Design Forum Finland has awarded two new-generation designers with the title of Young Designer of the Year 2008. Furniture and fashion designer Naoto Niidome and ceramic Nathalie Lähdenmäki share the title.

The jury praised the victorious designers about their subtle design, profound spiritualism and original and surprising design. Both have designed for well-known design labels such as Iittala and Marimekko.

Finnish-Japanese Naoto Niidome, born in 1974, has studied interior and furniture design at the University of Art and Design. Typical features of Niidome’s design are timeless and 3-dimensional lines, abundant details and experimenting with materials and techniques. Niidome was also awarded with the title of the Young Fashion Designer of the Year 2002.

”It’s said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, but beauty can also be defined through a vision of a designer. Beauty has certain rules. It’s not enough if an object is considered beautiful, there has to be people who understand the beauty, too. This is prerequisite for achieving appreciation” ponders Niidome.

Young Designer of the Year 2008 was chosen by a jury consisted of designers Harri Koskinen and Ilkka Suppanen, professor Raimo Nikkanen from the University of Art and Design Helsinki, curator Jukka Savolainen from Design Museum and CEO Mikko Kalhama from Design Forum Finland.