Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Finland’s Top Creative Agencies 2018
Graphic play
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Stringular
Accentuating stories and graphics with individually composed music, Finnish design studio Stringular is turning graphic work into graphic play. The results are distinct visual features for interactive media, TV and film. Music, film, and computers have been the three passions of Finnish Tuomas Järvenpää ever since he was a teenager. Through Stringular, his design studio, he uses all of them to create distinct motion graphics and visuals. “My clients see it as a huge advantage that I can produce my own music for their visuals instead of using stock music. I can build the story, the visuals and the music from scratch, and I think that’s why they keep coming back.” Having worked in the industry for 18 years, Järvenpää founded Stringular three years ago. His strong network and reputation have since brought the studio a wide range of national and international clients within the world of TV, product branding and marketing. Mixing analogue and graphic elements, Järvenpää finds inspiration through his walks and runs in the nature surrounding his studio in Tampere. “Every time I start
something, it’s like a magical process. I make creations from nothing, and that’s a pretty awesome feeling,” says the graphic designer. Järvenpää also creates his own short films and experiments to keep exploring new practices. The ultimate dream, he says, is to work on the title sequence of a Hollywood feature film. “I feel that my work is more like play than work. If I didn’t have to pay the bills, I’d probably still do it for free.”
Web: www.stringular.com
Visual versatility
92 | Issue 111 | April 2018
‘I feel that my work is more like play than work,’ says Tuomas Järvenpää, founder of Stringular.
By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Annukka Repo
From a young age, Annukka Repo, also known as Nukka, was always interested in the arts. Often drawing inspiration from the Finnish nature around her, Repo’s love of art led her to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in design, in English. “I’ve always been interested in design, user experience and beautiful visuals,” says Repo. From logos and business card designs to user experience projects for magazines, Repo is able to cater to an array of client needs. Her recent projects include an information booklet on peer mentoring in workshops for the city of Tampere’s employment services, and a board game based on the Kalevala, the epic poetry that consists of Finnish folklore and mythology. “With each project, I can advise clients on small details such as what colours to choose for optimal user experience, and other important design features that they will need to take into account,” she explains. In addition, Repo offers two-hour training courses for job hunters on how to improve the visual appeal of their ap-
Finnish design studio Stringular creates distinct visual features for interactive media, TV and film.
plications. “I offer practical advice and training on how to make a CV as memorable as possible to recruiters, and how to improve on its layout, making it easier to read, which is invaluable to those looking for work,” she says. Thriving on the interaction with her clients, Repo’s passion for her work shines
through in the way she talks about it. “What inspires me most is people; they are the biggest driver of my creativity, whether on my training course or in my various design projects,” Repo concludes. Annukka Repo.
Kalevala board game.
Peer-mentoring booklet.
Web: www.nukkarepo.com Facebook: NukkaRepo Instagram: @NukkaRepo