Interviews met Hanna Korhonen

I began my journey as a designer-goldsmith in 1998 when I started my jewellery designer education in University of Applied Sciences in Kuopio, Finland. From the very first day I sat at the bench it felt like home. Later on I have completed my education with a specialized vocational qualification and am now also a master goldsmith.

As I look back in time, my journey has always been on the path to creative industries. My interests, hobbies, educational choices and people around me are mostly from that field.

I think the universe has nudged me in that direction all my life. I had other plans as well and I had opportunities to try them out, but jewellery design was the one that drew me in.

I love unique, gala style jewellery, where you can really stretch your imagination and try out different materials and combinations.

Just be themselves and find their own inner passion and calling which to pursue. Don’t try to become something specific you think you should be, just be true to yourself and put all your effort and work in that foundation to create and succeed.

Good designer makes products look good and be usable, great designer produces new ideas and ways to think about said products in addition.

Design and designing in a whole is something we all use but rarely realise its existence. When you are either amazed by the magnificence of the design or you don't notice it at all, then the design is well executed.

Good design is timeless, effortless, and natural. You feel joy using the product when it is designed well and it lasts from decades to decades, or centuries and millenias. Oftentimes they even add in their value.

I would love to create a unique gala collection with a fashion clothing designer. It would be lovely to combine jewellery and clothing design ideas together. It is a dream project.

I actually don’t know! There is kind of a gut feeling when the design I am creating is good, then I know I am going in the right direction. I have also always been curious and creative, I believe that could be one of the ingredients.

Björn Weckström and René Lalique. The rough and natural approach of Weckström, with lovely contrasting accents and gorgeous entwining and organic Art Nouveau designs from Lalique are two of my favorites in the jewellery design field. It is impossible to choose a favourite piece from either of them..!

My greatest design is yet to come. I always find something to improve. At the moment my favourite design from my collections is the Blue Holly necklace. It is a giant butterfly necklace which is strung around the neck by its antennae and it opens and closes by moving its wings. I love how there aren't any odd locking mechanisms or other adjunct elements, but only the parts of the butterfly.

With pride. At least Finnish designers (including me) have a problem with being proud of their own work. Many easily downplay their skills.

I have had a project for a couple of years to add in my unique gala styled collections and that is still an ongoing project. Expect gorgeous, Art Nouveauish, unique jewellery with marvellous contrast in texture and colours.

To share my knowledge with the beginning designers and hopefully leave something in history that would enrich the everyday lives of future generations.

Design plays in everything in society. It is an immediate contact surface between the people and the everyday world we have created. It influences how we interact with products, services, environments, and intangible aspects like emotions, identity, and social norms. At its best design solves problems in society.

I would love to see that after the initial excitement, the AI would be used as a responsible tool to create, not the main creator of new designs. It is a wonderful tool which unfortunately at the moment seems to have become the master instead of servant.

I think we have already started moving in the direction of responsibility in all of the areas of production and I believe that is the heading still for the future years.

It depends. Sometimes it can happen in the matter of weeks, sometimes it can take years to accomplish.

My main work is custom made jewellery. Usually I familiarize myself with the material and guidelines for the piece of jewellery, which can be a wedding ring, gift for graduation etc., and I will let my subconscious work with that. After a while I start sketching the piece and at the time I usually have some vague or more thought of designs already in my mind.

“Jewellery is poetry in the world of products”

They are memories preserved in a small and beautiful form. Filled with stories and deep meaning.

I think they walk hand in hand. There are weak signals that guide us all the time and they can emerge wherever. There can be designs popping up that have similarities before they have had the time to encounter in any way.

Nonexistent! I do all my designing by hand. When I create the pieces there are of course electric tools as well as hand tools, but when I design I use pen and paper.

It sets for example the mood, emotion, tension and can indicate or symbolise something for the individual or group. It is psychology and a way of communication.

Awe. It is wonderful to see something that no-one has thought of before.

Fashion designer from the world of clothing. Our fields of expertise overlap and I believe we could have something that each could benefit from.

I have been an entrepreneur since 2006. I have done designer's work with my clients every day which has led me to constantly develop as a designer. I have been challenging myself also via different competitions in Finland and internationally. Competitions also provide great feedback on whether I am on the right track in my work.

My father. He passed away just as I was starting my entrepreneurial career. My company was just a few days old then. I would love to show him how it turned out and have a chat with him about this whole creative field of work amongst other things.

I don’t consider myself famous, I am still a bit shy if I get recognized for my competition successes..! But I am proud of every achievement I have accomplished, it just takes time to internalize this.

Orange, forest, pasta carbonara (one of them), early autumn, authenticity, Hanna K Design & Jewellery (*nudge, wink* of course!)

A few years ago there was a soon to be married couple who unbeknownst to each other both came to my atelier to order a gift as a surprise to one another. It was quite a juggle to try to book their appointments so that they didn't see each other or that I didn't ruin the surprise in any other way! But I did manage to keep the secret and they were completely unaware and happily surprised with their lovely gifts to each other on the wedding day morning.

Of course being an entrepreneur takes its toll and can be hard from time to time, but the actual work as a designer has never been unpleasant. Mostly I have to pinch myself to grasp the fact that I do this for a living. I love this job!

It wasn't, though my path has always leaned towards creative fields, arts etc.

Oh dear, I just hope humankind has resolved its multiple issues and is still around, creating and realizing something positive, meaningful and significant.

Don’t be a stranger, contact me if there is anything I can help you with or if you wish to chat about design.

Thank you for the interview, it was a pleasure!

I began my journey as a designer-goldsmith in 1998 and from the very first day I sat at the bench it felt like home. It was incredible to create these almost mystical creations by my own hands. I have had a company called Hanna K Design & Jewellery since 2006.

My atelier is located in Kuopio at the middle of Finland, or as the residents say - the center of the universe.

My company manifesto is that jewellery is poetry in the world of products. They are memories preserved in a small and beautiful form. Filled with stories and meaning.

It is such a bliss to be able to do this for the living and take part in different moments of people's lives, be it challenges, love, birth, sorrow...

When I am rested and usually when I am in the depths of nature.

We, the jewellery designers, are in the business of healing the hearts and preserving the important moments.

There are at least two finnish exhibitions in 2024 where you can see my creations. One in Eura, Ruukinpuisto: Tuhat Korujen Vuotta - Thousand Years of Jewellery, jewellery inspired by the ancient finds from Eura, and one in Espoo: Con Amore exhibition, which shows the works of master goldsmiths.

The shape of my jewelry is mostly given by nature. Its mathematics and randomness, its roughness and clarity of form, its majesty and grace offer ideas endlessly. The creations of the masters of Art Nouveau will never cease to delight me time and time again.

I create unique and custom made jewellery and small series jewellery from precious metals and gemstones. My designs usually revolve around nature, contrasts in form, colours and textures, light and shadow or philosophic points of view.

I live in Finland. Our cultural heritage is bound mostly with silence and nature. They present themselves in my designs with simple and understated forms and also as decorative and even rough forms and textures.

This approach of designing is very common in Finland and one has to invent it differently in order to distinguish oneself from the others.

In the weekday's morning I ride my bicycle to atelier every day, be it winter or summer. Almost always the first thing is to put on some music.

My working day consists of drawing new designs and getting them to clients for analysis and opinions or for them to select. I usually have meetings with clients or colleagues during the day, but mostly I spend the time at the bench making the new creations.

"To thine own self be true". Be yourself, create and design with honesty. Don't try to bend in to any trend that is ongoing. You might be the one who produces the next one.

Nature first.

My designer superpower is to interpret and fulfill my client's dreams and ideas. I love to bring the jewellery to life from the vast sea of possibilities. Customers always provide a great inspiration and starting point for design.

I am an old school designer when it comes to tools of design. Pen and paper. Creating 3D models from physical materials. Inspirational books. When I need computer skills or such, I contact those who are skilled in that area of expertise.

This is a challenge for most people working in the creative field. The work can follow you everywhere and the creative process is constant. I try to detach myself from it with the help of meditation and forest hikes.

It depends. Some occasions the design presents itself and is almost completely ready as it emerges, but sometimes the birth is a lot linger and exhausting. You can never tell how it goes!

Most commonly people want to know how I come up with these designs, how I can invent a new design again and again.

Mostly individual clients who wish to commemorate or celebrate an occasion by preserving the moment in a piece of jewellery.

Unique custom work is the dearest to me, and over time, the focus of my jewellery making has naturally shifted to them. Creating something new and finding the innermost of the client who will wear the jewellery piece, and reaching their visions is always a great experience.

I am looking for international collaboration with stylists, fashion designers and costume designers in film industry to create custom and statement jewellery for galas, movies, fashion shows and red carpets.

Dresses, gowns and suits are designed and modified to celebrate and fit the fashion occasion and the wearer. Matching jewellery and fashion accessories need not be found, instead they can also be made alongside with the clothing to match, fit and possibly even blend with the ensemble. This is my area of expertise, this is what I live and breath.

I create the designs myself, but I usually design jewellery together with the client. There are no specific designs they should choose from, but the jewellery and collections are made as unique, purpose-built individuals to fit their needs and specifications.

It is easiest to contact me via social media, for example in Instagram (instagram.com/hanna_k_design) or by email at hanna@hannakorhonen.fi.

The collection serves as a direct counter-approach to traditional diamonds, their dazzling, almost blinding sparkle, and the social status they represent. By stripping away the sparkle, the piece is reduced to a "wireframe model," setting the diamond shape in a completely new light. This shift gives room to the pure graphic form, making the piece an open geometric object where the inside and outside can be viewed simultaneously. It reflects a trend where luxury is defined by intellectual geometry and concept rather than material cost, bridging the gap between high luxury and bold, abstract unisex design.

The idea brewed in my mind after I was working on a wireframe-based, geometric custom jewellery piece for a client. Normally, a diamond's facets and mathematically precise cuts are only visible at extremely close range under a magnifying glass, and they are especially hard to see all around once a stone is set. I wanted to reveal the mathematical design and beauty of gemstone cuts on a large, accessible scale so that anyone can look "inside the diamond" to see the absolute precision of its lines.

The collection carries a strong ethical message: these are "diamond" pieces you can wear if you have concerns regarding the sustainability or ethics of real gemstones. The luxury appeal is maintained not by the sparkle of a mined stone, but through sophisticated craftsmanship, 3D precision, and striking material finishes (like gold plating and acid whitening on 925 sterling silver). Sustainability is also centered in my way of work as all the precious metals are almost completely recycled. As a metaphor with 4C collection, stripping away the blinding sparkle reveals a beautiful, delicate inner core, symbolizing that beneath anyone's outer shell lies beauty.

I have a deep artistic fondness for contrasts, such as smooth versus rough, or light versus shadow. Technically, the wireframe outlines of the silver allow for beautiful texturing: the exterior wire surfaces are highly polished, while the interior surfaces are left rough and patinated (darkened). For the lighter variations, gold plating or acid whitening is used on the inside. This deliberate contrast drastically enhances the three-dimensional depth of the pieces through the interplay of light and shadow. Light and shadow play not only in the materials, but philosophical aspects as well.

The primary challenge was achieving the absolute sharpness, flawless precision, and perfect mathematical angles of traditional gemstone facets in a lightweight, wearable format. Overcoming this required relying heavily on advanced technology, which ensured the flawless execution of the cuts. The resulting design achieved my ultimate goal: creating large, jaw-droppingly striking jewellery pieces that still remain remarkably light and comfortable to wear.

While I rarely use 3D technology in my usual custom work, it was absolutely preferred for this collection. The perfect sharpness of the edges and the mathematical faultlessness could best be achieved through new technology. However, the final artistry relies entirely on traditional hand-finishing: applying the dark patination, acid whitening, meticulous outer polishing, and gold plating. This blend allowed me to achieve flawless geometry while retaining the poetic, soulful touch of hand-wrought jewellery.

The collection expanded from a singular brilliant-cut concept into a highly versatile, multi-faceted collection. It grew to encompass an array of distinct gemstone cuts, including princess, pear (drop), and marquise cuts and limited edition heart cut. The lineup evolved to feature short delicate chains with detachable "diamonds" (which can double as standalone art objects), long necklaces featuring an integrated small accent diamond surprise, and a massive variety of stud and hook earrings that repeat the geometric theme even in their hooks and studs.

The collection shows that a piece of jewellery can be a powerful "statement" or "power jewellery". By embedding a conscious choice into the design, as in standing as a beautiful alternative for those who question the ethics of real gemstones, it proves that future trends do not have to rely on old fashion status symbols. Design can be abstract, graphic, and open to interpretation, acting as an intellectual conversation starter rather than just passive decoration. Jewellery should fundamentally be a channel for showcasing the wearer's personality and values.

It has proven to the market that the classic "4 Cs" of a diamond (Cut, Carat, Colour, Clarity) can be completely reinterpreted without using an actual gemstone. By capturing the mathematical lines in precious metals, the collection makes the hidden art of lapidary (gem cutting) accessible to the naked eye. It shifts consumer perspectives from valuing the scarcity of a mineral to valuing the form and engineering of the cut itself, widening the market to include both men and women through an abstract, unisex appeal.

This project reinforces that the future of ethical jewellery design lies in highlighting deep meaning, sustainability, and high-tech execution hand in hand with traditional gold smithing, over raw material extraction. Jewellery is a form of poetry: moments, massive stories, and values compressed into a beautiful, compact form. We can create incredibly impactful jewellery that honors the environment while celebrating the magnificent "inner core" of the person wearing it.