Rovaniemi plans new iconic landmark to boost visibility and engage community

The city of Rovaniemi aims to invest in a new iconic landmark to enhance its visibility and recognition. This idea has already been discussed within the city council, where several council members suggested the city should consider investing in large letters that spell the city’s name, similar to those found in Oulu, Kouvola, Vaasa, Jyväskylä, and Helsinki. These letter signs serve as vital marketing tools for cities on social media.

However, Rovaniemi is looking for something more unique. Heini-Tuuli Onnela, the city’s communications and marketing director, emphasizes that they do not want to confine themselves to simple lettering and are open to other creative interpretations for the landmark.

Students from the University of Lapland’s Faculty of Arts will be invited to participate in a design competition anticipated to take place next year. Satu Miettinen, the faculty’s vice-dean and a professor of service design, believes the idea will capture students’ interest and generate numerous proposals.

Furthermore, the city plans to involve local residents in the design process through various voting methods. Community members will have a say in selecting the competition winner. To facilitate this, the city will form a working group comprising representatives from the university, as well as experts in communications, marketing, and community engineering.

The working group’s goal will include defining project requirements, such as practicality, implementation costs, and feasibility. A timeline for the entire project will be established after the design competition concludes.

Rovaniemi is also exploring the option of movable light letters or logos for use at various events. Additionally, Onnela mentioned discussions around the idea of a public clock, which could become part of the landmark concept, allowing for memorable photos during the region’s midnight sun. Potential locations for the landmark, including Lainaanranta, Ounasvaara summit, and the vicinity of Jätkänkynttilä, are currently under consideration.