Education

2025-ongoing Master of Culture and Arts

Savonia University of Applied Sciences

2022 Full-Stack Developer

Academic Work Academy Bootcamp

2021 Producer of Visual Expression, Graphic Designer

Pekka Halonen Academy of Art, Keuda

2017 BBA, Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing

Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences

Experience

UX/UI Designer 2025-ongoing

Sarake Oy

I work as a UX/UI designer in modern and secure information management company Sarake Oy. As an in-house designer I work closely with developers, Product Owner etc., and am used to taking care of the whole design process. 

2025-2026, Founder & Art Director

Heta-Linnea Kovanen Design 

Founder of a multidisciplinary design and art studio offering services in UI/UX design, illustration, graphic design, and fine arts. Providing design consulting for tech-focused clients, combining creative direction with strategic thinking to deliver user-centered, scalable solutions.

Offering mentorship, portfolio reviews, and career guidance for creatives, supporting the next generation of designers with hands-on expertise.

Currently developing online course content for both aspiring and experienced designers, focusing on practical skills, design thinking, and professional growth.

2022-2024 UI/UX Designer, Junior Developer

Fujitsu Finland

UI/UX designer in several projects including health care, task management, 

2011-2024 Visual Artist

Freelancer

Produced and exhibited original artwork across various mediums including digital illustration, acrylic painting, pencil drawing, and printmaking. Exhibited at venues such as Central Library Oodi, Om'pu Gallery, Pato Gallery, Cable Factory, and the Museum of Contemporary Emotions. Created hand-drawn animations showcased at international film and art festivals across Europe. Built a long-term, self-directed artistic practice that combines strong visual storytelling with experimental techniques and multidisciplinary collaboration.

2016-2024 Designer

Freelancer, light-entrepreneur

Delivered a wide variety of design solutions for clients across multiple industries, including web design, logo creation, album and book illustrations, infographics, and fabric patterns. Worked with notable clients such as Esterin Kirja, Into Kustannus, Luova Records, Loukko, the Museum of Contemporary Emotions, Särö Ry, and Eclipse Music, consistently providing high-quality, customized design work. Specialized in UI/UX design, web design, and graphic design, ensuring user-centered and visually compelling experiences across digital platforms. Created innovative and impactful visual assets that aligned with each client’s brand identity and project objectives.

2023 Illustration Teacher

Comic Centre Finland

2020 & 2021 Illustrator, Graphic designer

Maaseudun Tulevaisuus Newspaper

2018-2020 Arts and Marketing Coordinator

Luova Records

2013-2015 Gallery Assistant

Om’Pu Gallery

Memberships

ORNAMO - Finnish Designers

HTY - Helsinki Art Association

Grafia Ry - Association of Visual Communication Designers Finland

Kuvittajat Ry - The Finnish Illustration Association

TEK - Trade Union for Academi Engineers and Architects (Student Member)

Represented by

YDF - Young Finnish designers 

Arts in collections

Museum of Contemporary Emotions

Private Collections

Public Artworks

2021 Museum of Contemporary Emotions, online

2021 Arabia Street Art Festival & Helen, Electric Utility Box

2018 Yläkaupungin yö & Jyväskylän Energia, Electric Utility Box

2017 Yläkaupungin yö & Jyväskylän Energia, Electric Utility Box

2012 Arabia Street Art Festival & Helen, Electric Utility Box

Grants

2025 Kuvittajat ry, Project Grant

2025 Freelance Graafikot, Grant for expenses

2024 Kuvittajat ry, Grant for expenses

2024 Grafia, Educational Grant

2024 Freelance Graafikot, Grant for Expenses

2023 Kuvittajat, Grant for Expenses

2022 Kuvittajat, Grant for Expenses

2022 Taike Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working Grant

2021 Kuvittajat, Grant for Expenses

2021 Freelance Graafikot, Working Grant

2021 Grafia, Grant for Expenses

2021 JOKES, Working Grant

2021 Taike Arts Promotion Centre, Working Grant

2021 Summer of the Arts by Kulta Ry & Finnish Cultural Foundation, Working Grant

2021 Pekka Halonen Academy of Arts, Scholarship

2020 Kuvittajat, Working Grant

2020 Taike Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working Grant

Solo Exhibitions

2025 Cafe Bar no. 9, Helsinki

2025 Gallery Kalasatama Vapaakaupunki, Helsinki

2025 Designkaverit Studio, Helsinki

2024 Designkaverit Studio, Helsinki

2024 Round Tripla, Helsinki

2024 Telakka Gallery, Tampere

2024 Cafe Round Tripla, Helsinki

2021 Mesta Co-working Herttoniemi, Helsinki 

2021 Air Frosterus Online Gallery

2020 Central Library Oodi, Helsinki 

2019 Entresse Library, Espoo 

2018 Luova Online Art Gallery Artist of the Month Sept

2018 Om’Pu Gallery, Helsinki

2018 Järvenpää Library, Järvenpää 

2017 Uusi Tampere Music Festival, Tampere 

2014 Vesanto Library, Vesanto 

2014 Om’Pu Gallery, Helsinki

2013 Cafe Lounge, Jyväskylä 

2013 Kallio Kukkii Festival, Helsinki 

2013 Lungberg, Helsinki 

Group Exhibitions

2025 Cafe Bar no. 9, Helsinki

2025 Vapaakaupunki Gallery, Helsinki

2025 LaFiaba Gallery, Jyväskylä

2025 Next Step, Gallery Kookos Helsinki

2023 Luonnos Gallery Group Exhibition, Helsinki 

2022 Romu & Random w/ Juho Luukkainen, Tampere 

2021 Cable Factory Group Exhibition, Helsinki 

2021 Pato Gallery, Kouvola 

2020 Cafe Talo w/ Eemi Kettunen, Helsinki 

2018 Hoppa Gallery Kaleidoskooppi Festival Group Exhibition, Jyväskylä 

2017 Bar Vakiopaine w/ Aura Kajaniemi, Jyväskylä 

2014 Om’Pu Gallery Group Exhibition, Helsinki 

2014 Window Gallery w/Panu Kivi, Helsinki 

2013 Kallio Kipinöi Festival, Helsinki 

Upcoming Exhibitions :

2027 G12 Gallery Helsinki

Animation Screenings

2022 Screener Short Films, Hackney London UK

2021 Balkan-Can Kino, Athens Greece

2021 Linea d’Ombra, Salerno Italy

2021 The Unprecedented Cinema - International Festival of Short Film, Tallinn Estonia

2021 Savonlinna International Film Festival, Savonlinna 

2021 Huhtamo International Film Fest, Huhtamo 

2021 Mister Vorky Animation Festival, Ruma Serbia

2021 T-Short Animation Festival, online

Design work and collab

Museum of Contemporary Emotions, Luova Records, Helmi Levyt, Esterin Kirja, Fujitsu, Into Kustannus, Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko, Niin&Näin, WOTIASRT?, Väkevä, HUS, Medtech, Comic Centre Finland, Yläkaupungin Yö, Arabia Street Festival, Mister Vorky Animation festival, Särö Magazine, etc.

Published Illustrations and other designs

2024 

Single cover art for why so shy -band single “Typhoon”

Mimmit Koodaa Tech Program Sticker Logo

4 x single cover art for Serot band

Juhani Orismaa single cover art

Several UI designs for Fujitsu Finland and it’s customers

2023 

Loukko Zine, Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko

Ester Nuori Leppä: Polka Memoriam LP Cover Art, Helmi Levyt

Ester Nuori Leppä: Polka Memoriam Cassette Cover Art, Helmi Levyt

Poster Designs for Photographer Eemi Kettunen

SunSusu Logo 

Maagine: Sylityksin Cover Art

Maagine: Lassoo Cover Art

Maagine Band Logo

Several UI designs for Fujitsu Finland and it’s customers

2022  

Puistojatkot -blog illustration, Apu Magazine

Loukko Zine, Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko

Sara Kärpänen: Naisten kaupunki, Book Cover, Into-Kustannus

Karlo Haapiainen: Sigfried Holopaisen valitut kokemukset, Esterin Kirja

Harvinainen Brand Design

Maagine: Vanha koira Cover art

Maagine: Pisaroiksi Cover art

Several UI designs for Fujitsu Finland and it’s customers

2021  

Herttoniemeläinen Magazine

Särö Magazine

Oikolukija Newspaper, Esterin Kirja

Vihreän Oksan Werstas Logo design

Ester Nuori Leppä: Rakkauden Pasila Gotham City Cover art, Alakulttuurikeskus

Several illustrations for Maaseudun Tulevaisuus Newspaper

2020 and earlier

Atte Koskinen: Aamuun nousevat Book Cover, Esterin kirja

Several illustrations and designs for Maaseudun Tulevaisuus Newspaper

Väkevä Feminist Magazine

OI-Zine #4, Esterin kirja

Several Illustrations for Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko

Niin&Näin Magazine

Ester Nuori Leppä: Kevään laulut Book Cover, Esterin kirja

Emilia Elelé: Lomalla taas, Cover art, Luova Records

Emilia Elelé: Lama-ajan lapset, Cover art, Luova Records

Unya: UNYA Cover art, Eclipse Music

Kynnet Band T-Shirt design

Luola Record Label Logo + Web Design

WOTISART? Magazine, UK

Average Art Magazine, UK

Not Random Art Magazine, UK