Interviews with Saara Korppi

I have blown glass since 2007 and educated as a Glassblower Artisan in 2013. After that I have studied two years in Sweden and had other specific glassblowing education from USA and Italy. Since I started, I have made my own design.

I started to design my glass design since I educated as a glassblower. I have always had an inner desire to create things with my hands and design my own things. I wanted a more practical approach for designing and so I educated as a glassblower. I started to design my glass design since I started to educate as a glassblower.

Learning new things has given me new approaches to design and better design.

Functionality, usage, looks

First my approach would be thinking and then sketching it. I make first models and then finalize the product final shape.

Excitement, joy and all emotions between. Making it is most exciting. I like most of glassblowing.

When I was a young, I did had painting and drawing courses. It helped me later to see things more on three dimensional.

Dream big and make big things true

Believe in yourself

Believe in yourself

First planning and i have different day themes

I would like think about that I make the trends

functionality and aesthetic

When it feels right technically and emotionally

The 30s Cognac Glass and the 30s Wine Glass because both have won the Silver Award

Tapio Wirkkala

My country has beautiful nature and it inspires me.

I work mostly solo, but some really complicated works need working partner in the working process.

I think it is great to involve these kind of things.

Recognition, PR, Award

My goal is to design high quality glass that looks good from all angles and emphasizes the shape of the glass when adding liquid. I always seek to create intriguing shapes, and my glass products reflect light in interesting ways.

The idea behind this work came from my previous 30s Cognac Glass design. It belongs to the same glass series and shares the same inspiration and shape of the cup. This 30s glass series continues celebrating me turning 30.

My goal is to design and make high quality handmade glassware that looks interesting from all angles and creates new experiences for the user. I sought to improve the taste of the drink by enhancing the functionality, shape and reflection of the glass containing the liquid.

To get recognition, my plan is to showcase the glass in exhibitions and sell it. I will also soon open my own online shop. I have been making small sets of glass and would like to continue it with this 30s glass series, too. I have made two award winning designs, the 30s Cognac Glass and the 30s Wine Glass, and am ready for new challenges, as well.

The process from sketching to final product takes time. For me, the most time-consuming phase is often to complete the final shape at the manufacturing stage. It requires a lot of learning and experimentation to get the shape I am looking for.

I got inspired and wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday. I am now 34 and still celebrating it. This product is continuation to my previous 30s Cognac Glass design.

I want to produce my design myself. I am not going to sell or lease the production rights. I am a glassblower and because of that I can produce the work myself.

I wanted to create new experiences for the user for designing glass that looks interesting at 360 degrees. I also wanted to create a glass that when filled with liquid will emphasize the shape of the glass and reflect light beautifully.

I also like glassblowing challenges and the visual effects that glass produces.

I also like glassblowing challenges and the visual effects that glass produces.

There are many good designers who inspire me. My favourite is the Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala. Also venetian glassblowing techniques have influenced my glassblowing.

Design and drink lovers.

It looks interesting from 360 degrees, and when filled with liquid, it will emphasize the shape of the glass and reflect light beautifully. Moreover, it is made with love.

The idea behind this name came to me on my 30th birthday. I created this 30s glass series to celebrate turning 30. This item belongs to the same glass series as 30s Cognac Glass as it shares the same inspiration and shape. I wanted to continue same glass series and make a 30s Wine Glass.

Sketch book and pen.

The cup has two inner-blown arches forming a special flattened shape. The shape of the glass, when filled with liquid, allows light to reflect from different angles, adding a special enjoyment to drinking.

I blew this glass design in a glass studio.

For this, I needed an assistant. Good teamwork is dreamwork.

Glassblowing technical skills were required.

Glassblowing techniques, trying out different things and using previous experience to guide the process.

Designing glass that looks interesting from 360 degrees combined with venetian glass blowing skills is truly challenging. Further, it is demanding to create a glass that when filled with liquid will emphasize the shape of the glass and reflect light beautifully. These wine glasses require a high level of glass blowing skills. At the beginning, the most difficult part in terms of technique was to make well-proportioned glasses with the right timing and in collaboration with an assistant. Finally, I found the right way to produce them.

I wanted to know how good my design is, and I wanted promotion for my design, as well. A’ Design Award and Competition issues the preliminary scores to let the participants know how good their design is before the nomination.

I learned new glassblowing technical skills.

I am a sensitive person. I pour my inner thoughts and emotions to the glass art design.

The idea behind this work came to me on my 30th birthday. Back then, I made an art glass object to celebrate turning 30. This item belongs to the same glass series as it shares the same inspiration and shape. I wanted to do something special where glass looks good every angle. And I like challenges.

I wanted design shape that looks good every angle and makes different reflections with liquid inside the glass adding enjoyment for drinking at the same time. The glass should be easy to grab and clean, and be light and thin. This was a challenging goal and led me to want to learn to blow glass better technically.

To get recognition, have showcase it the glass in exhibitions and sell it.

It didn’t take a lot of time. For me, the most time-consuming stage is often to complete the final shape at the manufacturing stage. It requires a lot of learning and experimentation to get the shape I am looking for.

This was pure inspiration and I was happy to celebrate turning 30 with the art object called 30s. I am now 33 and still celebrating.

I want to produce my design myself. I am not going to sell or lease the production rights. I am glassblower and because of that I can produce the work myself.

I like whisky, glassblowing challenges, and the visual effects that glass produces.

There are many good designers. My favourite designer is Finnish Tapio Wirkkala. Also Venetian glassblowing techniques have influenced my glassblowing.

Design and drink lovers.

Glass looks good every angle with and without liquid. And the design is made from the heart.

The idea behind this work came to me on my 30th birthday. Back then, I made an art glass object called 30s to celebrate turning 30. This item belongs to the same glass series as it shares the same inspiration and shape. I wanted to create cognac glass for my 30-year celebration.

Sketch book

Looks good every angle when drink inside and reflects light from every angle

and it is easy to grab.

I glass blew this design in the Glass studio.

Glassblowing technical skills were required.

Glassblowing techniques and testing different things and using previous experience to guide the process.

At the beginning, the most difficult part was to make two identical blown arches to the bottom and to find the right bottom angle and distance between the arches.

I wanted to know how good my design is. And I wanted promotion for my design.

A’ Design Award and Competition has got preliminary score to know how good your design is before you nominate it.

I learned new glassblowing technical skills.

My secret ingredient for designing is being highly sensitive person. I pour my inner thoughts and emotions to the glass art design.

I studied for 3 years at the Nuutajärvi glass school in Finland and graduated as an Artisan glassblower in 2010. Then, straight after Nuutajärvi I studied one year in the glassblowing postgraduate program in the Nordic Programmer in the Riksglasskolan in Orrefors in Sweden. I continued studies in Orrefors for one year and graduated with a higher education as a Design and Art glassblower in 2013. In addition to this, I studied at advanced glassblowing workshops in Venice in Italy and in the USA. In my studies, I had focused on Venetian glassblowing which includes the production of goblet glasses.

I have always had an inner desire to create things with my hands and design my own things. I wanted to express myself and have more practical approach for designing, so I sought an education as a glassblower. Passion for glassblowing and experiencing its challenges and opportunities, has inspired me as a designer of glass.

Sensitivity is my strength. I have always been sensitive to inner and outer beauty. I've always wanted to express myself and bring out my sensitivity to the design. When I became a glassblower, I wanted to make my own design and try new techniques. It is a pleasure for me to design.

I mainly design practical glassware. Within this genre, I would like to take on new challenges, such as making goblets, lamps, and plates with new techniques.

Know yourself. Focus on the things you are good at and make them better. Believe in yourself.

Great designer brings out her sensitivity to glassware. Designer's Sensitivity and Self-Knowledge is a resource from which the designer draws her own unique handwriting that tells the story.

Good design adds value for experience by its aesthetic and functionality.

Good design means high quality products with high beauty, functionality, practicality and durability. New innovations make your life easier and better.

I would be interested to design lightning, decorative items and other glass wall elements to homes.

Free to do everything from glass to unlimited, collaborative projects and exhibitions, goblets and glass jewelry design.

Being deeply sensitive person.

Tapio Wirkkala, Timo Sarpaneva, Davide Fuin (goblets)

Ultima Thule series by Tapio Wirkkala. It has got uniqueness and naturalness and is from Finland. More spesifically, it reflects nature and ice and water formations. This work makes me proud to be Finnish.

I've designed and made the 30s Cognac Glass and the 30s Wine Glass, both of which I'm really proud of. Glass adds value to the design of both by its shape by looking good from every perspective with or without liquid inside.

Practise a lot and make mistakes. Get to know your material and yourself and your strengths. Teamwork and dream work.

Glassblower assistant for other glassblower masters in other glassblowing studios or blowing some other designers’ products as a glassblower.

Design is a dance between planning and practice.

Family and friends.

Thank you all.

Learning from the best and lots of practice. To get to know yourself.

I needed many years of practice, experience, teamwork and patience. I needed to think about material and to solve upcoming technical problems.

What the designer’s instinct says.

I'm planning to extend the 30s glass series and already have a couple of models ready for production. Additionally, I'm now working on new exhibition glass pieces, too.

To become the world's most famous designer from Finland and to push Finnish design forward. I also hope I'll soon be able to make a living out of designing and blowing glass.

Quality products with new design perspectives and solutions.

It brings people together and makes life little bit better.

I'm having my own big exhibition next year in Helsinki, Finland and am working now on new glass pieces and series for it.

Making the 30s Cognac Glass and 30s Wine Glass. I wanted to challenge myself and learned something new about designing and glassblowing techniques.

More handcrafted glass, different goblets and wineglasses.

Different shapes with straight lines, more colors and integrated technology of the glass.

Drawing, processing, trying and handcrafting takes as long as I am happy with the result.

I think of designing object in three dimensions and then sketching it on paper. Then I make the first models and improve it to get the final shape.

Believe in yourself.

Unconsciously, we take inspiration from around ourselves and make our design look different during different time periods. Each era has its own handprint.

I like to experiment new glassblowing techniques by updating old techniques and adding something new for them.

Glassblowing tools, sketch book and Glass studio and image processing software.

I have used recycled glass. I make good quality designs which can handle time. Adding colors with different combinations makes glass design interesting.

Have you made it yourself?

Original and clear lines that is appealing to the eye. They are using new perspective and techniques.

Working partner who has the same goals. He makes his own design.

Partner is better than me, who inspires and pushes me forward. I learnn always something new from him and get more perspectives.

I've learned something valuable from every work community, work partners and from all that I've observed.

Saara Hopea and Tapio Wirkkala designer books

It is a long journey.

I am still developing and practicing to design things better. I practice, learn from mistakes. Having a normal-, and glassblowing education is useful for designing glass.

Vincent Van Gogh

My journey has just started.

Deep Red,

Summer, Finnish vendace fish, Glassblowing and there are many favorite brands.

There is so many that I could not point any.

I finally achieved my goals after hard work. I am fortunate to be able to express myself with glassblowing. Adding good motivational music and teamwork which makes me happy. As a bonus would be that I finally achieved my goals after hard work. I would like to reach my goals and dreams.

No but I was always into expressing myself and curious about everything around and nature as well.

I hope we can build a better future for ourselves.

Thank you for believing in me.

I have always had an inner desire to create things with my hands and design my own things. I wanted a more practical approach for designing and so I educated as a glassblower.

Learning new things has given me new approaches to design and better design.

I work as a glass blower in the Glass Studio in Finland. It is situated in the fortress area of Suomenlinna island in Helsinki, so it is always interesting to go there. I design and blow my own glass design. I blow custom glasswork from drinking glasses to chandleries.

I will set up my own business and then get the glass available to wider customers.

Design is a dance between planning and practice.

Practical design is near to my heart. I like the most to do challenging glass and use new glass blowing techniques. Goblets are one of the most challenging.

All challenging design technically, which adds to my knowledge and skills.

I look forward to it. I have now only designed for myself.

Glass and glassblowing techniques. Glass has endless possibilities.

At night just before sleeping or during glass making.

A wide range of emotions such as excitement and joy.

A wide range of emotions such as excitement and joy.

After finishing a product, I feel relief and gratefulness. I feel that I am ready for new challenges.

It's easy to use. An innovation combined with good looks from every angle and situation. It helps to improve your life by improving the quality of use.

It's functionality. Whether it's easy to use and how you plan to use it.

Designing good quality products that last in use.

Organic shapes with electricity together.

My last group exhibition "Finnish Glass Lives 8" was in 2020 in the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki in Finland. And my last private exhibition “Pian sataa taas” was in 2019 in the Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius in HELSINKI in FINLAND. Next year I am going to have a big glass exhibition. There are going to be a couple of surprises.

My inspiration comes from Finnish nature such as northern lights, rock formations, and especially water as liquid, steam and ice. I like textures and different forms and how water elements shape and reflect light in the different seasons.

I like clear lines and softness. I want to explore new techniques.

Design aspects feeling to reflect inner emotions and growth.

I live in Helsinki, Finland. I take a lot of inspiration from Finnish nature and its seasons. I think that cultural heritage affects design. Some great Finnish designers have influenced my design. We have practical design and it is a benefit. I hope we could have more works of art and designers because it would be easier for designers to get out of the crowd.

I am looking forward to working with companies. I am happy to listen to a company’s needs.

The designer listens to companies and has problem-solving skills.

They can create solutions for products and thus develop new technologies.

I think of designing objects in three dimensions and then sketching them on paper. Then I make the first models and improve it to get its final shape.

They are a 30s Cognac Glass, a leather jacket, a leather handbag, lighting and a pair of shoes.

First, I plan for the day. I go to the glass blowing studio to blow the glass. There is a Glass Melting Furnace. Inside the oven there is molten glass and the temperature can rise to 1210 degrees. Molten glass is like honey. After finishing the glass object, I set it to cool slowly in the cooling oven to remove the glass tension. It is ready the next day. After the working day I fill the Melting Furnace with glass.

Focus on where you are good and make it better. Believe in yourself.

I can express myself. Sometimes it is difficult to create new things.

Make art from heart and do it if it feels right.

I would like to think of this as a whole concept. It is visual, functional, practical and material knowledge. Being able to convert ideas to ready-made products and find solutions to problems and thus develop new technologies.

Sketch book, glassblowing techniques book, glassblowing tools and computer hardware.

Living a day at a time and make future plans.

It depends on what you are doing. There are many steps in designing an idea to a finished product, and it depends on your experience and how complex it is.

How it feels like to win a design contest?

The wholeness is what matters. There were jobs where I learned from master glass blower and improved myself technically and mentally. I learned glassblowing techniques and something new about myself.

Design lovers who seek for quality products with individual looks and shapes. They want a design that adds value to the use of the object with appearance, functionality and ease of use. They value handcrafted design where every piece is unique.

I can’t really name something in particular.

Something that challenges me and where I can learn something new.

Goblets are one of them because of the skillful techniques that are needed.

I am excited about my future.

My next plan is to have an exhibition and make a new glass series for it. I’m soon opening my new webpages where you can see more of my new designs and news. I am looking forward to being a skilled designer and a glassblower.

I design and create my designs and mostly work alone except for some complicated glass making techniques that require a manufacturing team.

Now I make new glass objects for the exhibition. I have some upcoming surprises.

I have my Instagram account where you could contact me too and now I am building new webpages. Email is the best option to contact me.

I am grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported me with my goals