When discussing the elements of design which most excite her, typography first comes to mind for Minna. Talking of the art of type design, Minna says that “aesthetically and functionally it has the power to make or break the design, and beyond that it also has the potential to communicate visually in a subtle layer.” This exploration into the vast potential of typography is brilliantly displayed in the studio’s work with the audio-visual group exhibition Folkmusik 2.0 at Kulturhuset/Stadsteatern, which showcased hip hop as an important contemporary cultural force. Covering the entire 450-square-metre area, the typography design, with its spiky yet regal and calligraphic forms, perfectly complemented the exhibition’s content. Inspired by Barbara Kruger’s supergraphics, the type “sampled” parts of the exhibited songs. Also translating into the exhibition posters, the type displays the studio’s ability to create work that suits the brief’s personality and uncovers its artistic potential.
Typography aside, the studio is also drawn to projects that involve large scales and elements of physicality. Minna explains this attraction as a means of being able to view the studio’s work in a different way: “So much of the daily work happens in front of and limited by the size and texture of the screen; the contrast of experiencing your work with your senses is nice.” It’s understandable, therefore, that when exhibiting some of her personal artworks, Minna opted for a large-scale design identity. Having spent her pregnancy “symbolically” drawing buds sprouting from clay trays, Minna exhibited them at a small gallery this past summer, taking the opportunity to “design the process according to [her] own preferences”. Extracting shapes from the drawings, Minna and intern Mikaela Cederholm made stickers, randomly placed onto posters and invitations. But the design’s stand-out element is the supersized shapes custom made for the exhibition’s windows. Boasting bold, primary colours and playful shapes, the window design is as effective as it is inviting.
Soon to release a visual identity for a publishing house and also beginning some commissions involving art and architecture, Sakaria Studio has a busy year ahead. And, whilst the studio often collaborates with creatives, Minna is hoping to forge a more established partnership moving forward: “A fellow designer, a project manager or someone more experienced with dimensions such as timeline, 3D and interaction, would help take the studio work to the next level.”
