Background
Sotamaa, Yrjö Kalervo was born on September 25, 1942 in Helsinki, Finland. Son of Aksel Gunnar and Siiri Tellervo (Johansson) Sotamaa.
academic administrator architecture educator
Sotamaa, Yrjö Kalervo was born on September 25, 1942 in Helsinki, Finland. Son of Aksel Gunnar and Siiri Tellervo (Johansson) Sotamaa.
Master of Arts, University Art and Design Helsinki, 1969. Doctor (honorary), Estonian Academy Arts, 2004.
Head department interior architecture University Art and Design Helsinki, 1975-1986, president, 1986—2008, professor interior architecture and furniture design, 1987—2007, professor design innovation, 2008—2010. Visiting assistant professor Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, 1969—1970. Chief Executive Officer Design Studio Sotamaa, Finland, since 1970.
President Retretti Art Center, Finland, 1987—1997. Director Nordic Design Programme Varde, Scandinavia, 1992—1996. Member supervisor board Design Academy, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 1995—2001, Round Table of Design, 1998—2010, Venture Fund for Creative Industries Advisory Board, 2001—2005.
President science committee Humantec, Design for Humanization of Technology, 2001—2003. Vice chairman Finnish Council University Rectors, 1997—2003. Chairman board directors Foundation Finnish Institute in Japan, 1991—2003, chairman supervisor board, 2004—2009, Institution Romanum Finlandiae, since 1996.
Member advisory board Tapio Wirkkala-Rut Bryk Foundation, 2004, member board directors, since 2005, chairman, board directors, 2008—2010. Member steering group Center Design Research, Denmark, since 2004. Member international advisory board Korea Design Research Institute.
Chairman board directors Japan Finland Design Association (JFDA), 2000/2010. Member advisory board Finlandia University International, honorary vice chairman, 1999—2005. Member advisory board Finnish Ibero-American Foundation, supervisor board, 1999—2006.
Chairman Art and Design City Corporation, since 2000. Member international advisory committee Shanghai Institute Visual Art, 2004—2009, Fundan University. Member advisory committee Helsinki School Economic, 2004—2009.
Guest professor College Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2007—2009. Board technical Minister Trade and Industry, Finland, since 2008. Visiting professor Nottingham Trent University, England, since 2008.
Japan-Finland science committee member, since 2008. International advisory board Austrian Program for Arts (PEEK), since 2008. Member External Review Committee, Tsinghua University, Provider Reimbursement Consultants.
Chairman international advisory board College Design & Innovation, Tougji University, Shanghai, since 2009. Professor advisory dean College Design & Innovation Tongii University, since 2009. Member board College Design & Innovation, Tongji University, Provider Reimbursement Consultants.
Executive vice director Simo Finnish Center Tongji University, since 2010. Designer working group of the Danish Governor.
Member supervisor board Finnish Cultural Foundation, Helsinki, 1995-1999. Member Finnish United Nations Educational Commission, Helsinki, 1996-2002. Member supervisory board Valamo Monastery, 1995-2006, Tanner Foundation, since 2000.
Board director Asko Foundation, since 1996. Member culture committee City of Helsinki, 2005-2009. Chairman Council Creative Industries Findland, 2006-2009.
Fellow Royal College Art (honorary), Finnish Association Designers Ornamo (honorary), Finnish Association Graphic Designers (honorary), Korea Society Design Science. Member Committee Honorary Ecole Superior Graphic Arts Interior Architect, Estonian Academy Arts (honorary doctor 2004), International Association Art and Design School AIAS (board directors 1990-1998), European Association Universities (president cumulus), Colleges Art, Design and Media, Society of Science of Design in Japan, Finnish Association Interior Architect, Information Society Forum of European Commission, Finnish National Info Society Forum (chairman 1996-1999), Creative Finland Association (founding member 2004), Finnish-Swedish Academy Industrial Design (founding member)Finnish Institute Japan(honorary chairman).
Married Pirkko Tuulikki Tiainen, June 14, 1966. Children: Kivi, Tuuli.