Ariel Salminen
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arielsalminen.com
Ariel Salminen
@arielsalminen.com
3K followers 170 following 1.3K posts
Independent design systems architect • Author of various open source tools • A girl who lost her heart somewhere in California 🧡 • Mainly posting about cycling, music, poems & the web platform.

📮 https://arielsalminen.com
📍 Helsinki, Finland
👩🏻‍🦰 She/her
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arielsalminen.com
Found a new space to work on my bicycles 😍
A photograph of a bike repair shop in Helsinki A photograph of parts in a bike repair shop in Helsinki
November 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
arielsalminen.com
Yeah I mean if you want only CSS I guess you’re pretty much stuck with what you can do within @font-face. That isn’t much, beyond size-adjust.

Nevertheless, got curious what even are the unicode-ranges for emojis so did a quick attempt: codepen.io/arielsalmine...
/* Make a custom emoji font that we can adjust */ @font-face { font-family: "emoji"; src: local("Segoe UI"), local("Roboto"), local("Helvetica"), local("Arial"), local("Apple Color Emoji"), local("Segoe UI Emoji"), local("Segoe UI Symbol"); size-adjust: 250%; /* The only “real” thing you can reliably do here */ unicode-range: U+1F600-1F64F, /* Emoticons */ U+1F300-1F5FF, /* Misc symbols and pictographs */ U+1F680-1F6FF, /* Transport and map */ U+1F1E0-1F1FF, /* Regional indicator symbols */ U+2600-26FF, /* Misc symbols */ U+2700-27BF, /* Dingbats */ U+FE00-FE0F, /* Variation selectors */ U+1F900-1F9FF, /* Supplemental symbols and pictographs */ U+1F018-1F270, /* Various asian characters */ U+238C-2454, /* Misc items */ U+20D0-20FF; /* Combining diacritical marks for symbols */ } body { font-family: "emoji", sans-serif; }
November 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
arielsalminen.com
Took this single photo yesterday. I had risotto with smoked reindeer heart as the main (sorry, not photographed, this was the entrée).
Dinner with my boyfriend yesterday. Entrée in the photograph.
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
arielsalminen.com
“I have not been working on planning [a design systems infrastructure] this week.”
A screenshot of a slide deck with 108 slides on how to develop a successful design systems infrastructure.
October 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
arielsalminen.com
This thing arrived today.
My daughter touching a “sky blue” iPhone Air sitting in its original box, waiting to be set up.
September 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
arielsalminen.com
My calendar for the next few days. Send help
A screenshot from Arielle’s calendar filled with Design System User Research bookings
September 10, 2025 at 5:23 AM
arielsalminen.com
What 15 years of design debt looks like
A really confusing parking payment machine that has dozens of options that all seem to have a different user interface and no consistency whatsoever.
September 5, 2025 at 7:21 AM
arielsalminen.com
Current status: mapping out the organization, teams, and people to talk to.
A photograph from Arielle’s home office showing a laptop with a draft organization chart open in FigJam.
August 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
arielsalminen.com
Stoked to share that I recently started working with Kesko Group (www.kesko.fi/en/company/k...) to help them establish a more robust design system infrastructure.

Currently, I’m conducting background research, but as we move along with this work, expect to see more updates about the progress. ☺️
Modern office lobby at Kesko’s main campus in Helsinki, featuring a wooden slat ceiling with geometric cutouts that reveal upper floors. The space showcases contemporary Scandinavian design with two orange upholstered swivel chairs positioned around a light wood circular coffee table in the foreground. The lobby has white walls, and a glass staircase with wooden handrail on the left.
August 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
arielsalminen.com
Did an extra circle around the Laajalahti bay before heading back home to finish 100km. 🚴‍♀️
This image shows a topographical map of the Helsinki metropolitan area in Finland. The map displays a cycling route marked with a colored line that changes from blue (lower elevation) to green, yellow, orange, and red (higher elevation) according to the elevation scale shown at the bottom. The route forms a loop that starts near Espoo in the west, travels north through areas near Oittaa, then heads east and south through locations near Vantaa and Haltiala, before returning to Helsinki and back to the starting point marked with a green play button icon near Espoo. Several waypoint markers (gray circles with mountain icons) are placed along the route. This image shows a Garmin GPS cycling computer displaying workout statistics from a ride completed today (August 17th at 10:26). The device shows the following metrics: - Average speed: 21.51 km/h - Distance: 100.87 km - Duration: 4:41:21 - Temperature: 21°C This image shows a red Wilier road bike positioned in front of a large hay stook in a rural Finnish countryside setting. The bike has drop handlebars, thin tires, and an aerodynamic frame design typical of road cycling bikes. Behind the bike stretches a picturesque field dotted with numerous traditional hay stooks arranged across the green meadow.
August 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
arielsalminen.com
Did a 60km loop around Helsinki this evening. Seems surprisingly coherent on the map given we just rode along random roads.
Two red road bikes parked on a paved road in front of a traditional yellow wooden building. The building has white-trimmed windows, a dark metal roof, and sits on a stone foundation, surrounded by mature green trees and well-maintained grass. A GPS tracking map showing a cycling route around Helsinki, Finland. The route is displayed as a colored line (with segments in green, yellow, orange, red, and blue indicating differences in speed) that forms a loop through and around the Helsinki metropolitan area.
August 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
arielsalminen.com
My design systems survival kit for the first day at client’s campus. Have to say I’m pretty excited about the upcoming work.
Flat lay of office supplies arranged on a light wooden surface. Items include: a white USB wall charger, two coiled white cables, a printed document titled 'PARTS' with multiple columns of text, a pink laptop sleeve, colorful sticky notes in green and pink, several black Sharpie markers, red scissors, a sheet of small red circular stickers, and a black digital timer showing approximately 15 minutes with a red section on the dial.
August 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
arielsalminen.com
While kids were in school, I went out for a ride. Helsinki can be seen in the distance (the tall buildings).
A red road bike with drop handlebars and water bottles is parked next to a wooden bench on a gravel path. The bike overlooks a scenic wetland area with tall green grasses and a body of water. In the distance, Helsinki city skyline with several tall buildings is visible on the horizon. The sky is partly cloudy with blue patches and white clouds, and power lines are visible crossing the upper portion of the image.
August 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
arielsalminen.com
But who in their right mind would build CodePen inside a inside a @codepen.io
CodePen inside a <code-pen> inside a @codepen.io
August 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM
arielsalminen.com
Haven’t posted much over the past ~month since I’ve been mostly traveling, but this girl is returning to work next week to launch her own design systems consultancy (yes, back at it!).

Right now taking the most out of these last few days, this summer has brought so many good things into my life. ❤️
A photograph of Arielle hair open wearing a black dress and a matching black head band.
August 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
arielsalminen.com
Gave him food, but seemingly my dress was preferred instead 😂
A goat eating my dress.
August 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
arielsalminen.com
Couple photos from the cogwheel railway earlier.
Photograph 1/3 of the steepest cogwheel railway in the world at Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland. Photograph 2/3 of the steepest cogwheel railway in the world at Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland. Photograph 3/3 of the steepest cogwheel railway in the world at Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland.
July 30, 2025 at 8:29 AM
arielsalminen.com
Found such a calming place to have picnic with kids. 💚🍉
A medieval stone castle sits like a crown jewel on emerald hillsides, its ancient towers and red-tiled roofs telling stories of centuries past. A winding road curves gracefully through the lush green meadows, leading the eye toward this fairy-tale fortress. Framed by leafy branches that create a natural window, the scene opens to reveal distant blue mountains rising like gentle giants against a soft, cloud-brushed sky. The pastoral landscape breathes with timeless tranquility, where history and nature dance together in perfect harmony.
July 30, 2025 at 7:02 AM
arielsalminen.com
Traveled through Germany to Austria, then Liechtenstein, and ended up in Switzerland. Captured this view yesterday from Mt. Pilatus (in Switzerland) which apparently also has the steepest cogwheel railway in the world with 48% gradient (yes, it was slightly scary ~35 minutes going up 😅)
A sweeping alpine valley opens like a green amphitheater between towering limestone cliffs. Winding paths trace through the lush meadows below, while clouds drift around distant peaks. The scene captures the profound quiet of the Mt. Pilatus, a peaceful silence broken only by the rhythmic chiming of cowbells echoing through this pristine wilderness.
July 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
arielsalminen.com
Visiting more random parks in downtown Helsinki today. This is Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden next to the main Railway Station.
July 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
arielsalminen.com
Apple calendar emoji with October 30th as the current date.
July 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
arielsalminen.com
Random visit to the Helsinki Winter Garden. One of my favorite spots to just wind down in the middle of the city.
Arielle sitting in the Helsinki Winter Garden with her handbag and sunglasses on the table in front of her. There’re three other chairs around the table which are all empty. Behind the table and chairs, you can see a serene view of the green trees, bushes, and flowers that grow in the garden. A view from the balcony of the Helsinki Winter Garden. If you didn’t know better, one could almost imagine being in a rain forest with all the lush green trees, bushes, and colorful flowers growing around you — especially if you close your eyes and focus on your other senses — the scent of some of the plants is very strong.
July 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
arielsalminen.com
Random selfie from yesterday. Visiting family up north this week and this was taken after we had set up beds for the kids to sleep in.
Arielle in a purple sleeveless shirt, holding a gymnastic ring in her right hand. Behind her you can see two beds that have been prepared for the kids.
July 9, 2025 at 5:58 PM
arielsalminen.com
Look at all the lovely people in this #skircle 😍

(Tagged everyone shown in the ALT)
Arielle’s Skircle, including: @bell.bz @wicky.nillia.ms @guysegal.bsky.social @matthiasott.com @zachleat.com @sturobson.com @elwinvaneede.com @darn.es @sjoy.lol @arn.is @robbowen.digital @zeldman.bsky.social @miriam.codes @bradfrost.com @shaunbent.co.uk @scott.is @minamarkh.am @gerireid.com @nicolesullivan.bsky.social @markboulton.co.uk @heydonworks.com @eva.town @jbasoo.bsky.social @annaecook.bsky.social @heather-buchel.com @justinfagnani.com @peakzebra.bsky.social @cferdinandi.bsky.social @namesake.fyi @donnie.damato.design @clairebaire.dev @ilkkajii.bsky.social @samwho.dev @haystephen.bsky.social @christoph.koe.berlin @ethanmarcotte.com @whitep4nth3r.com @cityeditionstudio.co.uk @ericwbailey.website @simonwillison.net @benbrignell.com @sia.codes @paul.kinlan.me @vale.rocks @paulmwatson.com @kettanaito.com @ohhelloana.blog @davatron5000.bsky.social @jpzwarte.bsky.social
July 8, 2025 at 7:52 AM
arielsalminen.com
Perfect weekend getaway with my boyfriend on a tiny island in the Baltic Sea. 🏝️
Crossing between two islands on a ferry. Serene view from our cottage on the island. Grilling food yesterday evening. Sunset around midnight on Friday.
July 5, 2025 at 3:54 PM