BIO
As a seasoned Senior Homeware Designer, I bring a unique combination of global industry experience and entrepreneurial drive. My passion and expertise as a product designer lie in working with textiles, glass, and ceramics. My experience ranges from large-scale production at Zara Home, where I worked as a Glassware Designer and Product Developer, to hands-on, craft-led design through my own homeware startup, Nkdware. I hold a Master’s degree in Product Design from the Royal College of Art in London, and a Bachelor’s degree in Furniture Design from the Muotoiluinstituutti (Institute of Design), Finland.
EDUCATION
2012–2014
Master of Arts, Royal College of Art, Design Products, London, England
2008-2012
Bachelor of Arts, Lahti Institite of Design, Furniture Design, Lahti, Finland
LINKS
Kirsi Enkovaara Studio Website
Nkdware Website
Tila Website
Taattistentila Website
CONTACT
Kirsi Enkovaara
k.enkovaara@gmail.com
+358 40 017 5132
WORK EXPERIENCE
As a design consultant, I work at the intersection of design and strategy, helping brands refine their creative direction and develop homeware collections. I bring a blend of creative vision, market insight, and strategic thinking, supported by 10 years of experience in the homeware industry. Recent clients include Close Company Living (UK) and Arkken (Finland).
2023-25 Founder and Creative lead, TILA HOMEWARE, Finland
Tila Homeware is a homeware collection created as part of Taattisten Tila, a farm I co-ran with my sister from 2020 to 2025. The line features ceramics and home textiles that reflected the farm’s unique identity - blending a traditional countryside atmosphere with a contemporary aesthetic.
Tila Homeware is one of my entrepreneurial ventures, for which I was solely responsible for all aspects including concept development, design, supplier sourcing, and the creative direction of the brand.
2020-23 Founder and Creative lead, NKDWARE, UK
Nkdware launched in May 2020 as my own entrepreneurial venture. The brand’s mission is to reconnect consumers with the origins of the products they use—highlighting the meaning of materials, tradition, the maker, and the manufacturing process behind each piece.
I created the brand’s mission, visual identity, and overall concept. I’m also responsible for product design and development, as well as sourcing and managing supplier relationships. Nkdware’s design aesthetic centers on celebrating raw materials, traditional methods, and the people behind each object.
Jim Thompson is a heritage Thai silk brand based in Bangkok. I joined the company in 2017 to lead the transformation of its homeware line towards luxury offering, aligning with the company’s broader mission to reposition itself as a leading Southeast Asian luxury lifestyle brand.
As the Manager for the Home Textiles and Decorative Objects team, I was responsible for overseeing the entire design and development process, from concept to execution. I led the creation of seasonal homeware collections, working across multiple categories with a team of three junior designers and product developers. Key responsibilities included: Homeware Category concepts and product range development, Home Textiles design & development, Print & Fabric design & development, Ceramics collection design & development.
2015-16 Senior Designer, ZARA HOME, Spain
As the designer for the glassware, I was responsible for all aspects of design and development for the category. I created two seasonal glassware collections per year, overseeing the process from initial concept to final samples. My role covered the full spectrum of design and development activities, including concept creation, seasonal theme development, product design, and managing factory and supplier relationships throughout the process.
2014- Designer, KIRSI ENKOVAARA STUDIO, UK
Kirsi Enkovaara Studio is my platform to full fill my conseptual design projects where I focus on examining the intersection of products and art.
My works have been exhibited extensively throughout Europe. Notable exhibitions include shows at the Helsinki Design Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Somerset House. My work has also been featured in leading design publications, including Dezeen, Wallpaper*, Interni, Designboom and Frame Magazine.