Department of Design

Department of Design

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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.

Presentation in Hyeres by Antonia Sedakova / photo Pierre-Emmanuel Testard
Presentation in Hyeres by Antonia Sedakova / photo Pierre-Emmanuel Testard

Majors of the Bachelor's Programme in Design

Majors of the Master’s Programme in Design

Prof. Maarit Mäkelä and her work

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

Collaborate with us

We offer our partners the opportunity to collaborate with international level designers and design researchers.

Read more
Design for Government 2018 photo by Heidi Konttinen

Gallery

The gallery of the Department of Design.

Browse the gallery!
Emma Saarnio ja Helmi Liikanen

News

People on a wavy paved rooftop square with a tall white clock tower under a cloudy sky
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Näytös/Näyttely26 – A celebration of fashion and textiles took over Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi

The Lasipalatsi square in the heart of Helsinki served as the main stage for Aalto University’s annual fashion show on Thursday, 28 May.
Graphic poster with dark leaves, grey textured surface and Finnish words “Näytös 26 Näyttely”.
Research & Art Published:

Näytös/Näyttely26 transforms Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi Quarter into a hub for fashion and textile expertise

The event showcases Aalto’s comprehensive expertise in textiles, clothing, and fashion, as students graduating from both the Bachelor's Major in Fashion as well as the Master's Major in Fashion and Textile Design will present their thesis work.
Brown-toned display of wood, pulp, fibre, thread cone and knitted fabric, showing stages from log to textile.
Research & Art Published:

The journey of a 17th-century shipwreck continues as a unique knitted dress

Researchers at Aalto University transformed surplus wood from the Hahtiperä shipwreck into textile fibre, spun it into yarn, and knitted it into a dress using new AI-assisted technology.
Modern light wood and metal building on a slope, surrounded by tall green trees under blue sky
Research & Art Published:

Aalto University presents circular economy solutions at the New European Bauhaus festival

The European Commission’s New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative will bring together leading experts and changemakers from across Europe in Brussels this June to shape a more sustainable future.

Events

Interior with light timber beams and metal bolts, showing a wooden structure with exposed ducts and ladder.
Exhibitions

The Pathfinders – overcoming circular economy bottlenecks

Welcome to the exhibition opening at the New European Bauhaus Festival, Brussels!
Mobile blue cart with tilted solar panel outside a glass-walled building on a brick courtyard
Public defences

Public defence, Design, MA Goeun Park

Materialising Energy Transition through Participatory Design Interventions in Schools
A long migratory path of reindeer crosses an animated circular map toward the islands of the Norwegian Sea in the 1800s.
Public defences

Public defence, Design, MA Emilia Tikka

Design in between worlds. Bioscience imaginaries and living relations of reindeer worlds
Person in green jacket photographing four friends posing indoors at a busy event
Exhibitions

Aalto ARTS Grad Show 2026 exhibition grand opening

Join us in celebrating our graduates from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture! Let's meet in Kipsari on 3 September 2026 at 3 p.m.

Department management

 Mikko Jalas

Mikko Jalas

Head of Department, Associate Professor
 Kirsi Niinimäki

Kirsi Niinimäki

Vice Head of Department, Professor

Heidi Paavilainen

Head of Education, Senior University Lecturer
 Andrea Botero Cabrera

Andrea Botero Cabrera

Head of Doctoral Education, Associate Professor
Department of Design - Personnel

Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Information for guests

A symbol of a square with a dot in it visualizing forms

Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Information for visitors and guests

Aalto ARTS Handbook

Where to find us

School of Arts, Design and Architecture by Sari Dhima

Väre

Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Locations
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