Winners

We proudly present the winners of the first FDS Influencer Awards! Our jury has chosen four winners and assigned three honourable mentions, based on a shortlist of nearly a hundred design-focused influencers from across the globe. We could not have done it without you: in addition to sending in over 1,500 nominations, you’ve chosen your Community Favourite. Without further ado, scroll down and say hello to the winners!

Swantje Hinrichsen

Design Influencer of the Year | 4,000 euros

Jury’s motivation: Swantje is extremely talented in expressing her personal style. She offers inspiration for everyone who wants to live a colourful life, regardless of budget. We see an appreciation of quality in the way she curates her home – even with strong colour combinations, everything is kept in balance. Her account is something we all need right now, as it’s full of fun and positivity! Read Swantje's interview.

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Arvin Olano

Community Favourite | 1,500 euros

The public has spoken – Arvin Olano has been voted Community Favourite by design enthusiasts worldwide. With a stellar YouTube and Instagram following, Arvin secured the most votes out of nearly a hundred shortlisted influencers. The voting took place from 30 March through 12 April 2021, and the total amount of votes for all entries was substantial: over 10,000 of them! Read Arvin's interview.

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Berry Dijkstra

Rising Star | 1,500 euros

Jury’s motivation: Berry’s account is refreshingly different! His images are so much fun and you can tell that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We get the feeling that his work is intuitive – it’s as if he merges elements with a child-like sense of freedom and curiosity, creating art out of design with his compositions. We’re very eager to see where he’s heading in the future. Read Berry's interview.

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Michael Dansk

Most Visual Influencer | 1,500 euros

Jury’s motivation: Michael expresses his aesthetic by pairing vintage designs and historic art from different time periods – a blend that gives perspective to the striking imagery. He has a simple way of decorating with only a few items, which still create an interesting sense of drama. We appreciate the bold use of colours – just look at the green ceiling or the kitchen tiling in his home! Read Michael's interview.

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Laura Muthesius and Nora Eisermann

Most Engaging Influencer | 1,500 euros

Jury’s motivation: This couple is overwhelmingly professional! Laura and Nora’s renovation projects are engaging, and we value the way they handle aged elements with care – mixing old with new, thus keeping sustainability in mind. They are constantly active in replying, commenting and asking questions. You just want to jump right in, as the beautifully rich images look so cosy and inviting. Read the interview.

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Honourable mentions

The jury decided to assign honourable mentions to three frontrunners, who have played an important role in shaping the field to what it is today. All three receive a prize sum of 500 euros. See the jury’s motivations below!

Annaleena Leino

Honourable mention

Annaleena has been leading the path for the past decade, first with her blog and now on Instagram. She has definitely made her mark as one of the first to include followers in personal life events. Her feed is like a portfolio of beautiful sights she meets on her way.

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Suvi Melender-Lågland

Honourable mention

Suvi has been building the Finnish interior blogging scene from the start. She continues to renew her home with minimum impact, showcasing more sustainable ways of decorating. Since 2010, her channels have offered an easy way to enter the world of design.

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Allan Torp

Honourable mention

Allan is almost like a design investigator: discovering what’s going on in the business and reporting back to other curious minds. Since starting in 2010, Allan has maintained quality and consistency, while constantly developing his style and expanding to new areas.

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Meet the jury

Teemu Kiiski

Founder & CEO, Finnish Design Shop

Maija Rasila

Interior Architect, Finnish Design Shop

Mikko Vaija

Editor in Chief, Design Stories, Finnish Design Shop’s online magazine

Nina Bruun

Founder & Creative Director, Nina Bruun Design Studio

Provided by Finnish Design Shop

FDS Influencer Awards is brought to you by Finnish Design Shop, the world’s largest online store specialized in Nordic design. Here, you’ll find all the major designers, brands and design classics, but also interesting new products that suit the Nordic style. We ship carefully curated, high-quality furniture, lighting and accessories to over 180 countries.

Discover the story behind Pieces of Nordic Happiness!