Kaj Franck Design Prize 2003

Industrial designer Risto V��t�nen

The internationally acclaimed Kaj Franck Design Prize is being awarded this year for the 12th time. Jointly organized by Design Forum Finland and the Finnish Trade Fair Foundation, this year�s prize goes to industrial designer Risto V��t�nen (born 1945). The prize sum of �10 000 is donated by the Finnish Trade Fair Foundation.

Risto V��t�nen has followed a trailblazing career as a designer in heavy industry. He has worked in the spirit of Kaj Franck (1911-1989) to improve the conditions of everyday working life and to instil soft values in a field where they have not been self-evident elements. Employed by the Metso Group, this designer has promoted the position of design in Finland�s basic industries and has participated in furthering the use and applications of design also at the national level. Alongside his own professional work, Risto V��t�nen has also supervised and taught young designers.

V��t�nen began his career in design in the 1970s upon the invitation of Kaj Franck at the Arabia factory, which belonged to the W�rtsil� Group at the time. At present, V��t�nen is responsible for coordinating design within the Metso Group. As a result of changes in organizations during V��t�nen�s career, the name of his employer has changed several times, but since his early years his workplace has been in J�rvenp�� near Helsinki and he has been involved in the design of machinery for the paper industry. In this capacity, Risto V��t�nen has always sought to reach beneath the surface and to apply design also to machinery parts that remain unseen. He has resolutely implemented his insight that design provides a solid competitive edge not only with regard to the use and maintenance of these massive machines but also in obtaining better cost efficiency, and in the worldwide marketing of the machinery. Risto V��t�nen has thoroughly focused on the concept of design management and has been significantly involved in introducing it into business operations.

Based on a concept developed by Risto V��t�nen, the Metso Design Centre, which began its work this year, is the Metso Group�s in-house facility for developing and promoting design, in which the group�s own personnel and outside experts can participate in design projects.

Many young designers have received guidance from Risto V��t�nen in their practical work. He has taught the theory of design for 20 years at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and the Helsinki University of Technology.