The lifework of Tapio Wirkkala and Rut Bryk has had a deep impact on the shaping of Finnish and Scandinavian design identities. The duo was open to new thoughts, easily excitable and pioneers in their field in many senses. Throughout their careers in design and teaching, Tapio Wirkkala and Rut Bryk offered new paradigms to designers, students and ordinary citizens in post-war Finland. This legacy is honoured by an idea challenge: the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation is now initiating an open call to find a concept for an international design centre to be attached to the EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art, building on the foundation's collection. The centre continues the work of the design pioneers through openness and conversation. The theme of the challenge is sharing.
The Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation's collection includes over 5000 objects, models, illustrations, sketches, prototypes and photos – as well as many personal items, letters and photos depicting the life and work of Tapio Wirkkala and Rut Bryk. Due to the diversity of the vast collection, it is a challenge to present it thoroughly. The idea challenge looks for new ways to exhibit and examine the collection, for example through digital solutions. The aim of the challenge is to develop the roles of archives and collections, and to look into how the general public could dive into the TWRB collection. The competition has a further aim to find new ways of sharing design processes, and to boost a sense of communality.
