New world of work (2011)
Open communication! Sitra invited 22 opinion leaders from different sectors of society to their Elinvoima (‘vitality’) seminar in the Spring of 2011. Together with Sitra’s experts, we established a new model of interactive communication with the seminar participants and posted seminar content online. The working model was radical; we communicated unfinished and embryonic ideas from their inception via digital tools. Avaja also produced background materials to help with the forum’s work. The seminar produced 16 pilot projects that continue to operate.

Avaja is also involved in communications and content development at Sitra’s second Elinvoima forum, which will take place in the spring of 2012. We have continued to develop our interactive communication model so that participants will have an even bigger role. Social media is the lifeblood of the forum. To develop this aspect of the seminar our ‘Action reporting’ model is starting to turn those implementing an action—in this case course participants—into innovators.

New Democracy forum (2011–2012)
In the spring of 2012 we will work with Sitra to plan and execute a unique and groundbreaking event to gather people with ideas for the development of Finnish democracy. Avaja will provide social media training for participants.

www.sitra.fi/uusidemokratia

Startup guru Steve Blank’s visit to Finland

Together with Sitra and Aalto Entrepreneur Society, Avaja Open planned and executed the communications plan for startup guru and Stanford University professor Steve Blank’s visit to Finland. The visit helped to put startup development and entrepreneurship on the national media agenda.

Avaja Open managed the communications, media relations, use of social media channels and publicity on the visit website,  www.steveblank.fi. Avaja’s working assumption is that distinctions between internal and external communication are increasingly unnecessary. This demands multi-faceted communication and media skills in concept planning, content production and media relations. During Steve Blank’s visit, the strategic plan, grassroots action, digital content production and media relations work all came together seamlessly to support our objectives. The visit amply demonstrated our belief that modern media work demands bridge-building between different communication channels.

www.steveblank.fi
aaltoes.com

Avaja Open consulted on the planning of Cleantech Finland’s new digital discussion tool. The global ‘Solved’ green technology expert service was planned to open at the end of 2011.

Avaja’s task was to advise Cleantech Finland on how the logic of social media could be used to administer their discussion space and spread awareness of the site across the world. We also advised on how discussion on social media platforms works. Avaja took part in seminars in spring and autumn 2011 with experts from Cleantech Finland and Finpro, advised Cleantech Finland on how game-like features could improve the experts’ website, and explained why the site should be integrated with other social media services.

www.cleantechfinland.com

Victor teaches Swedish

Together with the Finnish-Swedish cultural centre Hanaholmen, Avaja Open planned a social media campaign in which a character named Victor teaches Swedish via Facebook. Avaja Open took care of Victor’s backstory and Facebook updates. The page gathered nearly 400 followers.

www.hanaholmen.fi/en

Avaja advised the British Council in Finland on how to reach new target groups and communicate more effectively through social media.

www.britishcouncil.fi

We have also participated in various seminars and lectures as speakers. Among others, Avaja has attended events at Cleantech Finland, TSJ Opintokeskus and Helsinki University’s training and development centre Palmen.

www.cleantechfinland.com
www.tjs-opintokeskus.fi
www.helsinki.fi/palmenia