Asko Künnap

Asko Künnap attended Miina Härma Gymnasium (1978–1989) and the Tartu Children's Art School (1980–1984). He graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in product- and graphic design (1989–1995), and studied interior architecture at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (1991–1992).

Künnap has worked as a freelance illustrator and designer (1992–1994) as well as creative director at the advertising agencies ZOOM Ogilvy (1994–2003) and Rakett (2003–2014). He has received numerous nominations and prizes in competitions including the Effie Awards and the Estonian Golden Egg Competition.

• Illustration — Asko Künnap wearing a T-shirt with his winning design for the standard logo now used by the Republic of Estonia and its government ministries. 22 February 2014 Künnap has designed logos and corporate identities for customers including the Republic of Estonia and all its national ministries (2013); the Estonian national parks of Lahemaa, Matsalu, Vilsandi, Soomaa, and Karula (2014); the online news portal Delfi (1999); the Estonian Literature Information Center (2002); the ABCD Baltic Defense Conference (2010); the National Library of Estonia (2016); Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol (2010), Hendrikson & Ko (2015); and others. He has designed album covers for Dagö, Lauri Saatpalu, Tõnis Mägi, Villu Veski, Rein Rannap, The Johansons, Jaan Tätte, Tiit Kikas, Jäääär, JääBoiler, InBoil, Siim Aimla, Eepiline Eesti Orkester, Svjatra Vatra, Liisi Koikson, Sven Grünberg, Urmas Alender, Ruja, Bonzo, Kõrsikud, Aapo Ilves, Tõnu Timm and Jaanus Nõgisto, Concerto Contore, Pantokraator, Dynamite Vikings, and others. In collaboration with Estonian writer and musician Jan Kaus, Künnap developed the concepts for Estonia's booths at the 2007 Gothenburg Book Fair and the 2011 Helsinki Book Fair. He has also designed theater sets with Iir Hermeliin and Heigo Ervin Seppel. Künnap has designed and illustrated books for a wide range of publishers in Estonia (Tänapäev, Pegasus, Näo Kirik, Kite, Verb, Maarjamaa, Mustvalge, GO, Tallinn University Press, Kultuurileht, etc.), Finland (Arktinen Banaani, Robustos, and Savukeidas), as well as for the Firenze Contemporary Jewellery School Alchimia, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. He has received close to a dozen prizes in the annual Best-Looking Estonian Book Awards and was awarded the Prize for Best-Looking Baltic Book at the Riga Book Fair. He is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers’ Association. • Illustration — Asko Künnap presenting his ad campaign “Whoever Dies With the Most Toys Wins”. National EFFIE Award, 1995

Through Revaler Publishing and in collaboration with Priit Isok, Künnap has designed and released the board games Saaremaa, Farlander, Levi, Metsa Peremees, Surres kõige rohkem asju, Lotte lauamäng (with Heikki Ernits), Kalale, Ussisõnad (with Julia Maria Künnap), Danse Macabre, and Libahundid. Farlander was nominated for Game of the Year in Finland in 2005, and in Sweden in 2006. Ussisõnad was the highest-selling Estonian board game in 2009.

Künnap wrote and drew the comic strip Kosmoserotid (Space Rats) for the Estonian weekly Eesti Ekspress in 1993; Ulg (Howl) and Kultuuriminister (The Minister of Culture) for Estonian cultural newspaper Sirp in 2004 and 2006–2007, respectively; and Monsieur Le Nez ja Herr Schnabel (Monsieur le Nez and Herr Schnabel) for Estonian wine magazine Vine. In collaboration with Kaspar Jancis, he was the co-writer as well as background- and character artist for the animated film See viimane sigaret (That Last Cigarette) and the 2007 DVD of animated films Must lagi (Black Ceiling). • Illustration — Asko Künnap performing with The Estonian Dream Big Band. Vaba Lava, Tallinn, Jazzkaar Festival. 18 April 2015

Künnap has performed poetry together with a number of musicians and ensembles, including Estonian Dream Big Band, Eepiline Eesti Orkester, Siim Aimla, Paul Daniel, Heikki Kalle, Tõnu Timm, and others.

Künnap reads, walks, sketches labyrinths and coded messages, and watches dreams. He owns no television, reads no online commentaries, and belongs to no religious or political organizations.

• o8jOY&feature=youtu.be Asko Künnap & Memento Mori. Kassisaba Kevadpäev 2016 • Asko Künnap / Siim Aimla. Kõige lõpus oled sina. Jüri Üdi Klubi / ETV • Asko Künnap / Siim Aimla. Jalutu Jumal. Jüri Üdi Klubi / ETV • Asko Künnap / Heikki Kalle / Tõnu Timm. Järjest raskem on sind armastada. Cabaret Interruptus