Works by Sanna Annukka

Sanna Anukka is one of my favorite illustrators. Her iconographic imagery is beautiful and creative, with sky-high design sensibility. Tapping into elements of folklore and fairy tales, Sanna Annukka has really carved out a unique, patented style that is all her own, and each new piece as stunning and marvelous as the last.

Sanna Annukka is a young and talented British born illustrator, whose designs have been making waves in the design world. With a mother from Finland and a father from the UK, Annukka spent much of her childhood split in both countries. Heavily influenced by Finnish folklore, specifically the national epic, The Kalevala, many of Annukka’s prints depict different scenes from The Kalevala. A 2005 graduate of the University of Brighton as an illustrator, Annukka specializes in silkscreen printing.

She caught her first major break in 2006 when she designed the album artwork for the British rock band, Keane. From there her designs appeared in Vogue and soon after caught the eye of Marimekko CEO, Mika Ihamuotila, and was immediately asked if she was interested in contributing designs for Marimekko’s Spring Spring 2009 collection.

Sanna Annukka plans to expand from her artistic prints to wall hangings, wallpaper, stationary and picture books.

Below, casual fashion for Topshop that Sanna was commised to do.  Here is where I might complain that these tops are only available via the Topshop UK site, but they’re actually sort of dowdy-looking. Cool graphics, but not great fashion. Nonetheless, it’s great to see the work applied in a new way.