Heikki Salonen is new head of Diesel Female

Finnish designer Heikki Salonen has been made the new

design head at Diesel Female.

The move is part of the high street label's womenswear relaunch, with forthcoming collections to be "stripped back to a softer and more feminine aesthetic". Salonen's first offering for the brand will be unveiled for spring/summer 2012.

After being featured in the 2009 Fashion East show and winning the prestigious Diesel Prize, Salonen has fast become one of the internationally most followed Finnish fashion designers.

In addition to his own collection, the RCA graduate has designed for Erdem and Diesel. His own collection launched at Asos in 2010 in collaboration with artist Johanna Eliisa Laitanen.