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Course information

Learning outcomes

After successful completion, the student is able to

1. define and recognise innovations and distinguish them from novelties
2. discuss and elaborate on the design profession’s impact upon society and culture
3. explain how the design profession has evolved and understands the reasons for the changes.

Content

It is well-established fact that design and innovations have a powerful impact on the planet, but there is little existing discussion about innovations and design together. Therefore, in this course, we study the intertwined history of innovations and design, and how these two fields have influenced, for better or worse, each other. A common reference point in the discussion is to see how innovations and design conventions have contributed to the sustainability of the environment, economy, and the planet’s living beings. The course consists of recorded lectures that students explore independently. Learning is supported with assignments with set deadlines.

History of Innovations and Design is one of the joint compulsory courses for all the students of the Bachelor's programmes of Design and Fashion and BA Design in English.

Teacher

Heidi Paavilainen

Study material

Recorded lecture videos and other materials are provided in MyCourses.

Workload

Study methods: Studying recorded lectures online, assignments. Optional online discussion groups are possible but not guaranteed.

Workload amounts to 81 hours of student's work (1 cr = 27 h)

• Independent work 64 h
• Personal reflection 16 h
• Giving course feedback 1 h

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Evaluation

Course assignments.

Teaching time and location

The course is a self-study course and has no lectures.

The teaching time and the location of the course can be found at 

1. The link leads to Completion methods tab of the course page
2. From the top of the page (Version drop-down menu), check that academic year 2025-2026 is selected  

3. From the blue bar, click Lecture and open the Groups and teaching times tab to see the teaching time and the location of the course. Exam times can be seen by clicking Exam.
    

   Exam instructions at the Open University

The teacher has four (4) weeks to grade the exam submissions starting from the exam date.

Further information

Equivalences to other courses: MUO-C0001 Muotoilun rooli ja merkitys 
 

Online learning environment for the course  

MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching.

Digital workspace of the course:

More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.

Registration and course fee

Registration for Open University courses is done via the link below: 

Registration for this course starts on 4.8.2025 at 9.00  
Registration for this course ends on 19.10.2025 at 23.59

It is not possible to register before the registration period has started or after it has ended.

This course is organized by the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rules

Activating Aalto ID and Multifactor Authentication

You can activate your Aalto User ID the day after the registration and you should activate it no later than the day before the start of the course.
Instructions for activating your Aalto user ID

Once you have activated your Aalto user ID, also enable multifactor authentication. Some of Aalto University's services require multifactor authentication.

Instructions for using Multifactor Authentication