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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.

Go ÄûÃʵ¼º½ 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.

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 crowd gathered in a modern building with large windows and wooden accents, watching a speaker on stage.
Research & Art, University Published:

Connecting the creative community – Aalto ARTS launches newsletter and LinkedIn page

The School of Arts, Design and Architecture has launched a new Friends of Aalto ARTS newsletter and opened its own LinkedIn page.
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Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Young Designer of the Year 2025 is Enni Lähderinne

Lähderinne challenges the way fashion maintains certain body images and builds more acceptance towards all kinds of human bodies.
A collage of various, diverse, and colourful fashion collections on models.
Cooperation, Research & Art, Studies Published:

Aalto Fashion Showroom 2025 in Paris

Aalto University’s BA and MA graduates in Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design will present their collections in the Aalto Fashion Showroom, held during Paris Fashion Week.
Niina Malkamäki / Aalto University
Cooperation Published:

Alumn Salla Lonka implements a culture of experimentation in a home appliance company

Salla Lonka finds it fascinating to examine creative processes from a distance, focusing on efficiency and impact. After completing her master's degree in fashion design, she ended up at a global home appliance company in Stockholm.

Events

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

Aalto AI Talks: Studying and Teaching with AI 21.10.2025

Studying and Teaching with AI: challenges and opportunities
Text on the yellow background: Current trends in OA publishing: Introduction to Rights Retention Strategy (RRS)
Information sessions, Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

Current trends in open access publishing: Introduction to Rights Retention Strategy (RRS), Oct 21, 2025

Learn about the Rights Retention Strategy (RRS) with experts from Legal and Research Services.
Red and white graphic with text 'Prompt engineering for researchers' and two circular photographs of Enrico Glerean and Pedro Silva.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research

Prompt engineering for researchers, Oct 23, 2025

Learn how to create effective prompts when using AI tools.
Pedro Silva and Enrico Glerean, text: Artificial intelligence and responsible conduct of research. Yellow and white background.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research

Artificial intelligence and responsible conduct of research, Oct 29, 2025

Learn how to use AI in research ethically and responsibly.

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

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

The Aalto ARTS Handbook provides information, instructions and tips on issues related to communications and community.

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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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School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Locations

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