Who
Juha Siirilä, Art Director & Graphic Designer
What
Visual communication with over 20 years of professional experience
Where
Helsinki, Finland
Who
Juha Siirilä, Art Director & Graphic Designer
What
Visual communication with over 20 years of professional experience
Where
Helsinki, Finland
Siili
Client
Siili Solutions
Work
Corporate identity, brand development, graphic design, web design, user experience design, user interface design, illustration, motion design
Year
2019–
Company
Siili Solutions
Client
Siili Solutions
Work
Corporate identity, brand development, graphic design, web design, user experience design, user interface design, illustration, motion design
Year
2019–
Company
Siili Solutions
Description
Siili is a full-service development partner for advanced digital solutions with locations in 8 countries. From lit-up signage of the office buildings to laptop stickers customizable via a dedicated online tool, a wide range of materials have been produced since the rebranding cocreated with BOND was launched in 2020. The tasks included continuous brand development, marketing materials for a large variety of use cases (digital and physical), as well as quality assurance (via guidelines and templates) and quality control for brand materials created inhouse and outsourced.
Side story
According to the “Hedgehog Concept” by Jim Collins, the working life magic lies at the intersection of things you’re passionate about, do better than others, and can make money from. I agree. Do what you love.
SKALER
Client
Siili Solutions
Work
Corporate identity, graphic design
Year
2020–2022
Company
Siili Solutions
Client
Siili Solutions
Work
Corporate identity, graphic design
Year
2020–2022
Company
Siili Solutions
Description
Do the human stuff. Automate everything else. SKALER is on a mission to help your employees offload the mundane routine tasks via intelligent automation. The brand was launched in cooperation with BOND in 2020.
Side story
People are not robots. It matters who you work with and who you work for. See the bored looking model in the launch campaign images above? I’ve been lucky enough to call him a teammate in two different workplaces. Never a dull moment.
Boston’s Pizza
Client
Boston’s Pizza
Work
Corporate identity, brand development, graphic design, web design
Year
2012–2017
Agency
Luxus Worldwide
Client
Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar
Work
Corporate identity, brand development, graphic design, web design
Year
2012–2017
Agency
Luxus Worldwide
Description
Boston’s is a family-friendly restaurant and a sports bar under one roof with locations across the United States and Mexico. From 48 foot wide highway billboards to coasters to place your drink on, a wide range of materials were designed during the five year span by an international team located in Finland and the United States. The tasks included numerous point of purchase (POP), local store marketing (LSM), as well as digital marketing materials — and finally, a rebranding to match the Canadian mother company (Boston Pizza).
Side story
I’ve been going to a sports bar for years, once a year. It’s the traditional late night destination for our annual boys’ night out in my old home town — complete with “Happy anniversary” greetings by the bartender.
Angry Birds Fight!
Client
Rovio Ent.
Work
Web design
Year
2015
Agency
Luxus Worldwide
Client
Rovio Entertainment
Work
Web design
Year
2015
Agency
Luxus Worldwide
Description
First released in Asia Pacific, Angry Birds Fight! was Rovio’s first cultural mash-up game within the brand, fusing together elements of Japanese culture with the classic Angry Birds characters.
Side story
Hulkamania was running wild again when World Wrestling Entertainment came to Finland in the early ’00s. However, as me and my designer buddy revealed our carefully laid out red and yellow sign at the venue, the question remained — where’s Hulk, brother?
The Story of John Doe
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration
Year
2014
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration
Year
2014
Description
DIP is an instrumental rock group whose debut EP “The Story of John Doe” was released in 2014. I’m the lead guitarist and songwriter for the group.
Side story
I grew up on an old seabed, in the gently rolling coastal lowlands. Surrounded by wide areas of farmland with sparsely located houses, there’s plenty of space to breath the salty air — white space, if you will.
Suunto E-Commerce
Client
Suunto
Work
Web design, user experience design, user interface design
Year
2011
Agency
Poickeus
Client
Suunto
Work
Web design, user experience design, user interface design
Year
2011
Agency
Poickeus
Description
Suunto is a company that manufactures and markets sports watches, dive computers, compasses and precision instruments. The e-commerce features were incorporated into its website in 2011 by an international team located in Finland, France, and Sweden.
Side story
A stamp-sized Suunto compass has been a regular travel companion of mine for years — especially handy when returning to street level from a random subway exit.
Melodic Soloists
Client
Romain Chapus
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration
Year
2009
Client
Romain Chapus
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration
Year
2009
Description
Mad Guitar Records is a small record label based in Helsinki, Finland. The label’s debut release “Melodic Soloists” (2010) showcases 17 artists from all around the world delivering melodic guitar-driven instrumental rock.
Side story
I got pulled into skateboarding by the late ’80s wave. At a time when Bones Brigade ruled the sport, Tommy Guerrero was the personal favorite of mine. While maybe not the most technical of the bunch, he had style.
A Place in the Sun
Client
Aurinkomatkat
Work
Visual identity, web design, user experience design, user interface design
Year
2007–2010
Agency
Publicis Helsinki
Client
Aurinkomatkat
Work
Visual identity, web design, user experience design, user interface design
Year
2007–2010
Agency
Publicis Helsinki
Description
Hosted by the Finnish travel agency, Paikka auringossa (2007–2013) was an online travel community for sharing experiences, exploring destinations and discussing all things travel.
Side story
MySpace provided a perfect springboard for my own musical adventures, eventually leading my axe-slinging alter ego onto the pages of Guitar Player magazine (April 2010) — a treat for a longtime reader.
For Virtual Travellers
Client
Aurinkomatkat
Work
Graphic design, web design, illustration
Year
2009
Agency
Publicis Helsinki
Client
Aurinkomatkat
Work
Graphic design, web design, illustration
Year
2009
Agency
Publicis Helsinki
Description
By launching virtual travels on the social game and online community Habbo, the Finnish travel agency Aurinkomatkat allowed its teenage user base to travel around the world — with a chance to win a unique visit to the Habbo Spain, hosted by Habbo Finland’s administrators. The Suositellaan virtuaalimatkaajille campaign was created in cooperation with Sulake.
Side story
Jamiroquai’s third album, “Travelling Without Moving”, was released the year I started my graphic design studies. Sharing a flat with a fellow designer, an art student and two musicians proved to be quite a trip.
K-Supermarket
Client
Kesko
Work
Web design
Year
2008
Agency
Publicis Helsinki
Client
Kesko
Work
Web design
Year
2008
Agency
Publicis Helsinki
Description
Hosted by the Finnish grocery store chain K-Supermarket, the series of campaign websites featured food info, tips, recipes and offers, as well as competitions in various seasonal themes.
Side story
While attending community college in the middle of nowhere, I soon learned to appreciate the weekly visits of a mobile grocery store and a mobile library. The latter also provided a free ride to the nearby town — as long as the passengers agreed to sit on the floor with lights turned out.
Guitar Without a Cause
Client
Romain Chapus
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration, character design
Year
2008
Client
Romain Chapus
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration, character design
Year
2008
Description
Roo is a French virtuoso guitarist based in Helsinki, Finland, whose instrumental rock debut EP “Guitar Without a Cause” was released in 2008. The super-strat wielding skull character would return six years later to grace the cover of Roo’s sophomore release “Plectrum Spectrum”, lending his yellow axe to the artist’s guitar school logo along the way.
Side story
I picked up the guitar as a teenager in the late ’80s. The star of the local scene at the time was a Steve Vai signature Ibanez JEM guitar displayed in the local music store window. Some fifteen years later I would finally own one.
Mr. BobCorn
Client
SnackFood
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, web design, illustration, character design
Year
2005–2006
Agency
Backman & Heinonen
Client
SnackFood
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, web design, illustration, character design
Year
2005–2006
Agency
Backman & Heinonen
Description
Mr. BobCorn is a brand for ready-made pre-packaged popcorn. The first branded popcorn store opened in 2006, offering 18 sweet and savory flavors sold in four different sizes. In addition to the store components and staff clothing, the assignment also included business stationery, gift cards, loyalty cards, packaging, and a website.
Side story
I spent some of my best summers working at the bar & grill in a local amusement park. Occasionally, I would make a transition over to the kiosk side — selling popcorn.
Until You Are
Client
Blueintheface
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration
Year
2007
Client
Blueintheface
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, illustration
Year
2007
Description
Blueintheface is a punk rock group based in Helsinki, Finland, whose debut EP “Until You Are” was released in 2007. The band is still active and frequently tours Europe.
Side story
My introduction to home computing arrived in the form of Sinclair’s ZX Spectrum. Plugged into the TV, and using audio cassette tapes for data storage, the tiny thing with its rubber keyboard soon became the centerpiece of our living room — as we attempted to help Miner Willy back to the open air in a surreal game of Manic Miner.
Life Is a Journey
Client
SKL, KT, Keva
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, web design, illustration
Year
2005
Agency
Incognito
Client
Suomen Kuntaliitto ry, KT Kuntatyönantajat, Kuntien eläkevakuutus
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, web design, illustration
Year
2005
Agency
Incognito
Description
In order to tackle the looming labour shortage, a campaign was set up to raise awareness about the job opportunities within the Finnish municipal sector. Targeting young adults via posters, brochures, flyers, badges, and a website, the Elämä on matka campaign also included a chance to win a trip to London, UK.
Side story
My math and physics teacher in junior high did a good job explaining the MacGyverisms from the episode of the week from a scientific point of view. Every now and then he would flip through my sketchbook, always encouraging me to continue with my art. Around the same time I would do my first experiments with stencil graffiti.
Milk Makes Magic
Client
Maito ja terveys ry
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, web design, illustration, character design, motion design, web development
Year
2002–2005
Agency
Incognito
Client
Maito ja terveys ry
Work
Visual identity, graphic design, web design, illustration, character design, motion design, web development
Year
2002–2005
Agency
Incognito
Description
Targeting pupils aged 8–13 via printed and televised ads, classroom posters, wall calendars, activity booklets, mugs, stickers, badges, and a playful website, the Maito on magiaa awareness campaign focused on the nutrients and health benefits of milk. While the project started with a visit to a grade school, I’d later have a colleague who had fond childhood memories of the campaign himself.
Side story
My lifelong fondness for music libraries started with a Kiss record. Seeing the original foursome finally reunite on stage in the late ’90s, in full makeup and classic “Love Gun” era outfits, was nothing short of magical.
Ever Wondered?
Work
Illustration
Year
2005
Work
Illustration
Year
2005
Description
Glömp (1997–2009) was a comics anthology serving as a platform for new artists and artistic experiments. A group exhibition by featured artists took place at Lybecker Institute of Arts and Crafts (Raahe, Finland) in 2005.
Side story
I’m an avid follower of the screen-printed art poster scene, always looking for the next piece to be framed and hung on the wall. The idea of producing limited run posters by hand myself is something I’d love to explore in the future.
Nokia IP-Man
Client
Nokia
Work
Illustration, character design
Year
1999
Agency
Tietovalta
Client
Nokia
Work
Illustration, character design
Year
1999
Agency
Tietovalta
Description
Nokia IP-Man made his debut in the late ’90s as an animated 3D character introducing Nokia’s Broadband IP Access Solution. Later on, Nokia IP-Man would continue making brief appearances in a comic strip, screensaver, and finally as a physical object — a keychain toy.
Side story
My fascination with designer toys started with the first batch of Gorillaz vinyl figures back in 2005. Seeing how the prices have since gone up on eBay, I almost wish I’d been smart enough to save all of the packaging as well.
Copyright © 1999–2023 Juha Siirilä.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999–2023 Juha Siirilä.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999–2023 Juha Siirilä.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999–2023 Juha Siirilä.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999–2023 Juha Siirilä.
All rights reserved.