Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, isn’t home to many designers, which is perhaps why AKU has attracted such a wide range of clients. From microbreweries and music festivals to the more buttoned-up Estonian parliament, founders Alari Orav, Kaarel Kala, and Uku-Kristjan Küttis have already made a name for themselves in their mother country—but the international design community is getting to know them, too. At first glance, their work is startlingly simple, but upon further inspection you begin to appreciate the intricacies involved in color choice and type placement, as well as the use of illustration and graphics. This spare yet exquisite layering of details is the result of years of experience—Orav, Kala, and Küttis have been honing their design skills since they were teenagers. We recently caught up with them about the growing design scene in Estonia, how they collaborate with local artists, and their special recipe for particularly exciting work. Read the rest here.
