# Fredrik Paulsen Designs Limited-Edition Chair for Helsinki’s DIY Skateboarding Festival The Vauhtikisat Chair One brings skateboarding culture into furniture design. - **Source:** [design archives | designboom | architecture & design magazine](https://brifing.si/source/11868f8d-1e20-41ac-bc2d-8c5af32d721b) - **Published:** 2026-07-27 - **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/37491a67-0247-4a07-b906-f02e2678d48f ## Fredrik Paulsen’s Unique Design for Skateboarding Culture Swedish designer Fredrik Paulsen has created a limited-edition chair for Helsinki’s annual Vauhtikisat skateboarding festival. The Vauhtikisat Chair One features the festival’s illustration and was used and gifted during the July 2026 event. Paulsen, who grew up in the Swedish skate scene, credits this culture for shaping his design philosophy. This project highlights the relationship between objects, creativity, and everyday life. ## The Growing Impact of Vauhtikisat Festival Vauhtikisat started as a small DIY event in Helsinki in 2014. Today, it has become one of Europe’s major skateboarding festivals, bringing together over 4,000 skateboarders every July at the city’s highest hill park. The festival fosters a sense of community among participants and celebrates skateboarding culture. Paulsen’s design embodies this spirit in furniture design. ## Collaboration with Finnish Design Shop Fredrik Paulsen developed the Vauhtikisat Chair One in collaboration with Finnish Design Shop. This partnership also marks the arrival of Paulsen’s JOY OBJECTS collection at Finnish Design Shop. Only five chairs are available for sale starting July, while one chair was awarded to the festival competition winner. This project merges limited-edition furniture with skateboarding culture. ## Skateboarding Culture’s Influence on Design Paulsen draws inspiration from skateboarding culture, which has played a significant role in his creative practice. The Vauhtikisat Chair One incorporates the festival’s illustration directly into its design, making this connection tangible. Finnish Design Shop focuses on design objects situated within active cultural and social contexts through this collaboration. ## DIY Spirit and Community Bond The Vauhtikisat Chair One is designed as a reflection of DIY (do-it-yourself) culture. The festival is known for its active participant involvement, and this spirit is felt in the chair’s design. Paulsen combines design with the DIY ethos of skateboarding, offering a fresh perspective in furniture design. ## Limited Edition and Special Gift Only six Vauhtikisat Chair One pieces were produced. Five chairs are available for sale at Finnish Design Shop, while one chair was gifted to the festival competition winner. This limited production makes the chair a special and collectible item. It also strengthens community bonds by offering a unique gift to festival participants. ## Paulsen’s Design Philosophy Fredrik Paulsen emphasizes the role of objects in daily life and their connection to creativity in his designs. The Vauhtikisat Chair One reflects this philosophy by bringing skateboarding culture into furniture design. Paulsen demonstrates that design is not just about aesthetics but also a cultural and social expression. ## The Intersection of Design and Culture The Vauhtikisat Chair One stands out as a project where design and skateboarding culture converge. This chair is not just a piece of furniture but also a cultural expression. Paulsen’s design brings the DIY spirit and community bond of skateboarding into furniture design, offering a new perspective in this field. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.designboom.com/design/fredrik-paulsen-limited-edition-chair-helsinki-diy-skateboarding-festival-vauhtikisat-chair-one/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._