From pressrelease of Iittala:

13.02.2006 www.aaltosvoice.com

This year Iittala has many reasons to celebrate: in addition to the Aalto vase’s jubilee year, it is 125 years since the company was founded.

In addition to being an architect and designer, Alvar Aalto was an opinion leader as a conversationalist and idealist thinker in his circle. In honour of the jubilee year, Iittala will make one of Aalto’s dreams come true: we will open a modern online version of the open discussion forum “the Human Side� Alvar Aalto envisioned. We have called it www.aaltosvoice.com.

We have gathered thoughts and visual work as well as information about Alvar Aalto, events related to him, exhibitions and literature on this international, English-language site.

We have requested that notable artists and designers create artworks based on Aalto’s ideas and shapes. The work of Japanese designer Tomoko Azumi and Finnish fashion designer Hanna Sarén will be showcased as of the beginning of the year and Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and Brazilian designers, the Campana brothers, will have their say by the summer. We have also asked influential international designers to interpret their own relationship to Aalto’s world of ideas.

Now www.aaltosvoice.com. invites people all over the world to take part in the discussion that centres on Alvar Aalto’s life’s work, especially his humanism. - Welcome the usual thinkers, young students, design professionals and end users. - The site offers participants the opportunity to present their views to the international community, through various media, Editor in Chief Anne Veinola.