Kaj Franck (1911-1989) was one of the leading figures of Finnish design, the teacher of several generations of professional designers in Finland, and an influential figure in design and applied arts between 1940-1980. He was artistic director of the Wärtsilä Group (later Hackman Plc, present-day Iittala Group) and artistic director and teacher at the College of Applied Arts, the predecessor of the University of Art and Design Helsinki.[1]
The Design Forum Finland[2] awards the yearly Kaj Franck Design Prize to a designer or team of designers working in the spirit of the late Kaj Franck.
The Mint of Finland will release a collector coin with the theme "Kaj Franck and Industrial Art" in January 2011. The year of release will coincide with the one hundredth anniversary of his birth.[3]