Finding clients as an emerging designer is hard. We’re here to change that.
Pictured: The winner announcement at Flow Festival for the design competition organised by YFD in collaboration with Tieto Tech Consulting, Flow Festival and Inklusiiv. The competition invited designers to develop new inclusive solutions for Flow Festival. The winner was Viola Rautaheimo from Aalto University.
Struggling to find companies to work with? You’re not alone.
At Young Finnish Design, we do the groundwork for you. We identify companies that are genuinely interested in collaborating with emerging designers and are open to fresh perspectives. We bring the right people together, so you don’t have to navigate the path to your first clients alone. Oh, and by “we,” we mean Heidi and Elisa, co-founders of Young Finnish Design, who are both designers themselves.
Through our curated design competitions, we select just three designers for each challenge. This gives you the opportunity to present your ideas directly to key people in the company, work on a real business challenge and build valuable professional connections.
Our goal is to create opportunities that go beyond the competition — opening doors to lasting relationships and future collaborations between designers and companies.
Young Designers at Work Design Competition – Autumn 2026
Apply for the Autumn 2026 Young Designers at Work Design Competition! Take part, build your network and create new opportunities for your career.
In this competition, you’ll get to apply your skills to real-world design challenges set by Finnish companies, present your ideas directly to businesses and connect with industry professionals.
There are 10 challenges across product and furniture design, spatial design and graphic design. Only three designers will be selected for each challenge. Will you be one of them? Apply now!
Application period: 21 October – 11 November 2026
Apply by filling in the form
ONLY 3 DESIGNERS
The Young Designers at Work Design Competition is back with a new approach! Only three designers will be selected for each challenge, giving them the opportunity to present their skills directly to companies and develop solutions to real business needs. Our curated approach brings you closer to companies, offers valuable connections and gives you the opportunity to show what your skills can achieve.
Apply now!
Apply by 11 November by filling in the application form.
Pictured: Laura Krekula, winner of the YFD x VM Carpet design competition, alongside honourable mentions Tiina Hyväri and Aino Ojala.
Find the company and design challenge you want to take on.
Product and Furniture Design
Asko – Design a Future Classic
Orthex – Design a New SmartStore Product Range
Spatial Design
Kultajousi – Design an Outlet Concept
Asko – Design a Retail Store Concept
Graphic Design
Viking Line – Design a New Brand Element
Paulig – Create a New Visual Identity for an Iced Coffee Concentrate
Atria – Design a New Brand Element
Ajasto – Design a Wall Calendar Collection
Fibernet – Refresh the Visual Identity for Social Media
SOL – Design a Graphic Identity for the 35th Anniversary
Pictured: The winner announcement of the YFD x Sandudd wallpaper design competition at Habitare 2026 in Helsinki. The competition challenged designers to create new wallpaper designs for Sandudd, a traditional Finnish wallpaper manufacturer. Riina Heinonen was selected as the winner of the curated competition.
COMPETITION TIMELINE
21 October – 11 November 2026
Applications open
16–27 November 2026
Designer selection and interviews
December 2026 – February 2027
Design development and collaboration with companies
March 2027
Winners announced
COMPETITION PRIZE
10 000€ all together
1000€ / each challenge
COMPETITION RULES
YFD competitions follow generally accepted practices and standards within the design industry. Designers are selected individually for each competition. Once selected, each designer enters into an agreement with YFD, with the terms and scope tailored to the specific competition and reviewed before the project begins.
Why do we organise this competition?
Getting the first clients can be one of the biggest challenges for emerging designers. Without client experience or established industry connections, it can be difficult to get your foot in the door.
Our curated competition model helps bridge that gap. Instead of competing for visibility among hundreds of applicants, just three selected designers per challenge get the opportunity to present their ideas directly to a real company and work on a genuine business challenge.
What do designers gain?
Direct access to companies – Connect with company representatives who are genuinely interested in your skills and ideas.
A real client brief – Apply your expertise to a challenge that matters to a business.
Valuable professional connections – Build relationships that can lead to future collaborations.
Portfolio-worthy experience – Develop and present your ideas in a real business context.
A chance to stand out – Show companies what you can bring to the table, beyond your CV or previous client experience.
APPLY NOW AND CREATE REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CAREER
Fill in the form by 11 November to apply!