Grafia’s non-profit Vuoden Huiput is Finland’s most significant creative design competition, which was founded by designers themselves in 1980. The annual event aims to raise the quality of design, strengthen creativity and originality and to promote designers’ expertise. The competition is organised for the 44th time this year. The event comprises the competition, a festival, a festive award gala, an exhibition showcasing the awarded works as well as the annual.
The competition consists of 14 series representing different sectors of design. There is also a free series for under 29-year-olds called the Young Creatives. The theme for the Wild Card series is chosen annually by the head of the juries. This year’s theme is Joy.
Grafia is a non-profit organisation.
If a designer has for several years influenced the development of the industry with an exemplary creative contribution, they can be awarded the Platinum Award.
A thriving young newcomer in the industry is awarded annually with the Junior of the Year award.
2023 Ayan Aden Mitro Boahene Sam Gladstone Toivo Heinimäki Tiiu Hyyryläinen Okko Käyhkö Eino Manner Helmi Padatsu Iisa Pappi Julia Suvisalmi
2022 Malin Gustafsson Veikko Heikkilä Jimi Hyvärinen Johannes Iilahti Pauline Korp Unni Leino Julia Nyyssölä Saara Taussi Johanna Vierimaa Ding Zhong
2021 Karim Awad Elina Cajan Nina Grönlund Jesse Heinilä Kasperi Kropsu Laura Lerkkanen Sergei Pavlov Saana Simander Samy Wilkman Anna Äärelä
2020 Luka Appelberg Naomi Holopainen Wanda Holopainen Silja Minkkinen Landys Roimola Eevi Rutanen Bryan Saragosa Emma Sarpaniemi Irene Suosalo
2019 Maria Korkeila Heimo-Pekka Laakso Hayley Le Jenni Pasanen Samuel Räikkönen Roope Sandberg Jenna Seikkula Aino Soukko Anton Thompson Coon Sanni Wessman
2018 Matilda Diletta Aleksi Erma Lars Högström Chan Luu Ville Niemi Aliina Kauranne Matilda Kivelä Akseli Kouvo Kalle Silvola Venla Vaattovaara
The Client of the Year is awarded annually to a client who, in the opinion of the jury, has shown special skill as a buyer and partner in marketing communication or design.
Each series is assessed by five design professionals. The head of the juries supervises the work of the 65-member jury. Each jury chooses one Gold Award and Silver Awards for the best entries in their series.
In the 2023 Vuoden Huiput Competition, the overall best work will receive the Grand Prix Award. The head of the juries chooses the Grand Prix work among the Gold Award winners. The successful works can be entered into the Art Directors Club Europe competition among other best European works.
Julia Valanne – producer, Vuoden Huiput & Huiput Creative Festival050 517 7906julia.valanne@grafia.fi