Finnish Design Yearbook 2010-11 by Design Forum Finland is out now

Finnish Design Yearbook explores design as a tool of business success, a means for creating a better life and a better society, an aid for the commodification of innovations, and as an aspect of self-expression. Four very relevant viewpoints. 

The book is primarily aimed at the international market. Its international distribution will include bookstores, sales on the Web, design fairs and events, and the press. 

Werklig and our work is introduced in Page 101 – "Design as a business tool" section: Werklig is a Finnish brand design agency that has become a noteworthy contender in its field in only a few years. In 2009, Werklig designed an ingenious logo for the Best of Year graphic design competition, displaying the name of the contest in ribbon-like text.     

In the section "Design as a means of expression" you can find Minna Parikka scarves (A/W 2010) designed by Inka.

As previously written, our designer Inka Järvinen was shortlisted in two categories in the Vuoden Huiput awards. Yesterday she won the other – Young Creative award – and got silver price in other, Picture and Photography-category. Both awards were received from her work to Disco Ensemble. More information about the Vuoden Huiput and the awards can be found from Grafia's page. (in Finnish)

Congratulations!

Inka with the Ladder award, given to Young Creative of the Year. 

Inka is shortlisted in two categories in Vuoden Huiput (Best of the Year) awards with her work for Disco Ensemble. Namely, Young Creatives and Photography and Illustration. 

Shortlisted work consisted graphic design and illustrations for Disco Ensamble's "Magic Recoveries" album cover.  

Inka was also judging the Graphic Design category. Her insight for this year's judging can be read here.  

What might be a bigger surpise is that our Creative Planner Tiina is also shortlisted. Her handwriting was commissioned for the campaign of Kiasma – Museom of Contemporary Art. The agency responsible was TBWA Helsinki/TANGO.

It's been said that Vuoden Huiput offers the most for the invited judges: an excellent opportunity to analyze, learn and get excited. The educational function is seen almost as important as the other, more obvious side i.e. the annual evaluation and documentation. 

Inka was in this year's jury judging the category of Graphic Design. "The jurying weekend was really intense. Our category was the largest with the amount of participating work. The category had nine different subcategories including identities, packaging, graphic guides and stamps. Comparing these was quite a challenge, yet very rewarding!

One noticeable thing was that the clients had had more courage when acquiring design services. In some works you could really see that the client and the designer had communicated and understood the needs.

It was also interesting to hear how the other judges reacted to different type of works. For example, my fellow judge, Swedish Sakari Paananen was able to give a fresh and valuable look from the outside for Finnish graphic design. 

Environmental issues were a big theme in some categories. However, it would have been nice to see it presented in other ways than in color green. Also, we would have liked to see more works refined to every last detail.

Overall, the quality was good. Our graphic design is on a right track. There is much to do but we are obviusly getting there.  In my opinion, we were able to choose a good, fresh and inspiring amount of work to be shown in the exhibition. It was a privilege.

Werklig and FLMS collaboration. Animated advertisement for the Young Creatives shown at The Voice and TV Vii5i in January 2009. Just for fun and support. 

The Best of the Year – The Best in Finnish Advertising and Graphic Design 

The Best of the Year event (Vuoden Huiput) is organised by Grafia. It is the most important competition for graphic design and advertising in Finland. The aim of this annual competition is to emphasise the relevance of the work done by visual communication professionals in advertising and graphic design.

The event seeks to raise the standard of Finnish design, to empower creativity and originality and to improve the designers’ professional skill. In addition to the competition, the event includes the award gala, an exhibition compiled from the competition entries and the yearbook which presents works and designers chosen by the juries.

At the time when the event was created in 1980, it was made to conform the D&AD competition in Great Britain.  

The Concept 2008 – Form Follows Function

To compensate for last year’s rather advertising-agency-like approach, we wanted to put the emphasis on graphic design and the standpoint of the designer. The Best of the Year is the only competition which is both created and carried out by designers. In the focal point of the competition, you will find creative design.

Ribbon-like "Vuoden Huiput" text

Invitation poster wrapper that acts also as project manager's office tool

Competition invitation including info & rules






Logowall
Photos: © Pekka Niittyvirta, via Grafia's photogallery (edited by Werklig)



Menus

Outdoor advertising

Also the window of Design Forum Finland was branded. 

The Campaign

Right from the beginning, one the principles of the event has been that the annual campaign behind the competition is initiated and created by designers. The aim of the campaign is to strengthen the brand of the competition and encourage as much attendance as possible. Therefore, the campaign has goals concerning the appreciation of the competition, participation, ticket sale and the advertisement of the annual book.

In the year 2008 Werklig was chosen to design the campaign!

Our deliverables are/were as follows:
· Competition invitation
· Posters
· Online banners
· Print advertising
· Gala dinner cards, menus
· Gala presentation concept
· Exhibition graphics
· Outdoor advertising
· Biggest pyramid ever!