually or as a team, whichever suits the project or client in question best. Our collective knowledge is very broad, and we each bring our own visions and strengths to the table,” explains Kumpurinne, the company’s design strategist. Part of Secret Synapse’s uniqueness is the designers’ autonomy: they have the freedom to do jobs independently and choose their own projects. “Due to our 90 | Issue 111 | April 2018
business model, we are able to harness smaller freelancers into our team, and we can combine all our knowledge together without losing our own identities. In other design offices, projects usually have a very set process, which does have its advantages, but we believe a design office should adapt to the clients’ needs, rather than vice versa. We want to be a versatile boutique agency that tailors each project and serves clients personally,” Kumpurinne states. From web design and spatial concept design to branding and video content, Secret Synapse is able to cover a wide range of creative work. At the moment, they are in the process of launching an apple juice press, designed for a client. “The apple juice press is made from antibacterial
bamboo materials. It not only looks good and is affordable, but it is very powerful and is able to crush apples much faster than other juicers. From the initial design to production and building prototypes, we are about to launch the final product this spring,” says Kumpurinne. “We have the capacity to solve big problems and undertake large projects, and we want to be a place where designers can use their full potential and be free to explore their interests and passions,” the design strategist concludes.
Web: www.secretsynapse.pro