The Collaborative and Industrial Design study option extends industrial design into interaction design, service and social design, co-design, and other emerging fields where design activities can enhance the quality of the environment and people’s lives. Students learn empathic, critical, strategic, and technical competencies and capabilities needed in design processes, being encouraged to explore novel roles in design and industry.
Over the duration of their major studies, students will develop an understanding of design in relation to innovation and contemporary culture, be it local or global, private, or public. They will learn design execution and leadership in multi-disciplinary contexts, shaping change in communities and companies.
Collaborative and Industrial Design is one of the three majors of the Master’s Programme in Design, the others being Fashion and Textile Design and Contemporary Design. The Design programme collaborates closely with the Master’s programmes in Creative Sustainability and International Design Business Management. All are two-year programmes, whereby students graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Design.
Aalto University is globally ranked in the top ten in the field of art and design by QS World University Ranking. The world-class teaching and facilities ensure that, upon graduating from the study option, graduates are able to:
Please see the intended learning outcomes of the study option at the Programme page.
In the Collaborative and Industrial Design studies, the language of instruction is English.
The tuition fee for this programme is 20 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.
Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.
More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.
The Master’s Programme in Design – Collaborative and Industrial Design comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. Main compulsory studies are selected from the major’s study offering. Students participate in joint studies of the Department of Design and produce a master’s thesis (30 ECTS). In addition, students choose elective studies according to their Personal Study Plan.
The first study period is reserved for grounding the students with principles of human-centred design. After this, the study paths become more personalised, though the spring semester begins with a mandatory interaction design course for everyone. The programme offers flexibility to choose courses both within and beyond the core curriculum, allowing students to tailor their studies to their interests.
The second study year is dedicated to the master’s thesis. In the autumn semester it is initially developed alongside the course work and usually becomes a full-time focus in the spring. The master’s thesis enables students to showcase their ability to conduct and report an individual study or project, in contrast to course projects that are usually team-based and collaborative.
Some department-level joint studies bring the students of different MA programmes together, such as Design Research.
For further information about studies see Student guide under Curriculum
In the Collaborative and Industrial Design major, students specialise in one of three areas: service and social design, industrial design and product development, or interaction design and UX.
The scope of study expands towards collaborative design processes, the use of interactive technologies and the design of services, whether in a social context or in business. Human beings as social, embodied, cognitive and perceptive agents are at the centre of design activity.
Besides the courses focusing on primary specialisation, students can select elective studies either from within the programme, from other degree programmes, or from available minor programmes. The curriculum, supported by Aalto's other schools, allows students to focus in depth on their area of interest. In project courses, students with different study paths often contribute and merge their knowledge and skills, creating a fruitful learning experience.
In the beginning of their studies, the students prepare a Personal Study Plan with the support of their academic advisor to facilitate a meaningful, ambitious development roadmap.
Upon joining Aalto University, students are welcomed to an international community of competent, creative, and responsible individuals. 15 % of the students and 40 % of the faculty in the University come from across the world, bridging students with the global design network. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture has strong connections to other leading design schools and universities across the globe. Students are encouraged to apply for internships and exchange studies as well as gain experience by taking part in international competitions, exhibitions, conferences, and trade fairs to further enrich their personal learning path.
As the studies at CoID are strongly grounded in theory, they prepare the graduates to also continue their studies towards a doctoral degree at Aalto University or at another university in Finland or abroad.
With a focus on design innovation, CoID provides students with a deep understanding of the role of design in society and advanced skills to work as designers in their field of specialisation. They grow into thought leaders in the industry, entrepreneurs or innovators in the private or public sector.
Design research in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is at the international forefront of sustainable design, practice-based design, human-centred design and co-design. Our research environment foster goal-oriented research, imaginative experimentation, critical debate and transdisciplinary collaboration.
Research teams in the Department of Design and beyond contribute directly to the teaching of many CoID courses. Some courses have research project-related assignments.
Multidisciplinary cooperation between the six schools at Aalto University is extensive. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture has a long tradition of successfully collaborating with external partners on projects and courses and maintains close relationships with various external stakeholders. Companies, research institutes, for-profit, not-for-profit and public organisations often turn ÄűĂʵĽş˝ University as one of Europe's leading design schools to work with students on real-world societal problems and business opportunities.
Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that have been decided in advance for each study option. The applications to the Master’s Programme in Design - Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID) will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
Phase I
| Artistic and/or design practice | |
| What is evaluated | Demonstrations of artistic and/or design work or assignments |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements | High quality of selected works in the portfolio, both substance (strength of presented concept or solution) and presentation. Relevance of them for the programme objectives. Ability to raise interest by presenting some works concisely, but informatively. |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Portfolio assessed together with CV and Motivation letter |
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements | Well-articulated motivation and reasoning for applying to the programme, including a link to the earlier experiences (studies, work, other). Well-articulated, sensible, and impactful description about the plans going forward after the studies. |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Motivation Letter supported with degree certificate(s) |
| Other areas of competence | |
| What is evaluated | Work experience and other acquired knowledge/achievements e.g. publications, non-formal education, competitions |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements | Clearly articulated description of relevant experience in fields relevant to design, and as a productive member of society. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Curriculum vitae |
Phase II
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements | Well-articulated motivation and reasoning for applying to the programme, including a link to the earlier experiences (studies, work, other). Well-articulated, sensible, and impactful description about the plans going forward after the studies. |
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Interview |
The applicants will be first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements. Applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that have been decided in advance for each study option.
The selection process for applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises two phases:
Phase I
In Phase I, the applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria
Only the applicants who fulfill the requirements/are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to phase II in the selection process.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria
Part of the applicants is invited to the second phase. The invitation to the second phase is sent to the applicants at the latest seven days in advance.
The second phase consists of an interview, which will be conducted online.
After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint evaluation from Phases I and II.
The documents required from all applicants are listed on the Aalto University website: /en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes. In addition, applicants for this study option are required to provide the following study-option-specific documents:
Portfolio
In the portfolio, applicants display work that shows their designerly insights and skills. The portfolio must contain diverse samples of the applicant’s previous scientific, professional and/or design projects.
Designwork can be provided as technical drawings, computer renderings, sketches, illustrations, storyboards or photographs. Include 4-6 work samples in the portfolio of 4-14 pages. The work contained in the portfolio must be catalogued, listing at least the title and/or theme, purpose and year of completion of each piece. The catalogue must also detail where and when the work has been completed, exhibited, displayed or published. Each work should be accompanied by a brief explanation. The contribution of the applicant to the work should be stated in case the work has been completed in a group. The applicant’s name, address and phone number and the degree programme applied for must be indicated clearly on the portfolio.
The portfolio should be uploaded as a single PDF-file. Maximum size for the portfolio is 30 MB and it can include maximum of 14 pages, larger ones will not be evaluated, even if the system allows uploading larger ones. Name the file as: Portfolio-surname-firstname.pdf. The intake committee will only evaluate the material displayed in the PDF file. Links to external material (e.g. website) or video material will not be considered during the intake process. The portfolios may be examined on a laptop display of ca. 14”. It is highly advisable to use e.g., 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio.
CV
Applications must include the applicant’s CV indicating personal data, educational background, work experience, exhibitions, publications and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust.
Motivation letter
Write a motivation letter explaining your reasons for applying for this major and your particular interest(s) in the field as well as your goals and expectations for the studies to be completed at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Describe your strengths and interests, a vision of art and design, aspects related to the work and creative goals.
The letter of motivation must clearly answer the following questions:
The maximum length of the motivation letter is 2000 characters, including spaces and special characters.
Language of application documents
All the application documents should be submitted in English.
The studies in Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID) focus on design's role in society. Students develop skills enabling them to work as design experts and leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in a range of roles within industry, business, communities, education, and the public sector.
BUBA is a device including a set of instruments designed for remote contact with a doctor. It will allow you to perform basic check-ups on your child without having to visit the doctor’s office.
Heimdall and team "FireFlys" aim to deploy advanced sensing technologies on UAVs for effective and efficient early detection and continuous monitoring of forest fires, addressing the growing severity and impact of such disasters.
Student projects included a website for advice on long-distance relationships for Väestöliitto and an Instagram campaign aimed at recruiting members for the Women's Line.
Learning Services at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.
arts-admissions@aalto.fi
Admissions Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admissions Services.
admissions@aalto.fi
