A second-year student at the World University of Design (WUD) in Sonipat has clinched the top spot in a logo-design challenge hosted by the Embassy of Finland, commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and India.
Selected from a pool of over 70 designs submitted by more than 40 talented students, Aman Narayan’s winning design now stands as the official emblem for bilateral communications between the two nations for the year.
This victory not only highlights the creative prowess of WUD students but also underscores the enduring bond between Finland and India, celebrated through vibrant symbolism and thoughtful design.
Graphic Designer Pia Kaikonen and Second Secretary Rauli Kostamo from the embassy, gave the brief to the students encouraging them to explore and highlight any aspect of the longstanding and multifaceted relationship between India and Finland. It was mandated that the design should symbolize the uniqueness of the two countries, the depth of cultural exchange, mutual respect, shared values, and the continuous growth of bilateral ties between the two countries over the past 75 years.
The design by Aman Narayan, a 19-year-old second-year student of Graphics Communications at the School of Communication, WUD, was judged the winner by a panel of judges from India and Finland comprising of Finnish and Indian graphic designers, embassy representatives, and Business Finland.
Explaining the thought behind designing the winning logo, the talented young designer said: “I am extremely delighted and honoured that my design has been judged the best from among all the excellent designs submitted. The logo I created draws inspiration from India’s cultural ethos as well as aurora borealis, the famous natural phenomenon in Finland commonly known as northern lights. Depicting the full spectrum of colours of the rainbow, it seamlessly transitions from one shade to the other, starting from blue, representing Finland, and ending in saffron, representing India. The multitude of colours signifies the many possibilities of relationships and exchange between the two countries. The typography of the words Finland and India has the ‘I’ joined, signifying that the way to the future lies through cooperation and a shared approach between the people of the two great nations.”
Aman Narayan was honoured with a prize of Rs 50,000 at the Embassy of Finland in a ceremony attended by Kimmo Lähdevirta, Ambassador of Finland in India; Dr Sanjay Gupta, Vice-Chancellor, World University of Design; and the noted graphic designer, Anthony Lopez.
All the entries submitted by students were also exhibited at the Embassy, with more than 30 students from the university showcasing their work.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Lähdevirta said: “Today, we applaud Aman Narayan, a talented student from the World University of Design, for his contribution to the Finland-India 75th Anniversary celebrations. The winning logo design symbolizes well the long-standing cooperation between our countries, paving the way for a greener future.”
Prof (Dr.) Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor of the World University of Design, expressed pride in Aman Narayan’s winning design. He said: “The winning logo effectively captures the essence of India-Finland ties. We are delighted that it will be used to mark the historic occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations and showcase the creativity and talent of our students on the international stage.”
The winning logo was earlier officially unveiled by Ms Elina Valtonen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finland, and S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of India, during their meeting at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Feb 22, 2024.
