Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers include graphic designers, illustrators, professionals in the audiovisual sector, and other creative industry practitioners whose work involves the communication or expression of visual information, and who primarily work as independent freelancers or entrepreneurs.

We provide members with a forum for discussion and co-operation on matters concerning their profession as well opportunities for professional development, educational travel, exhibitions and workshops plus an annual ”Drawing Camp” during the summer. We also offer support and advice with contract and copyright issues.

Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers was founded in 1978 and it takes care of our member register.

If you wish to view our members work please go to the Finnish language pages and click on the link  ”Tekijät”. This will take you to our on-line portfolio showcasing members’ work.

On-line portfolios >>

History

In the 1970’s the freelancers working for the Finnish Broadcast Company YLE went on strike with the result that a contract governing freelance work was drawn up.

The organizing of freelance graphic artists professionally in Finland began in 1975 when the graphic artists and animators belonging to the Association of Finnish Radio and TV freelancers (FOT ry) began their own activities within parent organization. Other freelance illustrators and lay-out artists joined the group and the subdivision of Freelance Graphic Artists was founded in 1978.

The Association has taken a stand on questions affecting the social and economic (government) policies which affect artists.

For the most part a freelancer toils on his or her own. As a member of association Freelance Graphic Artists gave birth to a fruitful connection to colleagues where skills, information and experience could be shared. Having experienced this shared knowledge as extremely valuable, many of the group’s founding members are still active, and new participants have continually joined the organization. Courses and workshops have been organized to study painting, printmaking, bookbinding, computer graphics, and photography. Membership at present is about 290 persons.

Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers – Name Change and Organizational Renewal
The activities of Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers will continue to evolve. At the autumn general meeting on September 28, 2026, it was unanimously decided to restructure the operations and organizational framework of FOT and Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers. The goal is to streamline the association’s structure and strengthen its collective activities.

At the same meeting, it was decided to rename the association ”Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers” and to continue operations as a single, unified association. The new name better reflects the current membership and the association’s activities.

Kopiosto

Kopiosto is a joint copyright organisation for authors, performing artists, and publishers in the literary, journalistic, visual arts, and audiovisual sectors. It distributes the remuneration collected from the use of texts and images contained in publications to its member organisations. Finnish Association of Freelance Graphic Designers grants from these funds.