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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.
Studies leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor's Programme in Design
- Muoti, taiteen kandidaatti (only in Finnish and Swedish)
- Muotoilu, taiteen kandidaatti (only in Finnish and Swedish)
Studies leading to the degree of Master of Arts
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
ENCORE - Engaging Co-design Research Group
The ENCORE research group explores constantly application fields for co-design through hands-on exploration and ambitious research. The visionary competence stems mostly from industrial design spiced with engineering, architecture and anthropology.
Empirica – Research on art, design and culture (external link)
Group approaches research with an attitude, where making, acting and engaging play important roles.
Fashion/Textile Futures
The Fashion/Textile Futures research group explores new perspectives on human-centered design research. The group approaches research in the field of fashion, clothing and textiles in multi-faceted ways.
INUSE - The Users and Innovation Research Group
Researches designer-user relations in sociotechnical change.
NODUS – Sustainable Design Research Group
NODUS Sustainable Design Research Group undertakes transdisciplinary design research for sustainable futures.
Design Culture Research Group
Exploring the significance of design in contemporary society.
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
Aalto University's Finnish Design Push: Empowering SMEs and Design students
The Finnish Design Push, a joint initiative between School of Arts, Design and Architecture and Technology Industries of Finland, started collaboration with five SME technology companies by exploring design integration into their digital services.
A dress that combines modular design and seaweed research was seen at the Independence Day Reception
Landscape architect Anni Järvitalo designed a festive outfit for the President's Independence Day reception that combines modular design and seaweed research in collaboration with designer Sofia Ilmonen and Professor Julia Lohmann.
Julia Lohmann becomes Honorary Royal Designer for Industry in Regenerative Design
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in Great Britain has awarded the title to Julia Lohmann for her work in regenerative design, sustainable materials and design ethics.
Apply to Designs for a Cooler Planet by 27 January, 2025
Enhance the impact of your research by presenting it to broad groups outside the university. Aaltonian, apply and show how your research or project is changing the world.Events
Department management
Department of Design - Personnel
Aalto ARTS' Communications Guide
Easy access communication tools and help for everyone! This guide is updated according to the needs of ARTS members. Login (top right) to view all content. Some pages are internal, so they are only visible to logged-in ARTS members.
Aalto ARTS Handbook
Aalto ARTS Handbook/ communication guide
Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
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Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
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