“Form and function must be in balance” is the key phrase in Finnish design, and graphic designer Pekka Loiri fulfills this challenge perfectly.
Born on March 30th, 1946, in Helsinki, Finland, Loiri studied art and design at various places, including the Aukusti Tuhka School of Graphic Art. Loiri established his studio, Studio Pekka Loiri, in 1982, originally named Loiri Oy. Besides studio work, he has also taught at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki (now Aalto Univ.), held the chancellor’s post at the MG School Helsinki, and has lectured at a number of universities all around the world. He is currently a visiting professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. On top of an amazing teaching career, he’s also had numerous international solo exhibitions, and has won numerous awards like the Czech Ladislav Surtnar Award, the Icocrada Excellence Award, and the Pro Finlandia Medal.
To quote fellow designer Kari Piippo, “Pekka’s design is based on an idea, and he always has a story to tell. The messages are understandable and often involve warm humor. He wisely dares to leave room for the viewer’s own imagination as well. Pekka Loiri uses graphic design tools in a versatile and inspiring way. His works are always characterized by sophisticated typography. Pekka is a great friend of classical music, which is evident in his posters. They are visual music.”
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