As a designer, studied both Fashion Design and Graphic Design at the university, how do you compare these two diciplines? What's your greatest aim for your career?

When I was studying fashion design I always did all the designing thru illustrations and prints and soon noticed that it was what I wanted to do. I was never too keen on the 3 dimensional thinking what it's needed when designing clothes so I started studying graphic design and have not regret it.

In the future I want to be part of making this world a bit more beautiful by doing good graphic design and illustrations.

What are you expecting from the new year, 2008? Do you have upcoming projects that you wish to share some clues with us about?

I plan to devote some more time to my t-shirt brand to make some new prints. I'm also doing a couple of group exhibitions, the other one with silkscreen printing which is my great passion.

If Finland didn't exist on the world map, which country and which city would you like to go most? And why?

Probably Copenhagen, Denmark. I lived there for a year and enjoyed the city full of creative and energetic people.

Would you please tell us about your t-shirt company, Girls of Boredom?

The t-shirt label "Girls of Boredom" was found in 2005. The whole idea is for me to do whatever I want. I think it's really important for designers to have something completely of their own. It's a way of expressing my thoughts and feelings. I also love the whole concept around t-shirt, how simple it is and what it tells about it's user.

Great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius says "Pay no attention to what the critics say; there has never been set up a statue in honor of a critic". What do you think about this statement? Do you care the comments of other people much and what do you think about fame?

Sometimes it's weird to hear people's comments and interpretations of the work that I do, especially if it's of something really personal like the t-shirts or some artwork. When it's about graphic design I think it's important that the client and the designer can stand behind the work.

The perfect fame for me is to be asked to participate some interesting projects and meeting some interesting people.

You often use mixed media on your artworks. What kind of materials do you prefer most? Would you please tell us about your working process?

I get inspired by a certain picture or a feeling that I get and start working from that. Most of my work are collages so I combine different pieces to create something different and new. I use all kinds of source material and do some myself too.

Are there any graphic designers and painters that inspire you?

I really love the artwork by an American artist Andrew Schoultz (www.andrewschoultz.com). I also get inspired by smaller design companies and illustrators because they tend to think a bit more creative on things and are willing to give a bit more than asked, like illustrator Jesse Auersalo. I share my studio with 7 designers and feel that seeing how other talented people work and think gives a lot.

In which period of art history would you like to live, if you had a chance to go back?

Starting with dadaism, then surrealism and at last pop art. I Feel like those movements have had the greatest effect on my work.

Are you interested in movies? If so, which genres and directors do you find closer to yourself? When did you go to cinema lastly and what was the name of the movie?

I love old sci-fi movies and Tim Burton movies. The last movie I saw in a cinema was a cartoon based movie "Persepolis" by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi.

Theme of our current issue is "Contrast". Think about a penguin walking on the green grass, or a tiger lying on pure white snow, or Mr. George W. Bush, setting his heart on the world peace... What comes into your mind when you first hear that word?

I think contrast is the basic ingredient of getting anything right in life. It's good to have different ways of seeing things to keep your mind clear whether it's about love, life or design.