Professor Timo Sarpaneva, born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1926, is one of the great figures responsible for the worldwide reputation of Finnish design since the 1950s. He is a master of glass, porcelain, cast iron and textiles, as well as an outstanding graphic artist.
In 1956, Timo Sarpaneva designed Iittala's current trademark for his glass collection called i-line, for which he received one of his Grand Prix awards in Milan in Italy the following year. He has received countless awards and honours. Sarpaneva holds honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art in London in the UK and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and is an honorary academician of the University of Mexico. His work can be admired in art and design museums all over the world.
