Tapani Hyvönen, Finland

Co-founder and managing director of the company ED-Design Ltd in Turku, Finland.

Born 1947 in Sotkamo, Finland, Tapani Hyvönen graduated as Industrial Designer from the University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH in 1974. He started his professional career in Salora Oy 1973 and founded his own Design Agency, Destem Ltd, in 1976. In the year 1990 he was co-founder on establishing the company ED-Design Ltd in Turku, Finland. Today ED-Design Ltd, which Hyvönen runs as a managing director, is one of the biggest product design agencies in Nordic countries.

Hyvönen has been honored with several awards in Finland: Finnish Arts Council, one-year Grant 1981; Finnish Arts Council, The National Art & Design Award 1984; Industrial Designers TKO, The Industrial Designer of the Year 1991; Pro Finnish Design for Buscom Ltd 1992. He has made his major professional work for Finnish electronic industry including Finlux, Nokia, and Polar Electro.

Hyvönen has had several confidential posts: Design Leadership Program and The Department of Product and Strategic Design, The University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH, Advisory Board 1989 to 2000; Finnish Design Management Award, jury member 1992; Pro Finnish Design Award, jury member 1999; ED-Design Ltd, member of the Board since 1990; Design Forum Finland, member of the council since 1998; ICSID, International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, member of the Executive Board since 1999.