About Studio Emmi, Emmi Salonen and
Hello there, I’m Emmi. I set up Studio Emmi in 2005 to partner with clients and creatives who want to make a positive contribution to society and planet.
Whether it’s engaging audiences through purpose-led brand identities, mentorship for creative wellbeing or making engaging spaces, I work with people to find the very best solutions through design.
My output is uplifting and grounded in empathy. My process is collaborative and inclusive, never ready-made, and always adaptable, whether small or large scale, local or global. Let’s create together.
Services
- Graphic Design
- Creative Direction
- Creative Wellbeing
- Talks & Workshops
Over the years I have helped businesses in the worlds of retail, commerce, culture, academia and policy making by championing messages for a better society, positive participation, sustainable design, heirloom quality and charitable causes.
I am author of The Creative Wellbeing Handbook and Common Interest: Documents, and have contributed to industry magazines on topics ranging from lifelong learning to women in design. I regularly lecture on design topics at various universities based in the UK and beyond.
As an accredited Happiness Facilitator I give talks and workshops about my personal design journey and a framework I have created, Creative Ecosystem, guiding creative thinkers in their wellbeing and careers. I've contributed to the AI for Human Flourishing working group and think tank under the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science.
Born in Finland, I’m a strong advocate for a balanced life full of curiosity, growth and wonder. I studied graphic design in the UK at the University of Brighton. In 2001 I moved to northern Italy to work at Fabrica, Benetton Group’s prestigious communication research studio for young designers. I then worked at Karlssonwilker in New York and Futerra sustainability agency as their UK Creative Director. I now run Studio Emmi, based in London.
A beautiful and practical guide to sustaining creativity in a challenging world. Based on my Creative Ecosystem model and published by BIS Publishers. See more here.
Next event
Check my memos for the newest news
Selected Client list
- AIGA - The Professional Association for Design
- Aram Gallery
- Artek
- AVA Publishing
- BBC
- British Council
- Blueprint Magazine
- Body Shop
- Centre for London
- Clarence House
- Climate-KIC
- Design Museum
- Dulux
- European Forest Institute
- Finnish Institute in the UK & Ireland
- Finnish National Gallery
- Harrow Arts Centre
- ICN International Council of Nurses
- Iniva - Institute of International Visual Arts
- ITC - Independent Theatre Council
- Learning Trust
- Phaidon
- POD
- Positive Luxury
- The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts
- The RSA
- Rich Mix
- Somerset House
- Tate Britain
- Thames & Hudson
- TFL - Transport for London
- UCLH - University College London Hospital
- Vital Arts
- Wallpaper*
Selected talks & workshops
- AGRAFA Design Conference, Katowice, POLAND
- AIGA Design Conference, New Orleans, USA
- All Flows, UK
- Bucks New University, UK
- CEDIM School of Innovation, MEXICO
- Chelsea Collage of Art, UK
- Design Declares, UK
- Design Matters Tokyo, JAPAN
- Design Matters Copenhagen, DENMARK
- Design Museum, London, UK
- DMJX, DENMARK
- ETIC, Lisbon, PORTUGAL
- Kingston School of Art, UK
- London Collage of Communication, UK
- London Metropolitan University, UK
- Loughborough University, UK
- Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- Margate Festival of Design, UK
- Middlesex University, UK
- Nottingham Trent University, UK
- Ravensbourne University, UK
- RGD DesignThinkers Toronto, CANADA
- Royal College of Art, UK
- RSA, London, UK
- Shillington College, London, UK
- Selected C, Bilbao, SPAIN
- The Design Conference, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
- Typographic Circle, London, UK
- University of Brighton, UK
- University College Falmouth, UK
- University of Northampton, UK
- University of Southampton, UK
- YCN, London, UK
- Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
Selected press
My projects have been published in more than 100 books, publications and blogs. Here’s a flavour of the much appreciated lift ups:
People of Print: Studio Emmi by Emily Gosling
Graphic Design: A User’s Manual by Adrian Shaughnessy, Laurence King
Great British Identity by Marius Sala, Index Book
The Best of Brochure Design by Kiki Eldridge, Rockport
Los Logos: Compass by Robert Klanten, Die Gestalten Verlag
Selected exhibitions
My work has been exhibited around Europe, Asia and both North and South America. Here's some of my favourites:
Design Museum, London
Kemistry Gallery, London
Espeis, NY
Spazio Italia, LA
Design Forum, Helsinki
Ginza Graphic Gallery, Tokyo
Galleria Walden, Berlin
Selected awards
Antalis McNaughton The Review, Europe
Overall winner
Robert Horne Shout Awards, UK
Overall Winner
Print’s Creativity + Commerce, USA
Sappi Ideas That Matter, Europe