I would appreciate more information on possible manufacturing techniques and metalworking methods. What kinds of shapes can be produced with your machine fleet? Are round shapes with some kind of rounding/bulging excluded?
Round shapes made with a corner machine are possible, if not with the current tools, then we can purchase the appropriate ones. Of course, there will be limitations, but these should be considered during the design phase.

By rolling the sheet, some round shapes can be made, but not all deep drawing or turning operations are possible with our equipment.

Additionally, we have an eccentric machine, but creating such shapes naturally requires a suitable custom tool.

Does the term 'young designer' refer to age? Does that mean I can only participate if I am a certain age?
No, it does not refer to age. In the YFD X AIRAM competition, the word 'young' refers to a designer who is at the beginning of their career, regardless of age. The competition is aimed at designers in the early stages of their careers, with a maximum of 15 years since graduation. Finnish designers, those studying design in Finland including exchange students, or those who have already graduated in design can participate.

Are there size limitations for the light fixture from a manufacturing perspective?

The sheet size is 1000 x 2000 mm

Any preferences for the light source and the lampshade, and their relationship?
There are no specific pre-existing wishes regarding this matter – feel free to come up with ideas and designs 😊

Does participating in the competition give Airam permission to publish the competition entry online or elsewhere?
The publication of the entries will be agreed upon separately with the winners and participants.

Can I publish my competition entry, for example, in my portfolio before the competition results are announced?
No, you cannot. The entries must remain unpublished if Airam wishes to commercialize them.

Who can participate?
You can participate if you have education/study in the following fields:

• Design: products, furniture, services, ceramics, packaging, glass, industrial design

• Fashion and/or textile design, weaving

• Architecture + Interior Design

• Graphic design

• You can participate if you graduated within the last 15 years.
  If you're unsure whether you can participate, feel free to ask us by sending a message to Heidi: heidi.huovinen@youngfinnishdesign.com :)

Where can I find the competition rules?
The competition rules can be found here.

Can I participate with multiple proposals?
Yes, you can. Just remember to send all proposals in one PDF presentation, clearly separating each proposal with its own cover page, including the name of the proposal.

How many lighting fixtures can be included in a lighting family?
You may propose a lighting family instead of a single fixture if you wish. A lighting family must consist of at least two fixtures. It could include, for example, a table lamp, floor lamp, wall lamp, or pendant light.

Where can I get more information about the competition?
Questions related to the competition: heidi.huovinen@youngfinnishdesign.com
Questions related to production: elina.tolonen@airam.fi

How are post-competition rights to the proposals handled? Does the designer forfeit commercial rights if their proposal does not win?
The designer does not forfeit any intellectual property or commercial rights if they do not win the competition. Once the winners are selected, cooperation agreements will be made between the designer and the company.

Help! My email is malfunctioning at a critical moment, and I can't send my competition proposal! What should I do?
Notify us at heidi.huovinen@youngfinnishdesign.com and send your proposal as soon as possible within the following day.

Does the proposal for the competition have to be designed exclusively for this competition? Can I use, for example, a school project or an idea I created for myself? Does it matter if the proposal has been visible, for example, on social media or elsewhere?
The proposals must be designed specifically for Airam. They must not have been published anywhere before (not even on your own social media) and should not have been part of another company’s product range or production, nor should they have been sold elsewhere. You can participate with an idea previously created (e.g., school projects or personal designs), but carefully consider whether the idea fits Airam's product range and the competition's brief.

Would it be possible to get Airam components for the competition?
Unfortunately, no.

Why must participants have a design education to enter?
The YFD X Airam competition is open to designers who have received formal design education, both graduates and students.
This limitation is in place because we organize competitions for those with design education, which is one of our principles supporting our mission to help designers at the beginning of their careers move forward.

Can architects participate?
Yes.

How should I name my PDF file?
Use this format:
alias_a
alias_b

Can the file size exceed 10MB? What if I propose multiple entries in one submission, can the file size exceed then?
No, if the file is too large, we will ask the designer to reduce the file size.

What is the typical material thickness used in your shade designs?

The thickness of the metal sheet varies between 0.5 - 2 mm.

What price range would you like the lamp to be in? How should this be considered during the design phase?

There is no exact definition in advance, but ideally, it should be aimed at the consumer. A price range of 100-150 € would be optimal.

Can the proposal include 3D-printed parts?

Yes, it can.

Do you have a tube bender that allows you to change the bending radius at different points on the same piece, or bend the same piece in multiple directions along the z, x, y axes? For example, when considering the lamp base.

-Tube bending is possible if needed.

What metals are processed at the factory? Or is aluminum, brass, steel used, for example?

-Mainly aluminum and steel, but brass can also be suggested.

Is the goal to significantly challenge Airam's existing design language and color scheme? Is wood as a material impossible?

-We want new ideas that still fit Airam’s style.

-Wood as a material is possible.

Help! My email is stuck at a critical moment, and I can't send my competition proposal! What should I do?

Let us know at heidi.huovinen@youngfinnishdesign.com and send your proposal as soon as possible within the next day.

Where can I find more information about the competition?

Questions about the competition: heidi.huovinen@youngfinnishdesign.com

Questions related to production: elina.tolonen@airam.fi

What color can the cord of the lamp be?

You can choose any color for the cord. However, at Airam's factory, white, black, and gray cords are primarily used (including fabric-covered cords in these colors). Transparent cords are more challenging to source. If a cord of a color other than black, white, or gray is decided for production, it will need to be ordered in large quantities (even several kilometers), which is why colored cords are also carefully considered.

What is the maximum length of the lamp?

About 2 meters.

Can the lamp be painted in two different colors?

If the lamp consists of several different parts that are painted in different colors, then yes, it is possible. A single part cannot be painted in two different colors. For example, one part made of metal sheet can only be a single color, and it cannot be painted on one side with one color and on the other side with a different color.