Petra Kaksonen is a Vancouver-based designer and creative director. Originally from Joensuu, Finland, Petra has spent for the past 30 years abroad. Thirst for adventure and nomadic lifestyle hit early; Petra solo-travelled 50+ countries mainly in Asia, Africa and South America before settling in Vancouver, Canada. For the past 25 years, Petra has worked as an award-winning designer and art director in publishing, marketing and advertising.
Petra worked 12 years at The Vancouver Sun, The Province, and the Westcoast Homes & Design magazine specializing in publication design, advertising and marketing campaigns for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, The Vancouver Sun Run and Raise-a-Reader campaigns among many others. Most recently Petra worked as an art director for the award-winning Business in Vancouver magazine.
Inspired by simplicity and functionality of Nordic design, Petra has designed and manufactured prints and textiles for the home decor sector together with global partners in North America, Japan, Europe and in the Middle East for the last 8 years. Partnerships include luxury rugs, custom home textiles collections, apparel design and pattern licensing for independent brands, private hospitality clients as well as some of Japan’s largest retailers.
Petra recently launched Montuuk Oy, designing and manufacturing custom products for global premium luxury market such as yachting.
Petra believes in fostering collaborative, long-term relationships with trusted global partners and creating together well-loved, beautiful, everyday products that enhance and enrich our lives and living spaces.
If you are looking for a creative collaborator or are interested in custom products, partnerships or licensing or would like to review the 2024 print catalogue, please email hello@petrakaksonen.com.
Petra is also available for speaking engagements and panel discussions. With her down-to-earth approach, Petra talks about forging our own path; redefining what success looks like and how to learn to celebrate our unconventional career paths.
With a strong international background and varied global career, Petra has a clear understanding of the various cultural nuances in play when pitching to international clients and reaching into new markets; the importance of communication; how to brand and package successful products and to craft an effective message with international market in mind. Petra presents in English and Finnish.
Topics:
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Pitching to international clients
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Branding & packaging
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Messaging
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Importance of communication
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Cultural nuances and differences
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Design & manufacturing, licensing
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International partnerships
