Aalto University Professor Emeritus Yrjö Sotamaa awarded major design prize in China

On the 26th of September 2023, the Shanghai Institute of Design Innovation has awarded the RMB 1,000,000 Frontier Design Prize 2023 to Yrjö Sotamaa, former long-time rector of the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

A prestigious international jury of 20 members named the prize criteria as follows: "Professor Yrjö Sotamaa has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design and innovation education. During his tenure as the rector of the University of Art and Design Helsinki, he not only transformed it into the premier design school in Northern Europe but also successfully integrated design into Finland's national innovation system. He spearheaded the creation of Aalto University, which has since become the global standard for interdisciplinary innovation education.

Additionally, he played a pivotal role in establishing CUMULUS, the preeminent global association for art and design education and research."