Department of Design

Department of Design

AALTO_b-9344_Original.jpg _OE_4723_Original.jpg

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 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 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

Black text on yellow: “#9 in the world in art & design (QS 2026)” in bold sans serif font.
Research & Art Published:

Aalto University’s 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 Aalto University 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.
HiFive research group: Joni Lappalainen, Juho Silmukari, Martina Čaić, Anna Viljakainen, Virpi Roto. Photo: Mikko Raskinen
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

Design strengthens industrial competitiveness – human-centered factory work at the core

Factory work is undergoing a transformation: new technologies and artificial intelligence are changing the content and roles of work. Aalto University’s Department of Design is studying this change from a human-centered perspective in the HiFive project.

Events

Yellow background with white circles and rectangles arranged in a pattern.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research
A person stands in front of a screen displaying 'Marsio Presents: Creative Teaching in the Age of AI'.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research, Workshops

Marsio Presents, 15 April 2026: Creative Teaching in the Age of AI

Marsio Presents: Creative Teaching in the Age of AI is a morning event for Aalto educators interested in how AI is reshaping pedagogy. Hear short, concrete cases from colleagues on using AI in teaching, assessment, and course design. Join to gain practical ideas, discuss ethical questions, and reflect together on what meaningful teaching looks like in the age of AI.
Red background with white geometric shapes.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research
Abstract image with blue background and white geometric shapes, including a circle and a pentagon.
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, IT & digital tools, Support for teams, Training to support research

Department management

 Mikko Jalas

Mikko Jalas

Head of Department, Associate Professor
 Kirsi Niinimäki

Kirsi Niinimäki

Vice Head of Department, 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.

Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Information for guests

A symbol of a square with a dot in it visualizing forms

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

Väre

Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Locations

Follow us

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!