SS: You have always lived in Finland (I think). What has it given you?
MS: A very safe ground of customers, connections, friends and knowing how things go.

SS: From a designers stand point, what does Finland provide that other countries cannot? Would you consider working somewhere else?
MS: It's very hard to be a self-employed entrepreneur in strange countries with no connections/friends, or knowledge of how everything works and that kind of shit.

SS: Where are you working right now? PlanChart? Shove-it Helsinki? Or do you hold another projects with other agencies?
MS: I'm working via my own company name - Shove-it Helsinki. But I also own 50% of PlanChart and trying to fixed it up to grow and be successful. I'm also working with few agencies; Sek & Grey is one. There are others, but right now I'm just freelancing as a graphic designer/consultant.

SS: When you started designer, who/what/where influenced you most? And what influences do you have today?
MS: I don't understand the question.

SS: How do you think your work has evolved since the mid 90's when you started designing?
MS: It all has evolved. My eye, style, skills, and knowledge of everything.

SS: What happened with you the past couple of years? Personally, you were one of the first designers I ever knew about (back in '97), and your work has been a huge influence for many people. You've even been considered the father of dirty web design. What have you been up to? Print? A dislike for web design? If so, why? Why do you dislike something you were so fucking good at?
MS: Oh...well a few years ago I had enough of web design, because of the limitations in html-coding, etc. And Flash: I could care less about Flash. I think it's only for designers; not for customers, or regular internet users. The point is that I want to do advertising with style; not with art. Flash is for art and for time-consuming web surfing. I tried to made web sites that were not too heavy or difficult to use for anyone. I was not so good at that, so I realised that paper is much better, easier, stronger, and longer lasting. It is a better (and better looking) way to achieve style through advertising - and art if I want to. Every teenage asshole can do their own web site, and these days they could be damn good at it. So, they don't need me anymore! :) I also wanted to be more than just a poor, maybe good, web designer. I wanted to make things on a canvas, textile, paper, television, window, whatever. Not just on a computer monitor. On paper and other materials the sky is the limit. On screen, well you see what I mean. I'll still do web design though, if I get good pay for it, but I can also make t-shirts, logos and band-flyers almost free. :) I get more kicks out of that.

SS: How's your design environment? Naked girls and sunny weather?
MS: I wish it could be naked girls and sun. It's boring office-life with good stereo systems playing the BEST music anyone can handle.

SS: How have your thoughts changed/evolved about web design since you began working on it? Do you dig any of the current "technologies" available like dHTML, Flash, whatever? I remember once I saw a splash you did in Flash for silbato (or something), but I never saw more Flash from you.
MS: I never did any flash, because I never got interested enough to learn it. Maybe you were dreaming? :) I like those current "technologies", like dHTML or whatever they are, but I can't use them by myself. I don't know how. Besides, I sub-contract that shit to some tech-guys I know.

SS: Is there any particular individual you respect a lot? Designer, musician, family, whoever. Anyone that brings joy and inspiration to your life?
MS: Well, yeah! I have friends, designers, and musicians whose styles have inspired to me find my own (I'm still trying to find it). Also of course I have been inspired by people like The Designers Republic, as well as other agencies/designers. I think that's the basic way designers live: through inspiration.

SS: Oh yeah, are you gonna update smallprint someday? What happened with that site? Did you forget to pay your hosting bill?
MS: I didn't forget to pay it; I just didn't have enough money. Sad, but true. Give me some good jobs so I can get money for all these sorts of things. :)

SS: Name someone that you would like to work with? Maybe someone you'd like to do a collab project with. Or do you prefer to work alone?
MS: If someone wants to work with me, and I like their style, of course I'd do a collab. It just takes contact. I'm also ready for anything that gives me money right now. nonstop@shove-it-helsinki.com

SS: What are you working on now? Any secret supa' smooth projects you'd like to show us? :)
MS: Right now I'm working on a website (WHOA!!!) For Stupido Records and Stupido-Shop record store; A big catalogue (with a big book of items) for a big company; and a big drug enlightenment campaign project with Sek & Grey Finland. Graphic design and consulting maybe? It hasn't started yet. Other than that, nothing special going on these days.

SS: What happened with the Unbook project?! It sounded so cool and interesting when it first started. I know there were a bunch of great designers involved in it, and it was supposed to be a kick ass project. What happened? Even I have received questions about Unbook, and I have nothing to do with it :)
MS: We didn't get the money to publish it. So...I'm ready for money.