Meet the Makers: Lehtovuori Oy's Design Department – Innovation and Passion

Lehtovuori Oy's design department is a cradle of innovative solutions, comprising four experts who work together to develop products that meet both current and future challenges. This versatile team not only designs products but also creates solutions that promote environmental sustainability and enhance user experience. Their role is central to Lehtovuori's continuous pursuit of innovation and development, making them an invaluable part of the company's overall success strategy. Today, Arttu, Aapo, and Mikael will shed some light on their design tasks:

Arttu Renvall is the department's product designer, focusing particularly on CitySolar smart waste bins. Arttu's days are spent preparing technical instructions, conducting product tests, and designing software and electronics. Although, according to him, 3D modeling appears to be the easiest part of design work, it is in fact only a small, albeit visible, part of his workday.

Aapo Heikkinen, the team's industrial designer, is at the heart of innovation. He creates new product concepts and acts as a link between the design team and external stakeholders. Aapo is responsible for identifying market needs based on customer feedback and legislative requirements. Specifically, he has led the development of the outdoor sorting project, which is now in its final stages and ready to bring a new, environmentally conscious product family to the market. The project's development path has involved intensive research, concept evaluation, and prototyping, and the release of the final product is now imminent.

Mikael Ylisiurunen is responsible for daily design work, which includes designing parts and rendering product images. Mikael is also the administrator of the Teamcenter system, which is a key part of Lehtovuori's product information management. He regularly visits the production line to get feedback and ensure that design solutions meet practical needs.

The department's scope of work is broad: they design new products, develop existing ones, and constantly seek new innovative ways of doing things. The work also essentially includes the manufacturing of prototypes, which is a critical stage in the development of new products. Simplifying and optimizing a complex product is often the most challenging part of the job, but it is part of the designers' everyday problem-solving.

Personalities bring depth to teamwork

Each team member has their own unique background and interests that they bring to the work environment. Arttu, who began his career in electrical engineering, has held many roles in the company and particularly enjoys deep contemplation in his work. Arttu says that the actual work is done when he is seen standing still at the prototype station, thinking. Aapo has professionally explored a wide range of tasks from graphic design to cooking, and now to industrial design, which combines his visual eye with practical design work. Mikael, a music lover and frisbee golfer, brings creative energy to the team as well as his skills as a mechanical engineering engineer.

The best aspects of the work community and work itself

The team members particularly value the free and encouraging work atmosphere at Lehtovuori. They emphasize that open communication and collaboration with different departments are crucial to their work. The versatility and tangibility of the work – seeing a product developed from a design – is extremely rewarding.

The design team appreciates the opportunity to work in a company that keeps design in-house and enables continuous development. Their work at Lehtovuori demonstrates how deep expertise, passion, and teamwork can together create sustainable value for both the company and its customers.

This team doesn't just design products; they create solutions that shape and improve our environment. Their work at Lehtovuori Oy is a living example of how the unique backgrounds and skills of individuals can together form an innovative and dynamic force that drives the company forward.