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Lotta Partanen moved from design to creating new business

Aalto University alum Lotta Partanen realized that she is more interested in new businesses than in furniture design. She has ended up building and leading VTT's Launchpad business incubator.

Alum Maija Itkonen shapes food and businesses: ‘I want to do things that I can direct my passion towards’

Maija Itkonen, CEO of Onego Bio, is known for popularising the meat alternative Pulled Oats and now also for egg protein made without chickens. She believes business can change the world for the better.

Alum 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.

Reetta Ranta: ‘I try to think about how to make the world a better place’

Alum story: Alum of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture believes that everything we do should involve ethical reflection.

Vesa Kemppainen: ‘An important quality in working life is an interest in new things’

Alum story: Art Director at Fiskars Group Vesa Kemppainen believes that creativity and the ability to make creative decisions are important skills in working life.

Echoing a kindred spirit from a century past

Counsellor of Education Alma Muukka-Marjovuo grew up surrounded by art. Now she works to ensure that all children and young people in Finland have access to top-notch art education.

Designer Lincoln Kayiwa wants to create heirlooms

Finland seemed a bit like destiny for this Ugandan-born entrepreneur and Aalto alumnus.

Architect and designer Talisa Dwiyani combines passion, materials, and collaboration in her work

Indonesia-born Talisa's takeaway from Aalto University is the cross-disciplinary way of working.

From award-winning food packaging to researching biodesign spaces

From an early age, Ena Naito was drawn to both the sciences and design. She found the perfect place to bring those two worlds together.

Alum Ksenia Avetisova is a human at the heart of technology

Ksenia Avetisova moves around the virtual world as part of her job, but what brought her to Finland was a live rock gig.

Irene Purasachit saw the floral industry’s waste problem firsthand – now she makes material for handbags from discarded blooms

Nearly half of cut flowers end up in the trash, never making their way to dinner tables or first dates

Architect of happiness

Finnish architect Kai Wartiainen is based in Sweden, where he is known not only as an ecological designer, but also as a radical thinker.

Artisan of the gaming world

This costume designer switched to virtual clothes.

Extractor of dreams

Service designer Mikko Koivisto is shaking up how we shop at pharmacies and creating soulful soup meals. Last spring, he received the Ornamo Award for his pioneering work in a field that barely existed just ten years ago.

The life of a Hollywood cinematographer

A mix of talent and luck landed cinematographer Peter Flinckenberg in Los Angeles.

A marriage of sorts

Anna Ahonen and Katariina Lamberg own a design studio in Paris. These artistic graphic designers have grown as friends and entrepreneurs.

Minna Lukander is the Alumna of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Architect and CEO of Talli Architecture and Design strives to create functional and meaningful spaces and living environments that promote well-being, community, and a sustainable lifestyle.

Mariana Salgado is the Alumn of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Service design expert speaks for the designers’ role in public policy creation and in helping strengthen participation.

Katja Soini is the Alumna of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

The design professional is Senior Advisor at AFRY working with the built environment. She's also Chair of the design professionals’ association Ornamo. Soini is delighted that design is now recognised as a key factor in business management.

Donor story - Yrjö Sotamaa: ‘Supporting the university is about building our own future’

Professor Emeritus is still an active design influencer both at home and internationally. He is now also a monthly donor to School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Donor story – Helena Hyvönen: ‘The world is built together, without silos’

Helena Hyvönen has had a long career as Professor of Textile Art, Rector and Dean at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and later Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. She believes it is important for the field to have a vibrant community of designers. The designers also have a lot to offer to the university.

For alumni

As an alum, you are part of Aalto community. Let's stay connected and develop together!

Almost 40 percent of alumni survey respondents feel they belong to the Aalto community

Alumni are primarily interested in interaction and networking with other alumni.