Rovaniemi Design Week: BRP Awards Finnish Design Student Internship in Canada
VALCOURT, Quebec, February 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
BRP awards Ville Wuorinen, a four-month paid internship at its Design & Innovation Centre in Canada next summer. Other winners include second-place finisher Marjo Kujala who earns a €2,000 cash prize, and Lasse Råberg receives a €1,000 cash reward. Krista Korpikoski and Ville Kemppainien received special mentions.
Every year the Rovaniemi Regional Development Agency and the University of Lapland organize Rovaniemi Design Week. This year, BRP's head of design, BRP Finland, where BRP's Lynx snowmobiles are assembled, and the University of Lapland's Faculty of Art & Design, decided to add to the event by organizing a design competition. A jury, composed of Päivi Tahkokallio, CEO and Founder, Tahkokallio Design+ Ltd, Tapani Hyvönen, Chairman of the Board, Industrial Designer of ED-Design Ltd. and member of the ICSID Executive Board, Risto Perttula, director of Engineering, BRP Finland, Pierre Rondeau, design director, Advanced concepts & services at BRP and Denys Lapointe, executive vice-president, Design & Innovation at BRP got together to determine the design criteria and select the winners.
"We at BRP believe that a strong design proposal starts with a thorough investigation of the fundamental needs of the consumers," said Denys Lapointe, executive vice-president of BRP's Design & Innovation Centre. "The University of Lapland's location in the Arctic Circle allows students to visit the BRP facility and meet with a variety of Lynx snowmobile consumers in different contexts."
Contest was open to second year students and up. Fifteen students were called upon to interview a current snowmobile user, identify needs and irritants and come up with a design solution. Designs were exhibited during Rovaniemi Design Week from February 17 to 26. The jury opted for Wuorinen's work based on criteria including design proposal, innovation, environmental consideration, overall creativity and presentation.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to work with a global leader in the powersports industry," said Timo Jokela, Dean of the Faculty. "Getting the chance to travel abroad and working closely with professional designers who contribute to the development of new and innovative recreational products is such a great experience for our future designers. We very much hope this will lead to a long-term collaboration with BRP."
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries.
Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Lynx, Evinrude, Johnson, Can-Am, Rotax and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Image with caption: "Winners of the Design Competition, surrounded by judges (CNW Group/BRP)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120223_C6897_PHOTO_EN_10375.jpg
For further information:
Johanne Denault
Manager, Corporate Communications
Tel: +1-450-532-5173
johanne.denault@brp.com
Hanna Viitasaari
Master in Industrial Design
Lapland University
Tel: +358-40-526-2834
hanna.viitasaari@ulapland.fi
Risto Perttula
Director, Engineering
BRP Finland
Tel: +358-16-3208-274
risto.perttula@brp.com
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