Message From The President of The Republic of Finland

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND 

Today we celebrate Finnish design and creativity. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Finnish Society of Crafts and Design – now Design Forum Finland – to promote Finnish design expertise and applied arts. Under the leadership of Professor Carl Gustaf Estlander, it laid the foundation for Finnish design education and strengthened the idea that design is an integral part of societal development and well-being. 

Throughout history, design has provided tools for facing change. Industrial design has played a key role in Finland’s renewal, from post-war reconstruction to meeting the challenges of the digital age. Now, as the world is changing rapidly, we need creativity once again to give our country a new boost. 

Culture is what we make it. It is the building block of our national identity and a component of social resilience. Design and art give us inner strength and faith in the future – even in difficult times. 

To this day, Finnish design stands as a symbol of quality, timelessness and humanity. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone in the Finnish design industry for your valuable work. Thanks to you, Finland is now an internationally recognised country, renowned for its creative, bold and exceptional design expertise. 

Alexander Stubb 
 President of the Republic of Finland 
Patron of Design Forum Finland’s 150th Anniversary