The project “Articulated Models” directs our attention through constant composing, visualizing and unpacking of new elements towards looking at how standards and design influence our everyday lives. In his work, Ott Metusala studies the living environment by highlighting how political ideas penetrate our private space through design processes. 

The publication compiled and designed by Ott Metusala brings together the work of Kirsti Metusala, the artist-designer of Estoplast, a lighting factory in Soviet Estonia. The Archival material (pictures, objects, design plans and memories) refers to the constructed worldview and highlights the utopias that appeared in them. In the publication, the author explores design heritage from a personal point of view and the political past. An inventory of design objects and facts forms the basis of the publication. 

Ott Metusala’s creative research began in 2015 when he prepared and designed the publication “Nobody Expected There Would Be Much Discussion About It” (Lugemik and The Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design), which contains a long interview with Kirsti Metusala and a selection of lamps designed by her. 

Ott Metusala’s works are exhibited in the lobby and shop area of ​​the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design starting from September 14, 2023.

Ott Metusala is a designer based in Amsterdam. He graduated from the Graphic Design Department of the Estonian Academy of Arts (2011), the Gerrit Rietveld Academy (2015) and the Sandberg Institute (2022). He mainly works on typography, print and book design projects for art institutions and independent publishers. In collaboration with Lieven Lahaye, he publishes and designs the Catalog Series (cataloging.xyz). Metusala also co-manages the work at the Bookbinding workshop of the Rietveld Academy and the Sandberg Institute. 

Gallery

Photos: Mari Volens