YFD JOURNEY
THE Journey
From new perspectives to real-world solutions.
Your Development Journey
From discovering new opportunities to developing ideas into real-world solutions. YFD brings emerging Nordic design talent into your development process at the stage where new perspectives and creative expertise can make a difference.
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1. EXPLORE
New directions
Service : YFD Design competition
What do future customers expect from your brand?
The service
We organise a design competition where emerging Nordic designers explore your brand, products and services from fresh perspectives. They bring forward new insights, ideas and creative visions to help you identify future opportunities.
Your outcome
New insights, creative ideas and potential development directions for your business.
2
2. EXPLORE
Solutions
Service : YFD Design competition
How could we solve your specific development need?
The service
Once a development need has been identified, we organise a curated design competition to explore different approaches. We select designers whose expertise and perspectives best match your brief.
Your outcome
A range of alternative concepts and creative solutions to compare and develop further.
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3. DEVELOP
Realise
Service : YFD Project
How do we turn the selected direction into reality?
The service
Through a dedicated YFD development project, we refine and develop the selected concept together with your business, moving it towards a finished solution.
Your outcome
A developed concept with a clear path towards implementation.
Start where you are.
You can join the journey at any stage. Whether you are exploring new opportunities, looking for solutions to a specific challenge or ready to develop an existing idea, YFD helps you move forward.
Let's explore what's possible.
Design Competition
Bring new perspectives into your development work.
YFD design competitions connect businesses with emerging Nordic designers to explore new opportunities, challenge existing thinking and find creative solutions to business needs.
We work with companies that want to develop their brand, products, services or customer experience, who need new outside perspectives, creative expertise or alternative approaches to move forward.
YFD x RAISIO - INTERIOR DESIGN
How it works
Each competition is built around the company's goals and development needs. YFD defines the brief together with the company and curates three emerging designers whose expertise and perspectives best match the challenge.
The selected designers work independently on the brief, bringing forward their own concepts, ideas and approaches. The company gets to explore and compare different creative directions, with YFD guiding the process from the initial brief to the final presentations.
When is it useful?
A design competition can be used at different stages of development:
Exploring new directions: When a company wants to understand emerging ideas, discover future opportunities or see its brand, products or services from a new perspective.
Finding solutions: When a company has identified a specific development need and wants to explore different creative approaches before deciding how to move forward.
How it works
Each competition is built around the company's goals and development needs. YFD defines the brief together with the company and curates three emerging designers whose expertise and perspectives best match the challenge.
The selected designers work independently on the brief, bringing forward their own concepts, ideas and approaches. The company gets to explore and compare different creative directions, with YFD guiding the process from the initial brief to the final presentations.
SERVICES
SERVICES
YFD Project
Take one selected concept further.
This service help businesses turn a promising idea into a more developed concept or a finished solution.
While a YFD design competition explores new ideas, directions or multiple alternative concepts, a development project focuses on one selected concept. We work together with your business to refine and develop that concept according to your goals, taking it as far as the project requires.
YFD x RAISIO - INTERIOR DESIGN
How it works
The project can build on a concept selected through a YFD design competition or an existing idea your business wants to develop further.
We define the project goals and scope together, then lead the development process with the right design expertise. The work focuses on one selected concept, refining its key elements and developing it towards the intended outcome.
The level of development depends on your needs. The result may be a more thoroughly developed concept, a detailed design or a solution ready for implementation.
When is it useful?
When you have identified an idea or direction worth pursuing and want to invest in developing it further. You may have selected a concept through a YFD competition, identified an opportunity within your business or have an existing concept that needs further refinement.
How it works
You get a focused development process that takes one promising idea forward. YFD brings together the project management and design expertise needed to turn an initial concept into a more complete, considered solution that supports your business goals and creates value for your customers.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US
"It’s wonderful to see how the competition has brought Aarikka’s values to life and strengthened our connection with a new generation of Finnish designers. YFD has managed the competition professionally from start to finish, and the winning designs have now become products available for purchase. It’s exciting to see ideas turn into real products and find their way into customers’ homes and everyday lives. I highly recommend working with YFD."
-Riia Sandström, CEO, Aarikka Oy
"The competition exceeded our expectations in the best possible way. The ideas were of a high standard and reflected the courage and creativity of emerging designers. YFD’s competition process was clear and efficient from start to finish. All we had to do was define our wishes and fulfil our part along the way, with YFD providing a clear schedule and guidance throughout. I highly recommend working with YFD."
Elina Tolonen\ Business (Retail) and Marketing Director, Airam Oy Ab
"It has been a pleasure working with the YFD team. You’ve understood our genuine needs and brought solutions to them through design. Even after the brand project, YFD has created updated versions of our brand characters and produced video animations that we now use in Liikku’s outdoor and digital advertising. Our collaboration with YFD has left us with a lasting smile — I highly recommend them!"
-Terhi Kukkonen
Marketing Director, Liikku Fitness Centres
Come along!
Join the YFD journey at any stage. Whether you are exploring new opportunities, looking for solutions to a specific challenge or ready to develop an existing idea, YFD helps you move forward.
Let's explore what's possible.
YFD REFERENCES
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YFD x SANDUDD
Sandudd gained fresh creative perspectives and new design ideas for its upcoming collection. Three emerging designers explored new directions for the brand, bringing diverse approaches to patterns and visual expression. Following the competition, the collaboration continued through a factory visit, meetings and feedback sessions, with the winning design now being further developed for Sandudd’s 2027 collection.
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YFD X HTH
The HTH design competition brought fresh ideas and new perspectives on how the brand could engage with its customers through its exhibition stand. The winner, Egor Tchernykh, was given the opportunity to develop his concept further and contribute to the design of HTH’s Habitare exhibition stand, giving the company new inspiration for its customer experience.
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YFD X TIETO
In collaboration with Tieto Tech Consulting, Flow Festival, Inklusiiv and YFD, emerging designers explored new ways to improve inclusivity across Flow Festival’s physical and digital environments. The competition brought fresh perspectives and practical ideas for making the festival experience more accessible, from navigating the festival grounds to engaging with its digital services.
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YFD X AARIKKA
Aarikka’s open design competition attracted 376 proposals from emerging designers, bringing a wide range of fresh ideas and perspectives across different product categories, from jewellery and accessories to interior products. The competition resulted in four new products for Aarikka’s collection, expanding its offering with new creative directions and ideas, now available through Aarikka’s online store and retail shops.
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YFD X AIRAM
Airam’s design competition invited emerging designers to explore what the future of the Finnish lighting brand could look like. The company gained a range of fresh perspectives, ideas and alternative design directions, offering new inspiration for the future development of its products and brand.
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![YFD x Liikku kuntokeskus, metrovaunun teippaukset]()
YFD X LIIKKU
Liikku brought emerging designers into the development of its brand, gaining fresh perspectives and new creative ideas for how to make the brand more recognisable and engaging. The collaboration resulted in a series of new characters and visual concepts, extending the brand’s identity into real-world touchpoints, including branded wraps on metro trains.
