Väätänen Risto

Risto Väätänen considers industrial design to be a strong competitive advantage and the three basic principles of his design work are cost-effectiveness of products, usability of machinery and suitable appearance. One of the biggest challenges in Väätänen’s career has been the design of the new generation OptiConcept paper production line in the late 1990s. The results of this work can be seen in paper mills around the world.

Väätänen considers Valmet’s OptiConcept M paperboard production line to be the highlight of his career. It was a project that was strongly guided by the designer, bringing together all of Väätänen’s long career experience and expertise. In 2014, the OptiConcept M product family was awarded an honourable mention in the Fennia Prize design competition. Risto Väätänen has also received other recognition from his industrial design work. Industrial Designers Association TKO selected Risto Väätänen as Industrial Designer of the Year in 1999 and in 2003 he received the Kaj Franck Design Award from Design Forum Finland and the Finnish Fair Foundation.

Risto Väätänen’s archive contains a wide range of material from his career as a designer in the paper industry. Here you can see the catalogue of the archive and digitised materials.

Read more about Risto Väänänen’s career in the Design Archives’ Industrial Designers online exhibition.