Introduction
Things are rarely used in just one way. A kitchen table becomes a workspace during the day and a place for dinner in the evening. Chairs become step stools to reach the top shelf, and stools often become side tables. The things we live with are constantly adapted as life happens.
We are FIFF, a design studio working across furniture, objects, interiors, exhibitions, and installations. We believe everyday life is already full of good ideas, odd habits, and constant change and for us, that is the best place to start.
This perspective grew from our time as students in Finland, where living with less was not a concept but a condition. Homes were temporary, space was limited, and everyday objects often took on several roles. During that time we became curious about how people naturally adapt, improvise, and make the most of what was already there.
Today, we continue to design with that same mindset. Rather than defining a single use in advance, we create objects, furniture, and spaces that leave room for interpretation, adaptation, and evolving needs.
None of our projects begin with design. They begin with a situation, a routine, a question, or a small moment that feels worth looking at more closely.
The Studio
FIFF was founded by Icelandic designer Baldur Haraldsson and German designer Chiara Alissa Estivariz Lopez after meeting while studying at Aalto University in Finland.
Baldur Haraldsson – Iceland
→
MA Interior Architecture, Aalto University
→
BA Architecture, Iceland University of the Arts
→
Diploma in Event Management, University of Iceland
Chiara Alissa Estivariz Lopez – Germany
→
MA Visual Cultures, Curating & Contemporary Art, Aalto University
→
BA Fashion, Pforzheim University
Services
We collaborate across different scales and disciplines, and are always happy to hear new ideas.
01
Interiors & Spatial Design
02
Exhibitions & Installations
03
Furniture & Lighting
04
Objects
Name
The name FIFF comes from both the Icelandic noun fiff and the German adjective pfiffig. In both languages, the word is associated with quick and creative solutions, and finding innovative ways to respond to different situations.
For us, the name also reflects our favourite source of inspiration: the small, improvised solutions people come up with in everyday life. These solutions are rarely designed to be beautiful or permanent. They are simply made to solve a particular problem in a particular moment. A stool becomes a bedside table, a towel is rolled up to stop a door from slamming and a stack of books becomes a laptop stand.
We find these everyday moments endlessly inspiring, and they will continue to shape the way we approach design.
Core Influence
Our work is influenced by the idea of Appropriation Design, inspired by cultural theorist Michel de Certeau's writings on everyday life. He observed that people rarely use things exactly as intended. Instead, they adapt, reinterpret, and repurpose them to suit their own needs.
We see these small acts of creativity not as a flaw in design, but as one of its greatest strengths.
values
Loose fit over tight control
We believe good design should leave room for interpretation, adaptation, and change. Life rarely follows a strict plan, and we don't expect our work to either.
A home of your own, anywhere
Whether moving across countries or simply rearranging a room, we believe that people should be able to make a place their own, without complicated interventions.
Everyday authorship
Design does not end when something leaves the studio. We hope people continue to adapt, reinterpret, and reshape our furniture, spaces, and objects through everyday use.