YOUNG DESIGNERS TO WORK 2027
COMPANIES: RESERVE YOUR PLACE IN THE DESIGN COMPETITION BY 30 NOVEMBER.
DESIGN COMPETITION SPRING 2027
Participating in the 2026 Young Designers to Work design competition and creating opportunities for young Finnish designers.
Luhta, Veke, Grado, Rento, Polaria, Harvia, Liikku, Ideastructura, Isku, Fazer, Emendo, Vesalainen, Annala, Junikko, Framery, Elega, Santa Park, Kaleva media, Pomar, OmaSp, Abau Design, Asko, Orthex, Kultajousi, Viking Line, Paulig, Atria, Ajasto, Fibernet, SOL
Supporting YFD’s mission, including...
Supporting YFD’s mission, including...
about
What is it about?
YFD’s annual Young Designers to Work design competition brings companies and emerging designers together to develop new solutions that address a range of business needs.
Companies bring their own design challenge to the competition, and three emerging designers are selected through an open call to develop solutions for each brief.
The challenge can focus on areas such as branding, packaging, products, services or spatial design.
Who is the Design Competition For?
The design competition is aimed at companies looking to leverage design and fresh perspectives in developing their products, services, brand or spaces.
Companies from all industries are welcome to participate. The competition is ideal for businesses seeking fresh ideas, new concepts and innovative solutions to support their business development.
Competition Timeline: Spring 2027
October–November 2026
→ Reserve your place by 30 November
February 2027
→ Development of the design brief in collaboration with YFD
March 2027
→ Open call for emerging designers
April 2027
→ Design development with the selected designers
May 2027
→ Winner announcement
Pricing
€5,000 (VAT 0%)
Including a €1,000 prize and the full competition process, managed by YFD from start to finish.
Why Do We Organise the Competition?
For many emerging designers, one of the biggest challenges after graduation is securing their first professional opportunities. They have the skills and ideas, but without work experience and industry connections, getting their careers started can be difficult.
At the same time, companies can benefit from the fresh perspectives of emerging designers, but there are often limited opportunities for these connections to happen.
The Young Designers at Work competition brings these needs together. It connects companies with emerging designers through real-world design challenges, creating valuable opportunities for both: designers gain the chance to showcase their skills and build professional networks, while companies gain new ideas and perspectives to support their business development.
Limited spots available.
Limited spots available.
What’s Included in the ServiceYou focus on getting inspired. We take care of the rest.
YFD manages the entire design competition from start to finish. We organise the open call, interview applicants and curate the most suitable designers for your brief, ensuring a smooth process throughout.
We guide the designers at every stage and take care of project management, scheduling and communication, all the way through to the final presentations and winner selection.
Make the process more concreteHighlight the value for companies
Your company can focus on what matters: exploring new ideas, connecting with emerging designers and developing your business.
Reserve your place by 30 November. Limited spots remaining.
Who is it for?
Companies from all industries are welcome to participate. The competition is designed for businesses looking for fresh ideas, new concepts and innovative solutions to support their business development.
It is particularly suited to companies looking to bring fresh thinking from emerging designers into their business, explore new product or service concepts, or discover new perspectives for developing their brand and business.
Companies participating in our competitions represent a wide range of industries, including:
Fitness and wellness
Furniture manufacturing and interior design
Food and beverage
Construction and structural design
Weaving and textile manufacturing
Fashion and clothing
Amusement parks and experience-based services
Consumer goods
Kitchen and homeware brands
Footwear
Design consultancies
Sauna industry, including sauna stove and sauna product manufacturers
↑ Hotel AX supports YFD’s mission!
The launch of the Young Designers to Work 2026 design competition took place at Hotel AX in Helsinki in April.
Hotel AX is committed to creating opportunities for emerging designers and supporting the next generation of design talent. In collaboration with Young Finnish Design, Hotel AX serves as an event partner for the competition, providing a space for designers and industry professionals to meet, network and build valuable new connections.
What Does Participating in the Competition Offer Your Company?Hinta
€5,000 (VAT 0%)
Including a €1,000 competition prize and the full competition process, managed by YFD from start to finish.
Young Finnish Design’s curated design competition offers companies an inspiring way to discover emerging design talent and fresh perspectives for business development. We take care of the entire process, from the open call for designers to project management and coordination.
What does participating in the competition offer your company?
Open call for designers – We reach a wide network of designers across different fields through our network in Finland and the other Nordic countries.
Interviews and careful curation – We assess applicants based on their skills, experience and suitability, selecting three promising designers for your brief.
Three curated designers – Your company gets to meet three selected designers and explore their individual approaches and perspectives.
End-to-end competition management – We take care of competition planning, scheduling, communication and practical arrangements.
Project management and coordination – We oversee the process, manage communication and ensure smooth collaboration throughout the competition.
Designer guidance and mentoring – We support designers in understanding the brief and developing their work, giving them the best conditions to succeed.
Final presentations and evaluation – We organise the presentation of the final proposals and facilitate the evaluation and winner selection.
Further project development with YFD – We provide continuity beyond the competition, supporting the planning, development and implementation of the next stages in collaboration with your company.
Your company can focus on what matters: exploring new ideas and connecting with emerging designers. We take care of the entire competition.
Visibility during the competition
Your company will be featured on YFD’s channels and website throughout the competition. During the campaign, we will publish approximately six light promotional posts featuring our partners across different channels, such as Instagram and LinkedIn, and include your company on the competition webpage.
This provides consistent visibility and strengthens your company's image as an organisation that supports emerging design talent.
HOTEL AX SUPPORTING YFD’S MISSION
Hotel AX Supports Emerging Designers
Hotel AX is committed to creating opportunities for emerging designers and helping the next generation of design talent gain visibility. In collaboration with Young Finnish Design, Hotel AX acts as an event partner for the competition, providing a space for encounters, networking and building new connections with industry professionals.
TOGETHER CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING DESIGNERS.
"We are joining the Young Designers to Work competition because we believe in bold ideas and fresh perspectives. Emerging designers bring fresh thinking, the ability to challenge conventional approaches and the vision to see the future before it takes shape. Supporting them is important to us, because growth, renewal and sustainable success come from making room for the next generation’s talent and passion."
— Päivi Juolahti, Chief Marketing & Brand Officer, Harvia Group & Ville Wacklin, Director of Sauna Business, Harvia Group
YFD X HARVIA
JOIN YFD’S MISSION AND RESERVE
YOUR PLACE BY 30 NOVEMBER.
RESERVE YOUR PLACE IN THE YOUNG DESIGNERS TO WORK COMPETITION BY 30 NOVEMBER.
What Value Does the YFD Competition Bring to Businesses?
↑
In this video, Petra Tarkkala, Head of Design at Tieto Tech Consulting Finland, shares her thoughts and experiences from the YFD × Tieto design competition, along with her advice for designers at the beginning of their careers.
→ In this video, Ulla Kotila, Brand Manager at HTH Kitchens, shares her impressions of the competition and explains the value that collaborating with YFD and taking part in the competition brought to their brand.
Why Do Companies Choose YFD Competitions?
"Fazer is taking part in the Young Designers at Work competition because we believe in creativity that dares to challenge conventions and create something new. The next generation of designers brings boldness, creativity and fresh insights – values that also guide Fazer’s own design work. Supporting emerging designers is important to us, and we want to actively create opportunities for young talent to shape the visual and functional solutions of the future."
Noora Hiltula
Design Director, Fazer Confectionery
"We wanted to take part in the Young Designers at Work competition because we see it as a unique opportunity to discover fresh, forward-looking perspectives before entering into a potential collaboration. It is great to play our part in building a pathway and bridge between companies and emerging designers."
Jeri Luhtanen
Divisional Director, Luhta
"We are taking part in Young Finnish Design’s Young Designers at Work competition because we want to give emerging designers the opportunity to showcase their skills. We also want to support new creative talent and contribute to the future of Finnish design. We believe that new talent and fresh perspectives play an important role in shaping the future of Finnish design and brands."
Atria Brand Team
"We are taking part in Young Finnish Design’s Young Designers at Work competition because we want the Viking Line brand to stay relevant and evolve with the times. We believe emerging designers can help shape its future direction. We believe in the appeal of Finnish design and want to give an emerging designer’s work an international stage."
Minna Tuorila
Chief Commercial Officer, Viking Line Abp
"We believe emerging designers have the courage to challenge established ways of thinking and create bold, relevant solutions that resonate with tomorrow’s consumers. We are excited to explore the future of coffee culture together with the participants of the Young Finnish Design competition."
Taika Guttorm
Global Portfolio & Concept Manager, Paulig
"Framery’s international success story began with a small but significant insight. We believe tomorrow’s success requires exactly the kind of open-minded thinking that emerging designers represent. We want to take responsibility for helping create opportunities along their career paths, while also strengthening the vitality and global competitiveness of Finnish design."
Joonas Vartola
Chief Design Officer, Framery
"Asko’s history is rooted in iconic and timeless classics of Finnish design. With the new Asko, we want to continue this remarkable story and create new classics for future generations. YFD’s design competition offers us a great opportunity to discover fresh visions for both new products and the future of our retail concepts and customer experience. We want to bring together the bold ideas of emerging designers, an inspiring new retail environment and the everyday life of Finnish homes, creating homes that truly feel personal."
Mika Rusila
Chain Director, Asko
"We are taking part in Young Finnish Design’s Young Designers at Work competition to explore new perspectives on home storage. We are challenging emerging designers to develop a new storage product range for the SmartStore™ brand, combining thoughtful design, practicality and long-lasting quality."
Hanna Kukkonen
Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Orthex
"At OmaSp, we want to support Finnish work, design and the next generation of talent. Finnish design plays an important role in shaping our identity, values and commitment to sustainable thinking, which is why supporting it comes naturally to us. I believe emerging designers bring boldness, curiosity and fresh perspectives that challenge us to think differently."
Pirjetta Soikkeli
Director of Communications, OmaSp
"As a Finnish brand, Polaria is taking part in the Young Designers at Work competition because we believe in Finnish expertise and creativity. Supporting emerging designers is important to us, as they bring fresh perspectives and the ability to anticipate future needs. They challenge us to develop our products and ways of working, while helping us build an even more responsible and meaningful Polaria – one shaped through collaboration and dedicated to advancing Finnish expertise."
Timo Karhula
CEO, Polaria
“At Grado, we want to help open doors for emerging designers. We are taking part in the Young Designers at Work competition because we believe in fresh perspectives and bold creativity. We are looking for conceptual staircase ideas, and we encourage you to think big! Will you be the one to design the next step in Grado’s design story?”
Elina Kristo
Creative Director, Grado Design Oy
“We want to take part in Young Finnish Design’s Young Designers at Work competition because it offers an opportunity to discover new ideas and talent. We also want to support emerging designers and build relationships with the next generation of professionals.”
Teemu Finne
CEO / Sales and Marketing, Emendo Oy
“Pomar is taking part in Young Finnish Design’s Young Designers at Work competition because we believe in bold new talent. Together, we are shaping the future of Finnish design and making room for new creative voices.”
Topias Fonsén
Product Development Manager, Pomar Oy
"We are taking part in Young Finnish Design’s Young Designers at Work competition because this year’s theme for us is ‘The Year of Youth’. Across our organisation, we are taking action to engage with young people and take their perspectives into account. This design competition is one way we can support young people’s creativity and contribute to the future of Finnish design."
Anna Kärävä
Director of Brand and Communications, Kaleva Group
"We are excited to take part in the YFD competition! Creativity and an artistic eye are essential in engineering, too, and our goal is to discover new, more creative perspectives for our communications. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the talent shaping the future!"
Jyrki Jalli
CEO, IdeaStructura
“We are taking part in the Young Designers at Work competition because we believe the future of design is shaped by curiosity, courage and fresh perspectives. For us, the competition is a meeting point where experience and tradition come together with fresh thinking, creating new ideas, meaningful conversations and potentially future collaborations.
Through the competition, we gain valuable insights that challenge our thinking and may also help guide our own development. We are inspired to see how emerging designers view Isku today – and how they imagine it tomorrow.
The competition encourages us to look ahead and develop solutions that respond to the needs of tomorrow. We also want to play a part in supporting emerging talent and learning from them.”
Petteri Häkkinen
Designer
”Me Annalassa uskomme, että tulevaisuuden design ei synny yksin – vaan yhdessä. Tällä kilpailulla haluamme ratkaista aidon ongelman ja samalla antaa tilaa uusille ajatuksille kasvaa.”
Hanna-Maria Kortesoja, Toimitusjohtaja, Annala
"We believe that better public spaces begin with fresh thinking. By working with young designers, we open the door to new ideas that can shape more inviting, sustainable, and human-centred environments."
Ilkka Kankare, Abau, CEO
"Liikku Fitness Centres is taking part in the Young Designers at Work competition because we believe that emerging designers have the courage to challenge conventional ways of thinking and bring fresh, open-minded perspectives. Young Finnish designers represent new ideas, authenticity and creativity that help us develop our brand in smarter and bolder ways. By supporting emerging talent, we are not only moving our own business forward but also contributing to a stronger, more creative and sustainable future for Finland."
Alma Rapakko
Marketing Manager, Liikku Fitness Centres
“The Junikko concept is still at the very beginning of its journey. We strongly believe that emerging designers are the talent shaping the future, and that their bold perspectives, fresh thinking and new energy play a key role in building and developing this concept. We are taking part in the Young Finnish Design competition because we want to create opportunities for emerging talent and have the chance to build something entirely new together.”
Suvi Hakala and Nina Mäkelä
Founders, Junikko
YFD X AARIKKA
DISCOVER OUR MISSION!
WHAT MAKES THE YFD COMPETITION MEANINGFUL?
The Young Designers at Work competition gives emerging designers a genuine pathway into working life and offers companies fresh perspectives from the next generation of talent. It brings educational institutions, businesses and emerging designers together to develop solutions that can help transform products, services and brands on a broader scale.
YFD builds a bridge between businesses and emerging Finnish designers.
The competition also creates value for society: it promotes employment opportunities for emerging designers, supports the sustainable growth of the creative industries and gives companies a new way to drive innovation.
YFD was founded by Heidi Maria Huovinen and Elisa Luoto, both designers and graduates of Aalto University. Their mission is to improve employment opportunities for emerging designers and help them find creative work that matches their education and expertise.