School of Arts, Design and Architecture

A woman who is changing the world

Illustrator Lotta Nieminen shows that perseverance and talent can take you far.
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Illustrator Lotta Nieminen

Lotta Nieminen, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Graphic Design programme, shows that perseverance and talent can take you far. One of Finland's most successful illustrators, she runs her own studio in New York City. In 2014, Forbes Magazine nominated her for its annual "30 Under 30" Arts & Style list.

The Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture was almost a congenital choice for Lotta Nieminen. However, it was more by chance that the third-generation Aalto alumna chose her particular degree programme. The admissions officer, who guided Nieminen, had studied graphic design, and hearing her experiences, Lotta jettisoned her initial plan of applying for the film-directing major. Instead, Nieminen chose to become a graphic designer.

Lotta did her student exchange at the Rhode Island School of Design. As New York City was only four hours away, she travelled often to the Big Apple and fell in love with the bustling metropolis.

Now based in Brooklyn, New York, Lotta boasts an impressive resume. Forbes Magazine nominated her for its annual "30 Under 30 Who Are Changing the World" list in the Arts and Style category. She has also given guest lectures in Europe and in the United States. Her clients include, among others, companies like Hermès, Google, The New York Times, Volkswagen, IBM, United Airlines, The International Herald Tribune, Newsweek, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair and Bloomberg Businessweek.

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