Hélène Arja is a Norwegian artistic soul rooted in Oslo.
The balance between raw authenticity and delicate aesthetics is important in my practice. Work that enable communities to blossom, raise nature awareness or invoke peoples presence, gives me purpose. I always aim to create concepts and experiences guided by nature as both premise and inspiration.
She holds a MA in Design from The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, with a specialization in place development. She also studied sociology at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and graduated with a BA in Journalism from Media University College, in Kristiansand.
Fields of profession
Designer
Hélène Arja practice interdisciplinary design works and creates events and products within the fields of art, interior, litterature and welness.
Artist
Hélène Arja is an active artist with projects that touch upon nature, belonging, culture and rituals.
Recently selected by The Norwegian Sculptors Society to create ceramic artworks for the next season, and will be exhibited in september 2026, at the gallery Villa Furulund in Oslo, Norway.
Place Developer
Hélène Arja serves as a place strategist, currently working at Natural State, located in the historic district in Oslo, Norway, developing place identities.
Her history as a place developer represent over 15 years of practice and spans from development and design of public parks, urban squares, small un-urban villages, cultural venues – to city strategies.
Academic Advisor & Researcher
Hélène Arja is academically engaged as external advisor, mentor and examiner for master's students, graduating with subjects within design and place development.
She also practice as a visual researcher with artistic explorations that combines her background in art, journalism & design.
Awards & honors
Exhibited as
Great example of
Scandinavian Inclusive Design
–
ZLIN DESIGN WEEK, 2023
PROJECT: DONT'T FEAR THE GRIEVER
Honored for
Excellent Sustainable
Un Urban Experiment
–
STAY HUMAN, 2019
PROJECT: TRÆNA GRENDEHUS
Prize for
Best Sustainable
Design Project
–
AHO AWARDS / EGGS, 2018
PROJECT: INCLUSIVE DIGITAL CITY MANIFESTO
Prize for
Excellence in the field of
Strategic Design
–
AHO AWARDS / LIVEWORK 2017
PROJECT: FERTILITY TOOLS
Prize for
Outstanding use of Design
and Architecture
–
DOGA AWARD, 2017
PROJECT: LANGBORDET
Honorable mention for
Best Sustainable
Product Design
–
AHO AWARDS, 2016
PROJECT: CASTANEA
Prize for
Best Exhibition
Design
–
AHO AWARDS, 2016
PROJECT: SOD STUDIO
Honorable mention for
Excellent
Product Design Work
–
AHO AWARDS, 2015
PROJECT: KLUNK
