How It Started

During my time working in hospitality at Aino Private Island, a breathtaking luxury retreat located in the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, I discovered a unique opportunity to combine my design skills with one of the most extraordinary places I have ever experienced. Surrounded by frozen landscapes, northern lights, and the magical stillness of the Arctic, I began creating design materials for the island while living and working there.

The Project

I helped the island with a range of design work, from menu design and postcards to personalised birthday letters, poems, Christmas cards, and anniversary letters for special occasions. Much of my work centred around hand-drawn sketches of the private island itself – capturing its unique beauty in an intimate and artistic way.

One of the most memorable moments came when I met a wonderful couple from the USA. We shared unforgettable Arctic experiences together, including arctic floating in the icy waters. When they left, I gifted them a personalised drawing of the island as a keepsake. Months later, the gentleman reached out with a very special request – he wanted to surprise his wife with a birthday gift, and he asked me to create a custom sketch of the private island just for her. It was a deeply personal and truly memorable project that reminded me why I love what I do.

Deliverables
Menu design ⋅ Postcard design ⋅ Personalised birthday, Christmas & anniversary letters ⋅ Poem design for special occasions ⋅ Hand-drawn sketches of the private island ⋅ Custom personalised illustration (birthday gift)