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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.

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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.

Aalto University student putting post-it notes on a glass wall.

Studies leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts

Studies leading to the degree of Master of Arts

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.

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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.

Encore

Group approaches research with an attitude, where making, acting and engaging play important roles.

Empirica tutkimusryhmän työtä

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.

Sofia Ilmonen Biocolour

INUSE - Researching Designer-User Relations in Sociotechnical Change

Researches designer-user relations in sociotechnical change.

INUSE transition arena workshop - panorama of indoor space with groups discussing around whiteboards

Design Culture Research Group

Exploring the significance of design in contemporary society.

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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

A spacious hall with people seated and standing, mannequins wearing costumes, and large windows letting in natural light.
Research & Art Published:

Näytös/Näyttely25 award-winning works on display in the Bio Rex lobby

Aalto University and Konstsamfundet are deepening their collaboration. As part of this, the award-winning works of Näytös/Näyttely25 will be showcased in Helsinki city centre at Bio Rex in the Lasipalatsi block.
Aalto ARTS Grad Show poster with abstract shapes in black and white. Dates: 3 Sep - 6 Oct 2025.
Research & Art Published:

Coming soon: Aalto ARTS Grad Show 2025

We're thrilled to invite you to the Aalto ARTS Grad Show 2025 of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture!
Two close-up images of women's legs wearing white and pastel-coloured outfits, with intricate designs and lace detailing.
Research & Art Published:

Aalto’s fashion and textile students part of EMMA Museum’s new exhibition Social Fabric

EMMA Museum’s exhibition Social Fabric explores the ways that fashion is part of our lives and speaks of our cultures and values. Aalto University students are participating in the exhibition with a collective installation as well as two individual works.
Five clear glass sculptures with abstract shapes and human body parts inside, displayed against a dark background.
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

Aalto University participates in Finland's first Glass Biennale

The School of Arts, Design, and Architecture at Aalto University will be prominently featured in the first international Finnish Glass Biennale, taking place from June 5th to 8th, 2025, in Riihimäki, Nuutajärvi, and Iittala.

Events

Department management

 Mikko Jalas

Mikko Jalas

Head of Department, Associate Professor
 Andrea Botero Cabrera

Andrea Botero Cabrera

Head of Doctoral Education, Associate Professor
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

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Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Information for guests

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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

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Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Locations

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