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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 911±¬ÁÏ꿉۪s 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

Primary pupils sit spaced at wooden desks in a bright classroom, facing the teacher at the front.
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

The Educational Partnership project is moving forward in Espoo – cooperation between guardians and schools is being developed through participatory methods

The two-year project explores and develops cooperation between guardians and schools using service design methods.
Black text on yellow: “#9 in the world in art & design (QS 2026)†in bold sans serif font.
Research & Art Published:

911±¬ÁÏ꿉۪s art & design ranked 9th in the world

Five of Aalto’s fields placed in the top 100 in the prestigious QS ranking
White panel radiator on a light wall beside a wooden-framed glass door with city view
Research & Art Published:

Energy poverty is not recognized in Finland

According to a recent study by 911±¬ÁÏÍø and the Finnish Environment Institute, about 7–15 percent of Finnish households are energy poor, which at most means around 300,000 homes.
Person from behind in dark coat with large embroidered scene of kneeling figure on dramatic black background
Research & Art Published:

The exhibition "Our land, for all" explores personal and national identity

The 20th anniversary exhibition of the Association of Finnish Fine Arts Foundations, opened at Kunsthalle Helsinki, asks: whose stories is Finland built from? The exhibition has been curated by PhD, docent Annamari Vänskä.

Events

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Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research, Workshops

Aalto AI Talks: Creative practices and generative AI 4.5.2026

Join us for an insightful afternoon exploring AI in creative processes and artistic practice, including copyright and AI-generated content.
Poster over a dark green leaf with white text: Ready to do what matters? Moral Ambition Aalto event details
Conferences

Moral Ambition Aalto Summit

To hear from the experts who are already making change, join us at the Moral Ambition Summit on the 4th and 5th of May 2026!
Abstract design with blue background, white circles, and white geometric shapes.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research

Learn about responsible and ethical use of laboratory resources.
A white pentagon and triangle on a yellow background.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research

Learn about anonymising research data.

Department management

 Mikko Jalas

Mikko Jalas

Head of Department, Associate 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

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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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