About
Mari Koppanen is a Finnish designer currently pursuing her PhD in Artistic Research at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. With an educational background in clothing and furniture design, she operates at the intersection of design, material innovation, and artistic inquiry.
Koppanen’s design portfolio spans various mediums such as furniture, bio-textiles, and pottery, showcasing her versatility and commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary design. Her cross-disciplinary research methods, combined with artistic exploration, challenge conventional material hierarchies, highlighting the aesthetic and practical potential of forward-thinking material resources in contemporary design and craft contexts.
Contact:
info(at)marikoppanen.com
Education
2021 - Present
Ph.D. Research Candidate, Artistic Research, Design Department, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2017-2019
Master’s Degree, Interior Architecture and Furniture Design, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2014-2017
Bachelor’s Degree, Furniture Design, LiU Malmstens
2009-2012
Vocational Degree, Artisan Clothing and Fashion, Pirkanmaan käsi- ja taideteollisuusoppilaitos
Grants and awards
2024 Dezeen, Emerging Designer of the Year, Dezeen Awards, Nomination
2024 DOGA Stikk travel grant
2024 The Finnish Cultural Foundation
2024 Huonekalusäätiö (Furniture Foundation)
2024 Asko Foundation
2023 BOBEDRE Norge: The Newcomer of the Year, Nomination
2023 The Finnish Cultural Foundation
2022 Asko Foundation
2022 European Commission, Worth Partnership Project
2021 State Artist Grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (TAIKE)
2020 Asko Foundation
2019 Designers’ Saturday Best Talents Award, 1st and 2nd place
2019 FKDS, Fund for Art and Design Students, Best MA Project of the year
2019 Asko Foundation
2018 Ruohonjuuri Fund
2018 Huonekalusäätiö (Furniture Foundation)
2016 Travel grant, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
2016 Asko Foundation
Selected exhibitions
2025 Emerging Talents, House of Switzerland, Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy
2025 KÄÄPÄ, Nordiska Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
2025 REVIVE, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Desing Festival, Toronto, Canada
2024 Material Acts, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, California
2024 KÄÄPÄ+, Material Matters, London Design Festival, London, UK
2024 Indalo, Galerie Joseph, Paris Design Week, Paris, France
2024 KÄÄPÄ+, TRANSCENDENCE, 3daysofdesign, Copenhagen, Denmark
2023 Textile Design Now, Centre de Design, Montreal, Canada
2023 Innovationlabs: Future Materials Bank, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Netherlands
2023 Designers Saturday, Oslo Event Hub, Oslo, Norway
2023 EU Worth Partnership Project, Fuorisalone Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy
2023 Furniture & Light Fair, Greenhouse, Stockholm Design Week, Sweden
2022 ISOLA Materialized, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Netherlands
2022 What’s the Matter?, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Oslo, Norway
2022 Incantatio Mundi, Romanian Design Week, Iasi, Romania
2022 Change to exchange, Design Festival Bern, Bern, Switzerland
2022 A Baby A Beast, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Oslo
2022 Habitare Talentshop, Helsinki, Finland
2019 Designers’ Saturday, Best Talents, Oslo, Norway
2019 Avgang, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Oslo, Norway
2019 YOU’RE NOT TO… - Deichman Main Library, Oslo, Norway
2018 NÅT NORDIC - China Furniture Industry Expo, Nankang, China
2018 YOU’RE NOT TO - Fuorisalone Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy
2017 DESIGN IN PINE - China International Furniture Fair, Shanghai, China
2017 DESIGN IN PINE, Furniture & Light Fair, Stockholm, Sweden