Nikari launches Perch, the winner of the first FDS Award

The Perch bar stool, designed by Wesley Walters and Salla Luhtasela, has been brought to market by Nikari, known for its high-quality wooden furniture. In March 2016, the stool won the first FDS Award, organised by Finnish Design Shop. With the design competition, the Finnish online retailer seeks to commercialize new ideas and pave their way to store shelves.

“One and a half a year ago, when we made the decision to launch FDS Award, our greatest wish was that the winning designs would make it to production. We are delighted that Perch has found its place in Nikari's product range. Finding a manufacturer is not easy for designers, and it's great that we have been able to help in this process with our competition“, says Teemu Kiiski, CEO of Finnish Design Shop. “We look forward to launching the second FDS Award!”

What caught Nikari's attention in Perch was the clean design and skilful use of wood. ‘Our collection has lacked a threelegged stool with a foot bar, so Perch was perfect for us, based on its aesthetics, material and functionality’, says the CEO of Nikari, Johanna Vuorio and adds, ‘The collaboration with Finnish Design Shop and the designers has been a great experience and enabled us to go through a new kind of product development process.’ The stool is crafted from oak and manufactured entirely in Finland.

The Aalto University students Wesley Walters and Salla Luhtasela are excited about the success of Perch and the collaboration with the Finnish manufacturer. ‘Nikari represents a dream company for us’, states Luhtasela. ‘If I want something produced, I would want it to be done there. It's beautiful, stylish work and really built to last‘, explains Walters.

The designers got the inspiration for the smooth, round seat from the wooden door handle of an old building in Helsinki. They stool was originally designed for their exhibition, allowing the duo to sit down during the long days.

’We made a high one for me and a lower one for Salla’, says Walters. The Perch stool was introduced as a 63 cm high version, which is perfect for domestic kitchen islands and will be accompanied by a higher model, suitable for bar counters, in the future. The stool comes in natural and black stained oak, and is available for purchase at Finnish Design Shop for 295 euros (incl. VAT).

The second FDS Award design competition is open for submissions from 7 September 2016 to 31 January 2017. A total of 10 000 euros will be awarded to three winners, published on 15 March 2017. The FDS Award competition rules and programme are available at: www.finnishdesignshop.com/fdsaward

Source: Nikari

Perch product pictures (white background) by: Chikako Harada

Perch interior pictures by: Riikka Kantinkoski

Portrait by: Pauliina Salonen

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