Background
Martela was founded in Finland in 1945, and still sums up its outlook with a tagline that could double as a mission statement: Happy Mondays since 1945. The company is publicly listed on Nasdaq Helsinki, marked its 80th anniversary in 2025, and appointed Panu Ala-Nikkola as CEO in May 2026 — a business with real institutional weight behind what could otherwise read as a soft slogan.
Design philosophy
Martela approaches office and learning environments as a full lifecycle rather than a one-time furniture purchase, offering everything from workplace analysis through design to installation and ongoing management. Circularity runs through services like Martela Second Life, Circulate and Renewal, treating adaptability and ergonomics as sustainability measures in their own right, not separate concerns.
Key collaborations
Antti Kotilainen has been Martela’s most consistent design partner for a decade, spanning the Sola chair, its later sofa companion, the Nooa sofa series, the Ella Chair and the Oona stool family. Iiro Viljanen has built a similarly long relationship with the brand through Scoop, Alku and Frankie. o4i Design Studio has focused specifically on Martela’s acoustic and focus-work range, from the original Podwork workstations to PodBooth Meeting.
Recent work
2026 opened with Antti Kotilainen’s modular Maia seating system, following 2025’s Sono Family by Iiro Viljanen — both shown at Finland’s Habitare fair, where Martela returned again in 2026 to mark its 80th-anniversary year.
Designs from Martela
Antti Kotilainen Brings Maia Modular System to Martela
Finnish designer Antti Kotilainen has introduced Maia for Martela—a modular seating system that combines rounded …
Kilta chair by Olli Mannermaa – a Finnish design classic for 70 years
For seven decades, the Kilta chair has been one of the most respected icons of …
Discover the silence of Sono Family design by Iiro Viljanen for Martela
Discover the silence of Sono At Martela, we believe that just as important as touching …
The sympathetic Oona stools design by Antti Kotilainen – Martela
Oona is a stool family designed by Antti Kotilainen for Martela, available in two seat …
The Sola sofa is the newest member of the Sola family by Antti Kotilainen – Martela
Sola sofa | Design by Antti Kotilainen The Sola sofa is the newest member of …
One Hubbe by Timo Hoisko & Matti Korpela – Martela
Hubbe – Easy chair The Hubbe chair with swivel disc base offers a cosy place …
Ella Chair by Antti Kotilainen for Martela
Light. Durable. Timeless. That’s our Ella Ella, designed by Antti Kotilainen, is a versatile and …
Versatile Capa creates a new look for various spaces – Martela
The new Capa locker cabinet is a modular system that adapts to various spaces and …
PodBooth Meeting by o4i Design Studio – Martela
Knowledge workers’ days are filled with spontaneous meetings that are getting smaller and shorter Those …
PodWork Xpress by o4i Design Studio for Martela
PodWork Xpress for all mobile workers Many people are mobile workers. However, sometimes it is …
Alku design by Iiro Viljanen for Martela
Martela’s Alku family of desks now has an active new member. The electrically adjustable Alku …
Scoop design by Iiro Viljanen for Martela
Scoop gives a homey feeling at work “The comfort of the working environment must compete …
Major exhibition of Finnish design in St Petersburg
Martela is participating in an extensive exhibition of Finnish architecture and design that opened in …
Sola designed by Antti Kotilainen – Martela
Activity-based office changes the role of task chairs. As the design of office spaces shifts …
Nooa design by Antti Kotilainen – Martela
The sofa of the Nooa series offers a comfortable and cosy seat for the lobby …
Frankie design by Iiro Viljanen for Martela
The Frankie bench desk with a modern A-leg base creates a visually strong appearance to …
Beatbox is an auditorium-like stand to be used by small groups of people design Iiro Viljanen – Martela
Beatbox is an auditorium-like stand to be used by small groups of people. It is …
Podwork workstations by o4i Design Studio – Martela
More and more workplaces have a need for spaces in which work requiring concentration can …
Podseat & Podsofa design o4i Design Studio for Martela
The Pod series is an excellent application of Martela’s Silence concept PodSofa and PodSeat offer …
KOOP Chair design by Karim Rashid for Martela
KOOP design Karim Rashid ”Co-operation with Karim Rashid is a natural continuation on the journey …
Diagonal combination of sofa & space divider by o4i Design Studio for Martela
Diagonal is an innovative combination of sofa and space divider for public indoor spaces that …
The Tree design by Eero Aarnio for Martela
The Tree is a space divider designed by Professor Eero Aarnio to be unveiled at …
Movie Series design by Rane Vaskivuori for Martela
Movie is an easily modifiable and adaptable series designed especially for lobbies It consists of …
Menu Chair design by Stefan Lindfors for Martela
Martela introduces Menu, a versatile chair designed by Stefan Lindfors that combines Nordic functionality with …