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Department of Design
Department of Design
The Department of Design is a diverse community of competent, creative and responsible individuals. In design, we appreciate technical skill, social significance and artistic expression.
We educate front-line design professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields of design. We renew our expertise through high level research in continuous collaboration with our stakeholders. We strive towards a sustainable and just society and environment.
Studies at Department of Design
You can choose the Bachelor's degree major between Design, Fashion or Aalto Bachelor Prorgamme in Design. Master's studies can be conducted either in Collaborative and Industrial Design; Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design; or Contemporary Design programme. In addition, the Department provides two Aalto-level Master's programmes: International Design Business Management and Creative Sustainability.
A student focuses either in the Master's degree major or the field of the programme, and may take advantage of Aalto University’s wide range of multidisciplinary courses for the minors and freely selectable studies.
Majors of the Bachelor's Programme in Design
- Bachelor's Programme in Design and Media
- Muoti, taiteen kandidaatti (only in Finnish and Swedish)
- Muotoilu, taiteen kandidaatti (only in Finnish and Swedish)
Majors of the Master’s Programme in Design
Research
Our research is at the international forefront in sustainable design, practice-based design research, human-centered design and co-design. Our research environment enables and our culture encourages goal-oriented research, imaginative experiments, critical discussion, and transdisciplinary collaboration.
Go to Aalto Design Research Site
Research Groups
Collaborate with us
We offer our partners the opportunity to collaborate with international level designers and design researchers.
Gallery
The gallery of the Department of Design.
News
The Metex Prize 2026 winner is Hana Rehorčíková
The Metex Prize is awarded for excellence in Master’s thesis work done in collaboration with a technology company or to promote the significance and use of design and art in Finnish industry.
Ornamo Awards '26: The Design Forerunner Award to service designer Mariana Salgado
The Design Forerunner Award goes to service designer Mariana Salgado, who brings design into climate research and builds people’s participation in the sustainability transition.
Doctoral thesis: Kata Fodor examines sustainable diets – between the plate and the planet
In her doctoral thesis, Kata Fodor examines how more sustainable diets can be promoted through the design of environments, spaces, infrastructures, and cities.
Funding for impact assessment research concerning the Helsinki Capital region available
Funding call of the Urban Impact project (Kaupunkivaikutus) is open until 11. October 2026.Events
Tomorrow's wardrobe & fashion futuring
We need a fashion futuring approach and a new mindset—how we design and manufacture, and how we understand fashion—and this seminar aims to offer that.
Warm Clouds over the Cool Planet — Workshop
Workshop for critically engaging with material realities behind "the cloud", by turning the planetary resources behind our digital systems something we can see and touch.
Designers in Materials Research – From CHEMARTS to Biodesign
How does design shape the future of bio-based materials? Join us to hear experiences, practical insights and ideas for the future.Department management
Department of Design - Personnel
Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Information for guests
Where to find us
Väre
Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture