Creative Sustainability

Creative Sustainability

Re-thinking Design, Business and Chemical Engineering

Creative Sustainability (CS) is a joint Master's degree programme at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Business and School of Chemical Engineering. Established in 2010, the CS programme brings students from a variety of fields together, to study and work in multidisciplinary teams and create novel sustainable solutions for human, urban, industrial and business environments. The pedagogical approach is based on integrating teaching and research, problem-based learning, design thinking, blended learning and strong connections to practical outcomes. The graduates of the programme have the endeavour to understand and address systemic phenomena and wicked problems.

From The Test Site. Copyright Creative Sustainability.

CS Blog

Study-life, events, research projects, and more on the CS Blog:

Image showing the Alumni panelists
Creative Sustainability

Crust x CS Alumni Talks

Three Creative Sustainability students share their insights on an Alumni Event organised by the student association Crust. They discuss the importance of alumni engagement with current students as a way of showcasing possible future workflows, while alleviating stress about post-graduation uncertainty.
Photograph from the CS Grad Show
Creative Sustainability

Creative Sustainability Graduation Show 2025

At this year's Arts Grad Show, held at the beginning of the academic year, visitors were captivated by the innovative works of 2025 graduates from the Creative Sustainability program. This annual showcase is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, the School of Business, and the School of Chemical Engineering, all united in their commitment to addressing today's pressing sustainability challenges such as climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and socio-ecological disturbances.
Students fixing a phone during the course Broken 2.
Creative Sustainability

Why do we need to learn how to repair again? Introducing Broken II, a new repair course

This blog post introduces the new Aalto course called Broken II, where students get to learn repair skills. The post was written by Creative Sustainability alumna and current Ph.D. student Goeun Park, the Co-teacher of Broken II.
Aalto foodsharing team posing for a group photo at Design Factory's kitchen.
Creative Sustainability

Introducing CS Students' Sustainability Initiatives: Aalto Foodsharing

Aalto Foodsharing is a grassroots community focused on saving and sharing food otherwise going to waste. The initiative was started in the spring of 2024 and has saved thousands of kilos of food waste. In addition to running a community fridge, the Foodsharing team organizes various events and practices advocacy around the topic. In this post, Ronja Tammenpää, one of the founders, tells us more about the inspiring and impactful community.

Alumni stories, networks and collaborations:

Creative Sustainability Master's Programme

Creative Sustainability Alumni Stories

Where do our graduates work? Where to head after studies?

Creative Sustainability
The Test Site

Research groups and Networks

Research collaborations and networks of the Creative Sustainability Master's Programme

Creative Sustainability
The Test Site sign.

The Test Site

The Test Site is a student-led network of practical sustainability at Aalto University.

Creative Sustainability

News from Aalto University

Text 'Otaniemi on a sustainable path' and image of two people walking on campus.
Campus, Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

Make May the month of movement!

Take part in events on campus and make sustainable mobility part of your working or study day.
Two men in black tailcoats stand on stage by a microphone, speaking to a seated audience indoors.
Press releases Published:

Walter Ahlström Foundation donates €3 million to Aalto University

The donation will enable Aalto to establish a professorship in sustainable industrial production.
Abstract map with winding red paths, blue stream, green areas, and multicoloured sections resembling landscapes.
University Published:

Antti Ahlava talking on Relationships in Design Principles & Practices conference (Rome, Italy)

Antti Ahlava presented “Relationship-based Architectural Design” at the Design Principles & Practices conference in Rome, discussing new methodological approaches in architecture.
People gathered outside a modern building with circular windows, reflected in glass. Trees and green grass in the background.
Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

Register for the Transregional Online Living Labs Day 2026

Join Unite!’s international, online conference to explore how University Campus Living Labs connect research, education and practice.

Events

Selection of events from Aalto University and Creative Sustainability

Black background, white text. Aalto founder talks.
Networking

Aalto Founder Talks #8: Maija Itkonen, Founder and CEO of Onego Bio

Maija is a designer, innovator, third time founder who has built and exited two tech companies and one of the pioneers in the alternative protein field. Currently she’s acting as CEO and Co-Founder of Onego Bio.
Person in a fruit-print conical hat paddling a small boat through a narrow palm-lined river. Photo by Liisa Perälä, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, 2026
Academic events, Networking, Students

SGT Studio'26 Final Event: Stories from...

The SGT Studio'26 Final Event is a showcase of the students work for the Sustainable Global Technologies (SGT) studio course through interactive presentations, followed by a meet-and-greet.
Event poster for Aalto University’s Design for Government final show with red buildings and people icons
Exhibitions, Other, Students
Poster for “From Fragments” exhibition with broken floral plate and beaded LOVE bracelet on pastel background
Exhibitions

From Fragments / Sirpaleista exhibition

Created in collaboration with GAYY, Aalto CHAIR and Starting Point of Wellbeing, the exhibition brings together artists, collaborators, and community to reflect on the pieces that shape who we are.

Follow Creative Sustainability

Creative Sustainability student association Crust 

Crust is the student association of Creative Sustainability. Follow Crust here.

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