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:

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.
Students attending a Smoothies & Movies film screening in Space 21. The host it setting up the movie.
Creative Sustainability

Introducing CS Students' Sustainability Initiatives: Smoothies & Movies

Smoothies & Movies film screenings were started in the spring of 2023 by CS student Andrzej Tarasiuk. The sustainability-focused movie nights have since gathered a wide audience and included a discussion of sustainability themes in each film. This post opens up Andrzej’s initiative’s background, impact, and future.
Students at a sustainability game night in Space 21.
Creative Sustainability

Introducing CS Students' Sustainability Initiatives: Sustainability Game Nights

In 2024, CS Design student Beste Polatkal started hosting Sustainability Game Nights, where participants could learn about sustainability through board games, card games, and role-playing games. In this post, Beste explains her motivation behind the project and offers tips to those considering starting a sustainability initiative.

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

Ilmakuva kampuksesta
Campus Published:

Low-emission local energy enhances campus energy self-sufficient

The solution relies on combining local production and the district heating system, as well as low-temperature and cooling networks.
Biketti
Campus, University Published:

Biketti containers arrive on campus – making bike parking safer and more convenient

The innovative Biketti improves cycling conditions on campus.
World map with various sized dots indicating population counts and reference years, highlighting regions of China and India.
Press releases, Research & Art Published:

“Significant proportion” of world’s rural population missing from global estimates, says study

Global population datasets, crucial for decision-making by governments and institutions, may underestimate rural populations by as much as 53% to 84%, reveals an Aalto University study.
EIT RawMaterials - Open innovation challenge for students 2025
Studies Published:

Open Innovation Challenge for Students (Call is open until 31. March 2025)

Are you ready to tackle one of the three significant environmental challenges? Do you have ideas on how to overcome these challenges?

Events

Selection of events from Aalto University and Creative Sustainability

In the background, a headshot of the speaker Anab Jain. In the forefront, a red overlay with text "Design Interrupted. Upcoming talk on 24.04.2025 17:00-19:00 in Marsio, Otaniemi, Espoo. Anab Jain. Rewilding Our Imagination."
Lectures and seminars

Rewilding Our Imagination

Anab Jain's talk will explore our shared responsibility as designers to instill hope and agency amidst entangled humanitarian, ecological and technological crises.

Follow Creative Sustainability

Creative Sustainability student association Crust 

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

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