What`s up Timo Niskanen?
Winner of Protoshop 2009.
1. You participated in Habitare’s Protoshop some time ago. How are you now? What are you up to at the moment?
I’m doing fine. I participated in the Protoshop exhibition with my Gimmelegs light fitting prototype. I have continued to work on light fittings. In 2014, I launched the Himmee lighting brand. The company’s range includes light fittings and candleholders designed by me.
The company was launched at Habitare in 2014, and we have since participated in Habitare every year. The company also employs my spouse, Hanna Valli.
2. What was the Protoshop experience like for you as a designer: what did it teach and offer you, what opportunities did it open up, and what insights did you get?
Protoshop provided practical lessons in working as a designer. Before the Protoshop exhibition, I had to consider the same things as I did when launching a new product under the Himmee brand, including product design, manufacture, photography, preparing written materials, communication, establishing contacts, and so on.
My prototype featured in Protoshop was set to be included in the range of a Finnish company, but in the end, the company did not launch the product for various reasons. As a result of this and other similar experiences, I decided to start my own lighting brand.
3. What are your dreams and aspirations as a designer?
I like designing new things, whether it’s a new product, concept or business idea. Besides Himmee, we are at the moment, together with my future business partner, developing a new company and an interior design concept for public spaces. I dream that Himmee’s story will continue to be successful and that our new concept will be well received.
Timo Niskanen