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The Bocuse d’Or, final was held 29.-30.1. in Lyon France and Team Finland's platter was chosen as the best among the 24 finalist teams, whereas Team Finland was fourth in the competition.

Team Finland’s this year’s theme was “Survivors of the ice age”, which was the starting point for the platter design. The colours, materials and atmosphere – charred wood and frozen twigs rising from the endless dunes of snow.

”We didn’t only try to go along the theme, we try to get in it. Burnt wood at a campsite, snow formations on the frozen open created by wind, first buds of plants we thought were dead and so on. All this we kept in mind in every step of decision making, along with the requirements set by the food and usability”, students describe. Zeng is a student in Product and Spatial Design and Mankinen in Contemporary Design Programme.

Bottom of the platter is ash which is holding a glass. The small flowers on the edge are 3D prints and the platform under the meat plate is cast aluminium. The branch components, meat plate and the ring surrounding it are chromed steel.

Design work started last September with ceramist, designer Pekka Paikkari in design team lead and in collaboration with chef Ismo Sipeläinen and assistant Johan Kurkela. The platter was constructed at Aalto University workshops in Otaniemi. Design work was commissioned by ELO Foundation which is administrating the Bocuse d’Or activities in Finland.

For further information:

Student, designer Niko Mankinen, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, niko.mankinen@aalto.fi

Student, designer Jinghua Zeng, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, jinghua.zeng@aalto.fi