Today we’d like to introduce you to Petu Kummala.
Petu, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from Finland originally where I worked in cruise ship Interiors in engineering side where over the years, I met the famed cruise ship architect Joe Farcus. We kind of hit it off spoke the same language and after one meeting, he asked me to join him in Miami Beach for 2,3 years. I said “yes” and that brought me to Miami Beach, it was 20 years ago, we designed all the Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises ships during the following 15 years and I’m still here.
After he retired in 2015, I formed my own design studio 358 Design which I still run, on the side though only as in 2015, Carnival Cruise Line called and asked me to be their Design Director or newbuilds and refurbishment department. That’s what I currently do, still after 25 years designing cruise ships. I do also design furniture, houses, etc. with my own company but the ships take most of my time.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing is completely smooth in life. And that’s a good thing, we need challenges and I’ve had my share of them, we all do. I moved from a small Nordic country of 5.5 million to US, having never even visited here before. That’s was a pretty big step. But at the same time very exciting!
Same when I opened my design studio, that was a step to unknown. But I’m glad I did all of that, Miami is crazy but so am I guess, I love Miami. But I go to Finland regularily, especially now as we are building our latest shop, Mardi Gras in there and not only in Finland but in my hometown Turku, that’s pretty amazing. Be bold, face the challenges and when the opportunity knocks, grab on it. In life you don’t gather many of them.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Carnival Cruise Line and 358 design – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
In Carnival Cruise Line I’m the director of design. We have an inhouse design studio designing our cruise ships and also doing designs on our existing 28 ships. Also I oversee the entire designs as we so use outside design firms. With 358 design at the moment, I don’t have a lot of time but I design furniture and other special projects when time allows and an interesting enough project presents itself, small or big!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Love the weather, variety of food, activities to do, beach and ocean are something I really enjoy. The least I like are the hopeless bad drivers and the traffic. Plus the road construction and how bad condition our roads are. But in the end, I’ve been here for 20 years and ain’t leaving yet. I am proud to be part of 305.
Contact Info:
- Website: 358design.com
- Phone: 3053323002
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: 358design
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