Mikko Laakkonen was born in Espoo in 1974. After graduating as a musical instrument maker, he studied furniture design at Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences, and later received his Masters degree from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. After working in design and architecture firms for several years, Mikko founded Studio Mikko Laakkonen in 2004. The Studio offers product design services, with the main focus on everyday items. Mikko’s designs have been on display in several exhibitions around Europe, the United States, China and Japan. He has been awarded a number of international and national prizes, including:  German Design Award (2017), Turkey Design Award (2016), Red dot design award honourable mention (2016), Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design Award (2016, 2015 & 2010), Muuuz International Awards 2014, Finnish Designer Awards ’14: Furniture Designer Of The Year, Red dot: best of the best design award (2013) Red dot design award (2012), and the Young Designer of the Year prize (2009).