December 15, 2015

Cumulus President Emeritus Yrjö Sotamaa was officially handed over the title certificate – it is awarded to individuals considered to have given long-term service of the highest order to Cumulus and its international constituency in the role of president.

The Cumulus Executive Board decided to award the title of President Emeritus to prof. Yrjö Sotamaa, former Cumulus president and one of its founding fathers.

The award recognises that the individual has exemplary international standing and is predicated on the award bringing hounour to the individual and to Cumulus equally.

Professor Yrjö Sotamaa has been involved in art and design education and research and design strategy development for over forty years. In 1990, professor Sotamaa took the initiative to establish the Cumulus network in cooperation with five other major design schools. The network was transformed to the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media Cumulus in 2001 and Professor Sotamaa served as the first president of the Association until 2007. Under his leadership Cumulus grew into a global platform for art, design and media educators, researchers, students and partners.

Congratulations!

Prof. Sotamaa prepared a short thank-you note:

‘Dear Cumulus Family,

I feel very humble of the rare honour, the title of Cumulus President Emeritus, which Cumulus Executive Board has awarded me.

In my mind this is a thank you, not only to me, but to the many great people with whom I have had the opportunity to built Cumulus during many years.

Cumulus philosophy has nourished the success of Cumulus and the amazing family. It is based on true friendship, thrust and sharing your ideas and best practices with marvellous people, no matter where they come from. These ideals are well elaborated in the 2008 Kyoto Design Declaration.

Cumulus was born in 1990 in the spirit of democracy and open collaboration. These ideals are even more important today when the world is in big turmoil. Friendship and respect can help to build a path to a better future.

I wish to thank warmly Cumulus Presidents, Luisa and Christian, who have taken with the members of the Executive Boards such a good care of the seeds of Cumulus, which we planted in 1990, in the great year of European democracy.

Yours ever,

Professor Yrjö Sotamaa
CUMULUS PRESIDENT EMERITUS‘