’It’s wonderful to be able to do things in a way that allows us to utilise the experts at our school. This operating method is similar to the joint design that we consider so important, and it also illustrates the unique culture that we want to nurture at our school,’ emphasises Dean Helena Hyvönen.

Another target involves using the winning entry’s concept when presenting artistic activities outside the scope of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture website, for example, on the Aalto University website and on the Aalto ARTS department websites.

User feedback to support development

The tools for developing websites at Aalto University include usability tests and feedback from users. The website renewal is particularly aimed at improving website usability and updating the identity. Feedback from users has indicated a desire for more visual material.

’We’re looking for a concept that can make the visual competence at ARTS visible. In order to ensure that the visual material on the website is up to date, we need a functional visual content production solution,’ explains Communications Manager Eveliina Olsson, who serves as competition secretary.

Website renewal also extends to department websites

The Aalto University websites (aalto.fi and websites of the schools) are aimed at external stakeholders. The website renewal extends to department websites, too, and the departments of Aalto ARTS have also been asked for requests concerning development of the department websites. Their feedback on the existing websites will be taken into consideration when selecting the winning entry.

Entries in the Aalto ARTS website competition will be evaluated by a jury consisting of Communications Director Hanna Maula (Chair), Professors Pirjo Hirvonen, Marjatta Itkonen and Teemu Leinonen, student members Veera Konsti (TOKYO) and Jere Pääkkönen (Arkkitehtikilta), Concept Designer Teriina Lindblom (alumni), Communications Manager Anne Tapanainen (ARTS) and Head of Aalto Media Eveliina Olsson (Competition Secretary).

The jury will begin its work in September, with announcement of the competition winner(s) being set for October. Practical implementation will begin after that.

For more information about the website competition.

**

The Aalto University website is undergoing a renewal during 2013. This applies to the main Aalto University website and to the school websites. The Aalto University website is aimed at external stakeholders. The largest individual user group is potential students, while other important stakeholders include the academic community, alumni and the so-called general public that is interested in science, research and artistic activities. The Aalto University website has approximately 570 000 hits each month, while the ARTS website receives about 35 000.

**

This time the theme of the annual event is Dreams Made Real. The thematic concept of the exhibition is the work of designer and Aalto University alumnus Arni Aromaa. 

In their works, the students at Aalto University ponder the rapidly-changing world. They put forward interesting angles and open-minded visions for solutions to global problems. The works reflect hope and enthusiasm on the threshold of new possibilities.

Masters of Aalto is being held in the Kruununmakasiini building at the corner of Hämeentie and Lautatarhankatu in Helsinki. The 121-year-old building, owned by the City of Helsinki, has served as a state granary and warehouse, and is now opening to the public for the first time.

In addition to the exhibition, Aalto University invites the public to take part in seminars and events. Information on other events can be found at the website of moa.aalto.fi.

16 May:  The seminar Me and We examines the role of creativity: how the creative process changes with the speed of change in the world. Is there room for creativity, and how should creativity be supported? People pondering the subject include Senior Design Specialist Paula Bello of KONE Corporation and CEO Kigge Hvid of the Danish organisation Index: Design to Improve Life.

14 May: Topics of the international seminar Co-creating sustainable opportunities for all include urbanisation, changing business models, social entrepreneurship and the building of a sustainable future.

21 May: The seminar Designing well-being – developing public services examines topics such as the role of design in the equation involving growing needs and diminishing resources.  Good design is based on a realistic view of reality, and on what kinds of impacts new solutions might have. The seminar is in Finnish.

18–19 May: The ARTS Exposed sales event showcases a collection of new works by alumni of the Aalto University's School of Arts, Design and Architecture, as well as the school's own classics. On sale are more unique works and small-series production than ever before. Examples of the collection include fashion illustrations by the young Johanna Härkönen as well as the established Minni Havas (Minni F. Ronya). There are unique works and small-series production from Veera Kujala (Raivio & Kulju) and from the young Matias Liimatainen, who is finishing his studies in ceramics and glass design. Also taking part in the event are furniture designers, such as Mikko Paakkanen, POIAT and StudioHH from Lahti. Visual artist Jenni Rope brings her paintings, as well as comic strips and art books of her own publishing house to ARTS Exposed. During the event, there will also be a sales point for the products of designers and a café run by students.

The main partner of the Masters of Aalto event is the City of Helsinki. Other partners: Antalis, DMP, Elisa, Experq, Hjelt Foundation, Martela, RGB, Teurastamo, Teknos, Unigrafia, Viinitie

The Masters of Aalto event 8–26 May, 2013, Kruununmakasiini, Hämeentie 39, Helsinki. The exhibition is open on weekdays 12–20, and on weekends 12–18. Admission is free.

Further information:

Map, logos and image bank (for theses works and exhibition architecture) http://moa.aalto.fi/2013/en/contact/

website: moa.aalto.fi

Producer Katri Winqvist
katri.winqvist@aalto.fi
Tel. +358 50 591 4314

The judges were unanimous in their view that Satu Maaranen’s collection was superior. They were also unanimous in their decision of the winner.

-Satu Maaranen’s work with the material that she uses completely convinced us. Her use of colours is also strong, said Felipe Oliveira Baptista, the head of the panel of judges.      

-Aalto University has made it to the top tier of the most internationally interesting fashion schools! Aalto University is the first school whose students have won this competition in two consecutive years. Our success is the result of persevering and goal-oriented teaching and development of education. We give our students creative freedom, support, and encouragement, but much is also demanded of them, says Professor Pirjo Hirvonen, Head of the Department of Design.

One of the most prestigious competitions in the field

The event, which has been held at the famous Villa Noailles in Hyères on the French Riviera already since the early 1980s, is considered one of the world's most prestigious competitions in the field. The contest is organised by the same producers and casting directors who are behind shows put on by large fashion houses such as Chanel and Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week.

Each year the panels of judges in the competition are composed of some of the most influential international figures in the fashion business. The works in the competition were showcased on three different days in three different shows to fashion professionals, experts, and the public at large.

The competition has served as a springboard for many international names in design, such as Viktor & Rolf, the main designer of Thierry Mulger Romain Kremer, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, and Henrik Vibskov.

Satu Maaranen was chosen as one of the ten finalists from among 355 entries. The 28e Festival International de Mode & de Photographie Hyères 2013 took place on 26-29 April 2013 in Villa Noilles, France.

First prize in 2012 to Finnish Aalto University as well

In 2012, three young clothing design students from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture won the main prize at the Hyères Fashion Festival. At that time second-year students Siiri Raasakka, Tiia Sirén and Elina Laitinen won the Grand Prix for their men's fashion collection, whose fundamental idea was an imaginary urban tribe of nomads. Now the three had been invited to display a collection that they had been working on in the past year called “The Voice of Unheard”, which the head of the festival Jean-Pierre Blanc said was “full of creative energy” and ready for commercialisation. The collection will be displayed again at the Paris Men’s Fashion Week in the summer of 2013

Winning collection at Näytös13 show

Satu Maaranen's collection will be included in the Näytös13 show on 24 May 2013 at 18:00 in Suvilahti, Helsinki, Finland The show, which is organised each spring, showcases to the public the new collections designed by students who are graduating from the school's Degree Programme in Fashion and Clothing Design.

Further information
Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Tuomas Laitinen, Lecturer, tel. +358 40 952 6024
Anne Tapanainen, Communications Manager tel. +358 50 434 7911

Hyères Fashion Festival competition website
www.villanoailles-hyeres.com/hyeres2013

www.satumaaranen.com

The list of accepted students can be found from Admission results section: aalto.fi/en/studies/admission_results/

Results in the field of Art and Design

Please note, that the list contains only the names of those applicants who have given the permission to publish their admission decision on the website.

The applicants can also check their own admission results in the online application system at apply.aalto.fi.

A formal letter of acceptance will be sent to the admitted students by mail.

More information:
Aalto University Admission Services
admissions@aalto.fi

More information (aalto.fi)

The move will see a service break for all Aalto University external websites such as arts.aalto.fi/en/. The information on these websites will not be visible, and the actual content will be replaced by a temporary error message. We apologise for any inconvenience experienced by users.

During the service break, contact information for the university personnel will be available at the Aalto People –site (people.aalto.fi). The schools' Facebook pages and the university's social media channels will not be affected by the service break.

Further information:
Hannu-Pekka Poikonen, Project Manager, IT Services, tel. +358 50 310 4808
hannu-pekka.poikonen@aalto.fi

Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture (link to the Facebook log in page)

Dreams and visions become reality as the newly graduates from Aalto University present their thesis projects at the Masters of Aalto 2013 year show.  The exhibition is held in Sörnäinen, Helsinki from 8 to 26 May.

Masters of Aalto offers the visitor a lively presentation of studies at Aalto University and introduces the societal role the university has. Masters of Aalto showcases the works of 80 graduates from the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture, the School of Business and the schools of technology.

Read more

Follow the progress of Masters of Aalto at moa.aalto.fi.

The exhibition contains a representative selection of student work in furniture design, ceramics and glass art, industrial design, textile art, fashion and clothing design. A total of 26 students with different levels of training showcase their work in Milan, some of which have already gained attention at international design events.

-The works selected for the exhibition are the best of our degree programmes. They reflect the philosophy of our teaching, which combines an original artistically strong vision with insightful technical implementation, says Professor Jouko Järvisalo from Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

-We are going to Milan with an eye catching, versatile collection which we believe will stand out favourably from the crowd. Our education in design is of a very high standard internationally and domestically. Our graduates are amongst the best designers in the world with strong practical design skills, says the Head of the Department of Design Pirjo Hirvonen.

The exhibition is being curated by Professor Jouko Järvisalo and Lecturer Martin Relander.

Aalto University's Norther exhibition runs from 9 till 14 April at Via Privata Oslavia 7 in the Ventura Lambrate area. The nearest metro stop is Ventura Lambrate.

Further information:

Krista Kinnunen
Aalto University
krista.kinnunen@aalto.fi
+358 50 341 2256 

arts.aalto.fi/milan2013  

List of students:

Mirella Abe

Hanna Anonen

Natalia Baczynska Kimberley

Aiwei Foo

Laura Juslin

Saija Hiltunen

Vesa Kattelus

Pekka Kuivamäki

Nina Kosonen

Miyu Kuno

Mikko Lehtola

Noora Liesimaa

Matias Liimatainen

Kristos Mavrostomos

Matti Mikkilä

Yu Nan

Khanittha Nualtaranee

Ai Ono

Vilma Pellinen

Goeun Shin

Tiina Taskinen

Laura Timosaari

Maria Tuovinen

Anna Vander Lei

Man Yau

In addition to the final report an impact assessment of the results of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 year has been completed. The study on the social impact of WDC Helsinki 2012 is made by Deloitte. The partnering design cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti also made their report on actions during 2012.

The final report concludes that design became a topic of public discussion in Finland and Helsinki emerged as an increasingly appealing design city. WDC Helsinki 2012 activated citizens and supported the participating cities in creating new types of practices that include citizens.

Deloitte assesses that the design year gave birth to projects that have remarkable direct impact both on private and public sector. WDC Helsinki 2012 especially promoted projects focusing on design education, user-oriented services and comprehensive solutions utilizing methods inherent in design.

WDC Helsinki 2012 promoted design with 550 projects and 2,800 events. The programme was implemented by a network of 290 organisations in Finland and abroad. The year’s exhibitions, events and sites attracted 2.5 million visitors. About 90 percent of the events were open to the public and 80 percent were free of charge.

According to the final report, the media covered design extensively and from various angles. WDC Helsinki 2012 also roused criticism, which helped the organisation to achieve its goals.

The year strengthened the understanding of design in Finnish society, increased citizen interest in urban development and enhanced the international image of Finland as a design nation.

More information on the City of Helsinki website

Alpo Aaltokoski Company is producing Faux in cooperation with Aalto University’s Media Factory and the medical rehabilitation company Suomen Ortotiikka & Protetiikka. Making the dance work in a cooperative way makes it possible to experiment with the costume design and take time to research it. The cooperation will give students from Aalto University’s academy of art and design the chance to work in a professional production.

The costume design moves from everyday realism to surrealism and playfully looking for new dimensions to being human. How can virtual reality and electronics become forms of social interaction in the future alongside non-verbal and kinaesthetic communication.

The work was inspired by a course called The Wearable Electronics at the Media Factory in 2011 which the faux working team – Laura Haapakangas (costume design), Timo Muurinen (media artist/sound design) and Alpo Aaltokoski (choreography) – participated in and made the Performance Garment project. This got them interested in researching wearable electronics and the possibilities that it brings to the performing arts.

In the creative process the work has raised questions about the evolution of types of humans. Technological aids and machines (pacemakers, breathing machines, dialysis machines) have helped people live longer for decades and today they are regarded as commonplace in the same way as organ transplants. Thanks to advances in science, “spare parts” can now be grown for people and stem cells can be printed in 3-D.

This is the first time that choreographer Alpo Aaltokoski is participating as a dancer in his own group choreography.

PERFORMANCES
11.4. at 7 pm PREMIERE | 13.4. at 7 pm | 14.4. at 3 pm | 16.4. at 10 am | 17.4. at 7 pm | 18.4. at 7 pm | 19.4. at 7 pm | 20.4. at 7 pm | 21.4. at 3 pm | Aalto University, Media Centre Lume, Studionäyttämö, Hämeentie 135 C. Tickets 20 € / 10 € Lippupalvelu

Choreography: Alpo Aaltokoski
Dance: Alpo Aaltokoski, Leo Kirjonen, Jouni Majaniemi, Tuovi Rantanen Esete Sutinen, Heidi Suur-Hamari
Costume and set design: Laura Haapakangas
Assistant to costume designer: Timo Varamäki
Realization of artificial parts: Markku Salminen, Aki Aalto, Aleksi Aalto, Ville Saari
Sound design and composition: Timo Muurinen
Electronics for costumes: Timo Muurinen, Aki Päivärinne
Light design: Ville Mäkelä
Photography: Sanna Käsmä
In cooperation with: Aalto University Media Factory, Suomen Ortotiikka & Protetiikka Oy

More information:
Janne Ikäheimo, Managing Director, Alpo Aaltokoski Company
tel. 044 323 3509, info@aaltokoskicompany.fi
Leena Närekangas, Coordinator, Media Factory, Aalto University
tel. 050 342 7114, leena.narekangas@aalto.fi

See the teaser. (Alpo Aaltokoski Company on Vimeo)

On Display is developed by photography student Tuomo Rainio from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture together with Riikka Notkola and Janne Sundqvist. On Display is an application for displaying a weekly art dosage: a piece of art for the week presented in a mobile application.

Finalists will receive 10 000 euros of seed funding with which they develop their project further for the next 6 months. They will also receive entrepreneurship training organised with Aalto University’s Start Up Sauna programme. The finalists will also visit Silicon Valley. The winner or winners of the Uutisraivaaja contest will be chosen from the five finalists, announced at Slush start up conference in Helsinki in November.

-Each of the finalists broaden the field of journalism and distribution of information by introducing new viewpoints, target groups and topics. It is a very interesting and heterogenic selection, says Pekka Ala-Pietilä, Chairman of the Uutisraivaaja jury.

There were both newcomers and experienced entrepreneurs in the applicants. Many had prepared their project for a long time for the Uutisraivaaja contest, Tanja Aitamurto, Chairman of the Review Board and Coordinator Uutisraivaaja Innovation Challenge says.

On Display team is looking for content developers.
 
We are searching for a good team of art writers to the content development of the application. We hope On Display raises interest amongst art researchers and other art experts, says Tuomo Rainio.

More information:
Tuomo Rainio, tuomorainio@gmail.com, tel. +358 50 321 0783

In the synopsis of the film by Jussi Lehtomäki  there is a question 'When is the last time you've been to the woods'? It continues by quoting the famous Grimm fairy tale: 'Once upon a time a poor woodcutter lived with his wife and two children in a small cottage next to a great forest. The boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel.'

Lehtomäki is a third-year documentary film directing student at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki, Finland. He both directered the film and wrote the script for it. Out into the woods is Jussi Lehtomäki's second film as a director. The film is subtitled in English.

Out into the woods: Jussi Lehtomäki (director & script), Mikko Peltonen (producer), Hannu Käki (cinematography), Tuukka Nikkilä (sound), Niina Vornanen (editing), and Juulia Jokinen (set design).

More information:

Jussi Lehtomäki, mobile +358 44 313 0666, jussi.lehtomaki@aalto.fi
Mikko Peltonen, mobile +358 40 720 7671, mikko.peltonen@aalto.fi

Tampere Film Festival website

Image: Peter Salovaara

The event, which has been held at the famous Villa Noailles in Hyères on the French Riviera since the early 1980s, is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious fashion and design competitions. It is organised by the same producers and casting directors that oversee the Paris Fashion Week shows of such celebrated fashion houses as Chanel and Balenciaga.

Each year the competition juries are made up of the biggest international names in the fashion world. This year's jury will led by Felipe Oliveira Baptista. Entries will be displayed in three different exhibitions over three separate days for professionals in the field, experts and the public.

The competition has been a springboard for many internationally-renowned designer names, such as Viktor&Rolf, Thierry Mugler's head designer Romain Kremer, Felipe Oliveira Baptista and Henrik Vibskov.

Last year, three young fashion designers from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture won the Hyères Fashion Festival grand prize. Third-year undergraduate students Siiri Raasakka, Tiia Sirén and Elina Laitinen were awarded the Grand Prix for their menswear collection, with the central theme of a fictitious urban nomadic tribe.

Save the date for Fashion Show13

New collections designed by students of the Fashion and Clothing Design Degree Programme at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture will be on public display at the Fashion Show13 (Näytös13) at 6pm on Friday 24 May 2013 in Suvilahti, Helsinki.

Further information

Tuomas Laitinen, Lecturer
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Department of Design
Textile Art, Fashion and Clothing Design
tuomas.p.laitinen@aalto.fi, +358 9 470 30357

Näytös12 on video (YouTube)

The tutors on this course were Professor Jouko Järvisalo and Lecturer Martin Relander.

The task on the course was to design and make a simple chair out of solid birch. The students who took part come from different educational backgrounds and countries (Finland, Estonia, the USA, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and China). They approached the task in very individual ways and with very different skills and past experiences in furniture design.

The overall purpose of this exercise was for the students to obtain a basic understanding of  furniture form, composition and construction. More importantly, this creative journey challenged the students to discover themselves as young designers. They were encouraged to seek out and to find their own personal style, to explore it, and to play with it. The fruits of the exercise is the exhibition Forms of a Chair.

The students:

Natali Kimberley
Soh Koizum
Nina Kosonen
Noora Liesimaa
Gee Park
Heun Park
Katja Rouvinen
Heidi Siitonen
Marina Smirnova
Kairit Solg
Minttu Somervuori
Maiju Uski
Caius Verhe
Wesley Walters
Yizhou Zhao

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair is the world's largest meeting place for Scandinavian furniture and lighting design, for both home and public environments. The fair has been organised since 1951 with participants from around the world and with around 40,000 visitors annually.

More information:
Professor Jouko Järvisalo, +358 50 408 4345
Lecturer Martin Relander, +358 40 592 4992

Eight new honorary doctorates were awarded at the conferment ceremony: Laurie Anderson,multimedia artist from the United States; Rachel Cooper, Professor of Design Management from the United Kingdom; ambassador Arunas Gelunas from Lithuania; Pirjo Honkasalo, accomplished filmmaker; author and artist Mauri Kunnas; Olavi Linden, Director, R&D, and Chief Designer at Fiskars; Ezio Manzini, Professor of Industrial Design from Italy, and Professor Emeritus Yrjö Sotamaa from theAalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. An honorary doctorate is the highest honour a university can award.

The Formal Conferment Ceremony at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture combines academic tradition with that of the school. At Aalto ARTS, the celebration will be held in the middle of winter on the anniversary of the school.

As opposed to traditions of other universities, those awarded the degrees walk in a procession through Media Centre Lume. The spaces use by the procession were designed by students of scenography and, in line with the school traditions, the conferment ceremony working group included students of the school who designed e.g. the graphic identity in addition to the look of the staging.

An example of indigenous traditions is the garland used by the recipients of master’s degrees. Those conferred a master’s degree do not receive a laurel garland but a unique garland for each conferment. This year the garland was made of Aalto cardboard.

‘The Ceremonial Conferment of Degrees is a wonderful, centuries-old rite of transition to the academic community. It is symbolised by freedom, science and, at ARTS, art and creativity – what could be a better reason to celebrate?’ states Project Coordinator Ada Schwanck.

These are findings from a dissertation by Petra Ahde-Deal, in which she explores the social reasons for women to wear and possess jewellery. Ahde-Deal will defend her dissertation at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture on Friday 25 January 2013. The study is first of its kind, since research in the field of design has not focused on the significance of personal experiences as a motive to wear and possess jewellery.

- Pieces of jewellery are not just contemporary objects; they also function to bring together past, present and future generations. They carry with them memories of relationships, family ties and important milestones in life. Pieces of jewellery that stay in the family for several generations carry particular significance, as they contain so many meanings,' Petra Ahde-Deal explains.

A jewellery box tells a woman’s life story

As her research methods, Ahde-Deal used design probes and in-depth interviews. A total of 28 women from southern Finland and the United States documented their use of jewellery for nine days by keeping a diary and taking photos of themselves. The women were between the ages of 33 and 89, and came from very different backgrounds. Based on this self-documentation, Ahde-Deal conducted in-depth interviews that often evolved into personal discussions.

- Many times, going through the person’s jewellery box meant going through their life story. The pieces of jewellery are associated with a great deal of emotion, and their histories are linked with loved ones and significant life events, Ahde-Deal describes.

Preliminary material for the dissertation research also consisted of extensive story material written by Finnish women, including 464 stories of pieces of jewellery significant to the writers. The theoretical foundation for the study is largely based on sociology, but its results also contribute to the areas of design and jewellery research.

Public examination of the doctoral dissertation

Petra Ahde-Deal graduated as jewellery designer from the Lahti Institute of Design in 2002 and gained a Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (since January 2012 the School of Arts, Design and Architecture) in 2005. She worked as researcher at the School of Art and Design between 2007 and 2012. She has previously worked as a jewellery designer and goldsmith. Ahde-Deal is currently living in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The dissertation was published in January 2013 in the Aalto University publication series Doctoral Dissertations. Orders can be placed with the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture’s online bookshop: books.aalto.fi, enquiries: artsbooks@aalto.fi, tel. +358 50 597 5802.

Further information:
Petra Ahde-Deal Tel. +45 3138 9196 E-mail. petra.ahde-deal@aalto.fi

Applicants for Master's degree studies should apply via our online application system. In the field of economics and art and design the target programmes are degree programmes and in the field of technology the target programmes are master's programmes instructed in English and major subjects of degree programmes. The application deadline is 15 February 2013.

Aalto University offers altogether approximately 150 target programmes in Finnish, Swedish or English during the application period 2013. There are also two cross disciplinary programmes: Creative Sustainability and International Design Business Management.

• Link to the online application system (apply.aalto.fi)
• Study options (aalto.fi/en/studies/education)
• More information about the application process (aalto.fi/en/studies/admissions)

At the gala, the Pallas Athene and the Ilmari Tapiovaara prizes were awarded, four new honorary members were welcomed and the Alumnus of the Year 2013 was named. Decorations awarded by the President of Finland were also presented.

Pallas Athene Prize awarded to journalist Pirkko Vekkeli

The School of Arts, Design and Architecture awards the Pallas Athene Prize every two years in acknowledgement of major work that has been undertaken to promote aesthetic values. This year’s award recipient was chosen by Professor Päikki Priha who justified her choice in the following words: ”Journalist Pirkko Vekkeli is a distinguished professional who has written about designers and artists, documented their life’s work in her books and taught writing skills to students of art and design in an encouraging, enthusiastic and dedicated manner.”

Ilmari Tapiovaara Prize awarded to CEO Håkan Långstedt

The Ilmari Tapiovaara Prize is awarded every two years in acknowledgement of particularly valuable creative work that has been undertaken to benefit people's local environments and the quality of industrial product culture. This year’s award recipient was chosen by Ville Kokkonen, Artek’s design director, who justified his choice in the following words: ’Håkan Långstedt works in an important field for designers: as a promoter of industrial product culture he creates new opportunities for design professionals. In the challenging and extremely competitive operating environment of design-oriented businesses, Långstedt has exhibited an understanding of the ‘spirit of the times’. Långstedt is an ambassador of design, a perfect example of how the culture sector should be represented in international style.’

Mikko Hartikainen is Alumnus of the Year 2013

Each year, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture selects an alumnus of the year in recognition of pioneering or outstanding work in the field of art, design or architecture. This year the award went to Mikko Hartikainen, a counsellor of education who has been a key contributor to the development of Finnish basic education in visual arts during the last 20 years. Last year, Hartikainen also had a significant role in including education in arts, design and architecture in the national design programme currently in the making.

Four new honorary members

Individuals who have actively supported the School of Arts, Design and Architecture or distinguished themselves in the fields it represents and other cultural activities are invited as honorary members of the School each year. At this year’s anniversary gala, four persons were bestowed with an honorary membership.

Director Reijo Kangas from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, has supported the school and the culture it represents in a particularly valuable way through his activities at the funding agency. With his significant and substantial efforts, Kangas has furthered the launch of several technology programmes related to construction, architecture and spatial design. In his work, Kangas has encouraged schools and research institutions to develop new processes and techniques and facilitated the dissemination of new methods.

Tuula Mehtonen’s ambitious planning of film editing education and her role as a professional example to students have resulted in editing professionals who are aware of their important role in the Finnish film business. The education initiated and planned by Mehtonen supports Finnish film education and the entire film business. With the help of her extensive and varied experience, Mehtonen has laid the foundation of film editing education in Finland.

Michael Thomson has promoted the standing of design in a number of international design-related organisations. In spring 2012, the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture invited Thomson to participate in the editing work of the European Design Innovation Initiative report. Due to his experience, know-how and expertise in design policy, the material compiled by the EDII Secretariat became one of the cornerstones of the design innovation policy of the European Commission.

Kaisa Viljo worked as the amanuensis of the degree programme in industrial design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki Department of Design for approximately 20 years. Before being employed by the former University of Art and Design, Viljo was the secretary of the Finnish Association of Designers ORNAMO. During her years there, she became familiar with the art and design field and its actors.

The decorations awarded by the President of the Republic on 6 December 2012 (the Finnish Independence Day) were also presented during the event. The recipients were Tapio Vapaasalo (Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland), Esa Vuorinen (Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland) and Sari Tarvainen (Medal, First Class with golden cross, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland).

Jasmiine Julin-Aro founded her own design office, Studio Dimensio, in 1985 and since then she has worked as a freelance designer for several clothing companies in Finland. Her special field is functional outfits for motorcyclists, skiers and sailing enthusiasts, among other groups. In the design of these products, she has boldly applied the results of research in the field and innovations in materials. Many products by her have been awarded design prizes both in Finland and internationally.

Jasmiine Julin-Aro is a prominent and experienced designer in clothing design, an interesting and promising sector of design. The prize jury especially commended her role as an advocate of the Finnish clothing industry and its strengths. Through her work, Jasmiine Julin-Aro has significantly contributed to the success of her client companies at a time when the industry has encountered serious challenges.

The Kaj Franck Design Prize of Design Forum Finland is now awarded for the 21st time. The purpose of this prize, established in 1992 and named after the esteemed Finnish designer Kaj Franck (1911–89), is to support a designer or team innovatively designing industrially made products of high quality, operating actively in the field of applied art and also creating unique works. The winners of the prize represent many areas of top Finnish design. The prize sum of €10,000 is donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. The prize also includes a medal designed by Tapio Junno and an exhibition, with accompanying publications, presenting the prizewinner’s oeuvre.

The members of the prize jury of 2012 were Pentti Kivinen / Finnish Fair Foundation; designer, Professor Heikki Orvola; designer, Artist Professor Hannu Kähönen; designer Terhi Tuominen, and CEO Mikko Kalhama / Design Forum Finland.