Viivi Prokofjev is a designer whose work combines tradition and artisanal precision with intuition and bold carnivalism. Grafia annually awards the Graphic Designer of the Year for meritorious work in the field of visual communication design or other activities to raise the level and prestige of the field in Finland. This year, the Graphic Designer of the Year working group awards AD, illustrator and publication designer Viivi Prokofjev. The working group justifies their choice as follows: “Viivi Prokofjev combines intuitive visual thinking and artisanal precision in a way that makes each project a considered and sensual whole. In an era when visual production is becoming automated and superficial, Prokofjev’s work reminds us of the importance of material and detail. Her design shows that true quality comes from care, a willingness to experiment, and the fact that each solution exudes the presence of its creator. Viivi Prokofjev dares to question the traditions of form, typography and printing in a surprisingly hilarious way. As Amanda Palo’s Outoja kaloja and Klaus Maunuksela’s Manuaali show, a book cover can be more than a surface or a text layout of just black text on white. The Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child, created with Nastja Säde Rönkö, grows into a miniature world. Prokofjev’s boldly innovative handprint is carnivalesque and the certainty of a true professional in the same package. She challenges the form of a book with innovative and production-challenging solutions, and invariably succeeds. Prokofjev has also done visible and inspiring work in the world of print media. Prokofjev’s work for, among others, Suomen Kuvalehti, Tulva, Long Play and Ylioppilaslehti has renewed editorial narrative. The work is punctuated by a relaxed sense of enjoyment, but at the same time it is done precisely and professionally.” The Graphic Designer of the Year 2026 working group was formed by Päivi Helander (Graphic Designer of the Year 2025), Chris Bolton, Matilda Diletta, Tuukka Koivisto and Jan Rudkiewicz. Viivi Prokofjev is the Art Director of Suomen Kuvalehti. In addition to her day job, Profjev works as a freelancer. She describes her working style as follows: “My head is constantly illustrating. Ideas arise quickly, thoughts are condensed and rationalized under the pressure of the work phases.” Prokofjev takes her work seriously: illustrations, layouts, book design. She listens to the client’s dreams and builds her own visual world around them. In the end, all parties win. Viivi Prokofjev often makes her illustrations from real objects like a miniature architect or a color-conscious photographer. She combines new and old, painting and typography in her collage-like illustrations so that even the most simplified images leave the viewer with the opportunity to understand. Viivi Prokofjev (born 1988) has studied visual communication design at Aalto University. Prokofjev has been awarded several times, including in the Vuoden Huiput and Most Beautiful Books competitions. In 2022, Klaus Maunuksela’s Manuaali, designed by Prokofjev, won the Most Beautiful Books competition. The Graphic Designer of the Year 2026 award exhibition will be held at Grafia’s Luonnos gallery from 3 October to 22 November 2026 at Uudenmaankatu 13, Helsinki.