Kaj Franck Design Prize to Ilkka Suppanen

Designer, interior architect Ilkka Suppanen has been selected as the recipient of the Kaj Franck Design Prize 2020, granted by Design Forum Finland.

Ilkka Suppanen has made a long and successful career in the field of design and art.

He studied both interior and furniture design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology.

Suppanen made his breakthrough in the late 1990s as one of the founders of the Snowcrash group. Ilkka Suppanen has designed furniture, lighting fixtures and different consumer products such as glassware to several Finnish and international companies. His portfolio also includes architecture, exhibition design and art projects.

The Kaj Franck prize jury stated that Ilkka Suppanen’s work is always built on thought, contemplation and integrity. He has worked in many different fields and has never been tied to a certain product group, brand or country. “Ilkka Suppanen moves between industrial design and art with agility. His interest in various production techniques, materials and their use is evident in the form and functionality of his works. Ilkka Suppanen’s language of form is aesthetic, fresh, light and forward-looking. In his designs, he strives for usability, necessity and a long life span”, continues the jury.

The members of the Kaj Franck Design Prize jury of 2020 were CEO Petteri Kolinen / Design Forum Finland, Executive DirectorPilvi Kalhama / Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA, Advocate Pentti Kivinen / Finnish Fair Fondation, curator, journalist Isa Kukkapuro and designer, Professor Heikki Orvola.

Kaj Franck Design Prize is worth € 10,000. The prize was established by Design Forum Finland and it is funded by the Finnish Fair Foundation.

Kaj Franck Design Prize is a part of the new Design Forum Finland Awards concept. Ilkka Suppanen’s prize exhibition will open as a part of DFF Awards exhibition in late summer of 2020. Suppanen’s works are also on show at Habitare interior, design and furniture fair in Messukeskus, Helsinki, in September.

Photo: Paavo Lehtonen