INTERNATIONAL GENDER EQUALITY PRIZE 2017

Design: Aamu Song and Johan Olin
Client: Government of Finland
Material: Glass, granite
Glass manufactured by Alma Jantunen and Johannes Rantasalo in Nuutajärvi, Finland
Granite podium manufactured by Loimaan Kivi, Loimaa, Finland. 
Photos: COMPANY

The International Gender Equality Prize was established by the Government of Finland in 2017. The prize is awarded to a person or organisation that has advanced gender equality in a globally significant way. The recipient will not be awarded the prize money; instead, they will identify a cause to which the prize money will be granted. In 2017 the prize money totals EUR 150,000 and will be financed using development cooperation appropriations.
The 2017 prize goes to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.


 



We were contacted to give a shape for the prize. We chose glass for its transparency – also for its major role in Finnish design history – and Finnish granite for a firm base to stand on. The prize is a mouth blown glass sphere where inside are two colourful bubbles of equal size. The two bubbles were each blown by glass blowers Alma Jantunen and Johannes Rantasalo in Nuutajärvi, Finland.

The glass sphere rests on a granite podium. Made of Kuru grey granite and Varpaisjärvi Black, the podium is divided into three disks.
Two of the disks will remain in Finland – one at the Prime Minister’s Office and one at Tampere Hall – while the third travels with the prize winner.
     
Making of The International Gender Equality Prize 2017:
A link to video of the making of the prize.



Still photos from making of video by Propaganda.









People behind the International Gender Equality Prize; Paulina Ahokas, Chairwoman of the jury, Iina Ojala from Tampere City and Aamu & Johan at Nuutajävi glass village.



The two bubbles are each blown by glass blowers Alma Jantunen and Johannes Rantasalo in Nuutajärvi, Finland.
Here the two bubbles are united inside the clear glass sphere.



Alma preparing one of the two colour glass bubbles. while Johannes is getting ready with the other one.



The podium is divided into three disks.
Two of the disks will remain in Finland – one at the Prime Minister’s Office and one at Tampere Hall – while the third travels with the prize winner.


Early idea sketch from Autumn 2017. Drawign by Johan Olin.