Escapism in happiness

The HAPPINESS exhibition and symposium on the fourth floor of the historic Suomitalo in Helsinki ask whether happiness can be shaped by design. Curated by Anniina Koivu, the international main exhibition explores this familiar topic from the perspective of design. “The main exhibition celebrates Helsinki Design Week’s anniversary by exploring what actually creates feelings of happiness in our bodies and brains. In addition, the exhibition considers whether happiness can be designed or planned – it highlights examples from the field of design, offers immersive experiences, and critically examines the perspectives offered by the science of happiness," says Koivu. 

The exhibition opening event is crowded with people chatting and laughing. Matching the theme and vibration of the people enjoying the displays, the rooms are filled with design pieces that are both obvious and surprising factors in creating the feeling of happiness. Naturally, we were asked to collaborate Eero’s designs into the exhibition - he is, if not only, but most surely known for his playfulness as a designer.

Stepping through rooms that are filled with all sorts of stimulating funny trinkets - a tiny Santa Clause stuck in a 20th-century fireplace - one is bound to be positively overwhelmed. Almost by demand there are four Ball chairs in an empty room in-between. It's a place to take a moment for yourself. A getaway from the surrounding crowds. Sitting inside the Ball chair there is sound. As one gets comfortable, the music acts as almost a distraction from falling too deep into your thoughts. ”A frisson is a sudden feeling of excitement- a thrill, sometimes described as a wave of chills or goosebumps. And this reaction is often activated by sound. This kind of intense emotional reaction can feel overwhelming in the best way - making you smile, cry or simply feel deeply moved. These “aesthetic chills”, as the effect is also called, can be caused by unexpected musical shifts, like a sudden key change, a shift in tempo, or the dramatic entrance of vocals. A crescendo building to a peak, or a surprising harmony can also spark this reaction. A frisson can also arise when a song stirs a personal memory of a past emotion, time or place.” You are part of the event yet still not. Even though humans are social by nature, we recharge on our own. It also gives an excuse to take this moment to yourself; sitting alone on a bench in a crowded open place might feel too awkward for some. The Ball chair, for its shape, blocks the outside world for as long as one might need. 

Eero Aarnio’s Ball Chair is one of the most published furniture pieces of all time. The micro-architecture of this spherical icon of the 1960s pop revolution created a “room within a room”: A quiet space to relax, make a private phone call, or even work in. First retrofitted with a 70s rotary dial telephone and later updated with Bluetooth, the chair has evolved with the times. Yet it remains a perfect place to withdraw from the world, put your feet up, and listen to music. As Aarnio put it: “A chair must be comfortable for sitting, and after that, everything is free.” The Audio-Ball chairs were specially made for the event by one of our sound and lighting technician colleagues, Jyrki Sipinen. He is also the mastermind behind the LED-system for our Kisu Light (2024). Jyrki created a custom radio for the four Ball chairs as there needed to be a system that could play four channels simultaneously. The sound world was composed by DJ Slow (Vellu Maurola) who was inspired by the concept of frisson. He created the four-way sound piece: Peace, Pulse, Connection and Flow that loops the soundtracks together by blending instruments with sounds from nature.

The Audio Ball chair can be purchased exclusively from Eero Aarnio Originals through email order. 

The Happiness-exhibition is open during the Helsinki Design Week (05.-14.09.2025) at Suomitalo.