Ph.D; Professor
Research Interests
design thinking; design strategies and policies; design management
Academic and Social Positions
2001-2007 CUMULUS President
2000-2010 Board of the Art and Design City Helsinki ADC Chairman
2000-2010 Round Table of Design in Finland Member
1997-2003 the Finnish Council of University Rectors Vice-President
1996-2009 the Foundation of the Finnish Institute in Japan Chairman
1995-1999 Finnish Information Society Forum Chairman
Steering Group of the Danish Center for Design Research member
External Review Committee of Tsinghua University member
the International Advisory Board of the Austrian Program for Arts-based Research PEEK (Austrian Science Foundation) member
Helsinki World Design Capital 2012 Delegation member
the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation Chairman
the Japan-Finland Design Association in Finland Chairman
the Advisory Boards of the Finnish Cultural Institutes in Rome and Madrid board member
the Finnish-Swedish Academy of Industrial Design founding member
Tongji University College of Design and Innovation Advisory Dean
the Radical Design Week Association Chairman
Asia Design Journal member of editorial board
All Design Magazine member of editorial board
She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation member of editorial board
Education Background
2013 School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University Honorary Doctorate
2004 Estonian Academy of Arts Honorary Doctorate
1966-1969 University of Art and Design Helsinki M.A. in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design
Work Experience
2010-2013 Tongji University Sino-Finnish Center Executive Vice President
2008-present Nottingham Trent University Visiting Professor
1986-2008 TAIK (University of Art and Design Helsinki) President
1969-present Sotamaa Design Ltd. President
Publications
[1] Yrjo Sotamaa (2008). Kyoto Design Declaration
[2] Yrjo Sotamaa (2002). The Economic Autonomy of the Finnish University. Finnish University Rector Council.
[3] Yrjo Sotamaa (2002). Quality in Focus. Finnish University Rector Council.
[4] Yrjo Sotamaa (2002). Art is Opportunities. Finnish Ministry of Education.
[5] Yrjo Sotamaa (2001). Ateneum Maskerad, Forms and Transformations of Finnish Design, University of Art and Design.
[6] Yrjo Sotamaa (2000). Design 2005! Government Decision-in-Principle on Finnish Design Policy. Finnish Ministry of Education.
Exhibitions
[1] 1994-1996 Varde
Varde was produced by six major Nordic Design Universities with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Over 300 students of the six schools were addressing the future challenges of the world and producing visions of the future through their works. The exhibition was first presented in the Royal College of Art in London and toured around the world in 1994-1996 in Rome, Berlin, Budapest, Barcelona, Sapporo, Taipei, Seoul, Linz and Helsinki.
[2] 2003-2004 Q-Designing the Quietnes
Q-Designing the Quietness was a major event of the Feel Finland program in Japan in 2003 and was first presented in the Living Design Center Ozone in Tokyo and later in 2004 in Fiskars Design Village, Finland.
Honor and Awards
2014 Friendship Award of P. R. of China
2013 Finnish Design Lifetime Achievement Award
2013 Honorary Doctorate granted by School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University
2013 the Person of the Year by Shanghai the City of Design 2013
2011 Shanghai Municipality Magnolia Award
2011 Medal of the Helsinki University of Technology
2010 the Lifetime Achievement Award by Cumulus Association
2007 the Prix Met de Penninghen granted by Ecole Superiéure d´Arts Graphiques et d´Architecture Interieure-Design Esag-Penninghen
2006 Sign of Honor of the Latvian Academy of Arts
2004 Honorary Doctorate granted by Estonian Academy of Arts
2003 Albert Gebhard Medal of the Graphic Designers Association (Finland)
2000 Most Beautiful Book of the Year 2000
1999 MTV3 Finland Culture Prize
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