Katri Astala

Graphic designer and art director based in Helsinki, Finland.

katri.astala1[at]gmail.com

Instagram
Tuhatkaunokin tuho
Book design for the novel Tuhatkaunokin tuho by Jaakko Yli-Juonikas.

Covering themes such as the end of the world and the end of literature itself, the book combines and shuffles different texts and documents into an A4-sized block. The book contains 540 pages and is set in 34 different typefaces.

As an object the book is thread-bound, but it has no covers, exposing the pages to dirt and wear. The cover image is added as a sticker on the cover page.

Author: Jaakko Yli-Juonikas
Layout: Katri Astala, Jaakko Yli-Juonikas
Illustrations: Katri Astala, Jaakko Yli-Juonikas
Publisher: Siltala


BOOK DESIGN
2024

What a machine! -exhibition 
Visual identity and exhibition graphics for What a machine! (Fin. On se kone!), the new permanent exhibition of Sarka – The Finnish Museum of Agriculture. 
 
What a machine! tells the story of the mechanization of Finnish agriculture and its social impact from the early 20th century to the present day. The exhibition features machinery related to agricultural work, such as tractors from different decades. 

The visual identity and material choices were inspired by farms and machines themselves: shiny tractors and their logos, raw materials and dusty surfaces. The graphic design and exhibition architecture were designed as a collaborative process together with architect Antti Auvinen. 

Spatial design: Antti Auvinen
Multimedia installations: Magis Multimedia

Photos: Liina Aalto-Setälä



EXHIBITION GRAPHICS
VISUAL IDENTITY
2024

Baltic Circle playing cards
Festival catalog in the form of playing cards for Baltic Circle, an international theatre festival with an annually changing visual identity. 

The cards give people a reason to spend time with each other, also long after the festival. Two texts run through the numeral cards, and each of the festival’s performances have their own card.

The visual identity concept was formed around the idea of having a crush on someone and wanting to make a good impression. In the playing cards the object of admiration is a swamp and all of its inhabitants. The court cards and jokers portray different birds, insects, plants, mushrooms and bacteria that live in swamplands. 

Designed together with Iisa Pappi.


PUBLICATION DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION
VISUAL IDENTITY
2022

Access Riders
Publication design for Access Riders, a collaborative project by artists Jessie Bullivant and Jemina Lindholm, published by Frame Contemporary Art Finland.

An access rider is written by an individual, and can be shared when one is invited to take part in a project or any working relationship. It can work as a starting point for a conversation between the inviter and invitee about the accessibility of a certain situation.
Bullivant and Lindholm



PUBLICATION DESIGN
2021

Baltic Circle Fan Letter
Visual identity and festival publication for Baltic Circle, a contemporary theatre festival in Helsinki.

Instead of a printed catalog, the festival published a Fan Letter that anyone could order by mail to experience a part of the festival also at home. 

The custom envelope contains a letter form the artistic director, a folded poster/ program brochure, two postcards, a bag of wildflower seeds, and a sticker set.

Designed together with Pauliina Nykänen.


PUBLICATION DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION
VISUAL IDENTITY
2021

Hies – a Handmade Typeface
The process of this typeface was
completely manual. The letters were drawn by hand using a pencil, a ruler and a paper stencil. The type blocks were carved by hand from plywood and they were used for letterpress printing the specimen sheets.

The name of the typeface Hies
refers to two finnish words: hieskoivu
(a downy birch) and hiki (sweat). Downy
birch is the actual material that the
typeface is made of, and the process
required so much precision and time
that my hands did get a bit sweaty from
time to time.

The project was inspired by 19th
century woodtypes.



PERSONAL PROJECT
TYPE DESIGN
2022

Astala Lehtola Mantila Oy
Visual identity, monogram logo and web design for Astala Lehtola Mantila Oy, a film and TV series content development service.

Web development: Adelaida Avila Cabrera


LOGO DESIGN
WEB DESIGN
VISUAL IDENTITY
2022

Skaalassa – Pienoismallien maailma
Visual identity and exhibition graphics for the exhibition In Scale – The World of Architectural Models, exhibited in the Museum of Finnish Architecture 17.3.–22.8.2021. 

Exhibition design and curation: Antti Auvinen, Thomas Miyauchi and Kristian Äijö

Photos: Antti Auvinen



EXHIBITION GRAPHICS
VISUAL IDENTITY
2021

Skaalassa kirjoitettua
Publication design for Skaalassa kirjoitettua (Written in Scale), a collection of texts to accompany the exhibition In Scale – The World of Architectural Models, exhibited in the Museum of Finnish Architecture 17.3.–22.8.2021. 

Editors: Antti Auvinen, Thomas Miyauchi and Kristian Äijö



PUBLICATION DESIGN
2021

Earthbound Lovers
Visual identity for Earthbound Lovers, a curatorial project and exhibition series dealing with questions of ecology, sexuality and nature relatedness. 

Curators: Maikki Siuko and Uni Nissinen
Photo on site: Eva-Liisa Orupõld


VISUAL IDENTITY
2023