Ilkka Kauppinen

The collaboration between Secto Design and Ilkka Kauppinen (born 1988) is based on a shared respect for integrity, craftsmanship and experimentation. Ilkka Kauppinen first trained as a woodworker in Joensuu and later studied industrial design at the LAB Institute of Design and Fine Arts. Today, he approaches every project with equal measures of precision and curiosity. These artisanal roots continue to shape his work: for him, physical prototyping is not just a tool, but a way of thinking.

Having explored topics such as urban farming and greenhouse technology, Kauppinen describes his professional career as one long experiment – with missteps, small successes and, ultimately, the Adilo pendant lamp, which was developed in collaboration with Secto Design and launched in 2025.

Ilkka Kauppinen's design process begins with a hypothesis, which he tests through sketches, model building and, above all, craftsmanship. Prototypes are essential for understanding how an object behaves in space, something that cannot be fully grasped through drawings or digital renderings alone. In the course of the process, surprising truths often come to light that challenge intuition and change the original concept.

A central component of his work is the use of wood, selected for both its structural and aesthetic properties. In the Adilo lamp, the light surface of the ultra-thin birch plywood gently reflects and diffuses the light. It protects against direct glare while allowing a warm glow to shine through. The result is an inviting atmosphere that works in both public and private spaces – an expression of Kauppinen's belief that design should illuminate in many ways. ‘I want people to experience wonder and moments of insight. The world is truly full of wonders.’