Päivi Tahkokallio
Päivi Tahkokallio is the Founder and CEO of Tahkokallio Design+, a strategic design agency based in northern Finland, where she has pioneered the concept of Arctic Design—an approach that integrates strategic and social design to foster sustainable development in Arctic regions. Recognised as the “Mother of Arctic Design,” she has been instrumental in elevating this design philosophy in the context of Europe’s climate neutrality goals for 2050.
A former President of the Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA), Tahkokallio concluded her term in 2021, leading influential European design policy initiatives. Her tenure was marked by a strong focus on climate change, digitalisation, and shared values, playing an essential role in shaping BEDA’s contributions to the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative.
Tahkokallio currently leads the Design Programme for Proto—Designers of Northern Finland, which is being developed in preparation for Oulu’s designation as European Capital of Culture in 2026. Her leadership continues to underscore the role of design in regional innovation and cultural identity.
Internationally respected, she has served as a jury member for prestigious design competitions, including Compasso d’Oro, the German Design Award, and the DesignEuropa Awards—2025 marks her fourth participation in the latter.
Päivi Tahkokallio is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in the UK and serves on the Committee of the Arctic Society of Finland. Her work continues to bridge design excellence with sustainable development and European policy innovation.
‘In a democracy inclusion, participation and access are basic values of each and everyone. The role of design is to actively enhance this whether we discuss products, services or strategies.’ – Päivi Tahkokallio