Meet Secto Design, the brand transforming Finnish wood into sculptural lighting

It’s safe to say that Finns share a special bond with wood. As one of the most forested countries in the world (approximately 75 per cent of Finland is enveloped by forest), its landscapes are defined by these fragrant and lush patches of green, the endless thickets of birch, pine and spruce offering a soothing sanctuary for many.

What’s more, wood has, throughout time, reigned supreme in Finnish design, from the timber harnessed in saunas, summerhouses and homes to the celebrated works of famed designers like Alvar Aalto and Ilmari Tapiovaara, who gravitated towards the warm, versatile, and beautifully ageing material.

But wood isn’t just for buildings and furniture. A Finnish brand reinventing the material, turning it into timeless, sculptural and ambient lighting that’s garnered attention across the globe, is Secto Design.

Related: The next cult favourite sunglasses brand is from Finland – the land of darkness

“Our story actually begins in 1995,” says Joakim Jusélius, owner of the brand. It was his mum, Tuula Jusélius, who established the company three decades ago, starting out as a furniture brand with a mission to “create something truly Finnish and bring it to the world.” From the get-go, Jusélius began collaborating with designer Seppo Koho – who Secto Design still works with – and while the company’s wooden furniture gained some traction (it furnished the head offices of Nokia, for instance), it was still a challenge to keep the company afloat.

In 1999, Koho designed the first conical wooden pendant lamp to complement the furniture, calling it ‘Secto.’ The piece made waves with its eye-catching design and innovative use of wood. At the turn of the century, the brand chose to focus exclusively on lighting. “These lamps found a very strong niche – there was a lot of interest,” Jusélius recalls. “My mum definitely made the right decision.”

Decades on, Secto Design has managed to stay true to Tuula’s original vision, with all of the company’s lamps handmade in Finland and crafted from responsibly sourced, PEFC-certified Finnish birch (except for the pieces made from walnut, which isn't found locally). “Birch is just such a wonderful material. It has certain special qualities from a woodworker’s perspective, and at the same time, it’s beautiful and naturally light in colour – quite a unique kind of wood,” Jusélius muses. “And for us Finns, it’s a very traditional wood, being our national tree.”

Combining wood with light creates a harmonious, soft radiance – part of the allure of Secto Design’s lamps. Then there’s the design: each piece is crafted from premium birch veneer, form-pressed into planks, cut into delicate slats, sculpted into architectural forms and connected by rings of thin plywood. Thanks to the gaps between the slats, the light is beautifully diffused, drenching your space in gentle glow. Jusélius sums up the brand’s design philosophy as “very Scandinavian” with “minimalist elegance.”

Related: This quintessential Scandi material is making an interior design comeback – here's how to make it work at home

Until recently, all of Secto Design’s lamps were created solely by Koho. During 2025 Milan Design Week last May, the brand unveiled its latest piece, the ‘Adilo’ pendant lamp, dreamt up by emerging Finnish designer Ilkka Kauppinen. Jusélius and his team had discovered Kauppinen and his prototype at a young designers’ showcase, and “for the first time, we felt a strong sense that this was someone we had to work with – it was an amazing moment”.

The ‘Adilo’ fits seamlessly into the Secto Design universe with its artful form, its swirly slats creating a rounded shape that shifts subtly depending on the angle from which it’s viewed. “What appealed to us were the clean lines and a certain geometric quality that really stands out in the lamp – combined with the harmony of the light and the beauty of the wood,” Jusélius says. Arriving in two sizes, the piece is the brand’s second flat-packed pendant lamp. The ‘Adilo’ was also showcased during Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign, where the response, according to Jusélius, was “really enthusiastic.”

Related: Pinewood, glass and postcard views: Step inside a breathtaking Finnish Lapland sanctuary

While the brand is gearing up for the commercial launch of ‘Adilo’ later this year, Jusélius also hints that more exciting projects are in the works. In recent years, Secto Design has doubled down on its sustainability efforts – from switching to renewable energy and an eco-friendly heating system at its factory to investing in solar panels – with an unwavering commitment to always keep finding new ways to protect the health of our planet.

“In the future, I see Secto Design staying true to itself – we have a strong set of values,” Jusélius continues. “We’ll operate in line with those values and will continue along this good path we’re already on.”