Design journalism under review

The Vaasa Prize for Design Journalism 2012 competition aims to promote the effectiveness and quality of design writing. The competition is launched at the start of the year and will culminate in an award ceremony organised in the autumn.

The aim of the competition organised for the fourth time is to promote versatile and skilful journalism in the sector. The criteria include grammatically correct and fluent text, wide interest in the article and its intelligibility, critical outlook on the topic and the article’s visual appeal. The competition will run between 1 Jan 2011 and 30 Sep 2012.

The jury, chaired by Asko Karttunen, consists of influential people in the sector:  Berndt Arell, Director, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland which supports and strengthens the culture and education of the Swedish speaking minority in Finland; Antti Blåfield, Editorial Writer, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper; Mikko Kalhama, CEO, Design Forum Finland; Yrjö Sotamaa, President Emeritus of the University of Art and Design Helsinki; Marjaana Toiminen,  CEO, Bonnier Publications, Juhani Tolvanen, Producer, Ilta-Sanomat newspaper; Veli-Matti Laitinen, Administrative Director, City of Vaasa, and Heli Katajamäki, Lecturer, University of Vaasa, who also acts as the chair of the panel of experts.

The winner of the competition will be awarded €5000, Vaasa Vase designed by Risto Granlund and a year’s subscription to Taide & Design magazine. The competition is organised by the City of Vaasa, Design Forum Finland, Aalto University and Muova Research and Product Development Centre. The National Council for Design supports the competition.

The competition is a part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.

The City of Vaasa participates in the WDC Helsinki 2012 with an aim to create outstanding and functional meeting places for its residents under the sustainable development principle. The competition is a part of the City of Vaasa’s project to raise the awareness of the diverse ways in which design can be applied in Vaasa. The aim is to demonstrate to Vaasa residents how products, services and surroundings can be developed though the means of design.