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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.
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.
Majors of the Bachelor's Programme in Design
- Bachelor's Programme in Design and Media
- Muoti, taiteen kandidaatti (only in Finnish and Swedish)
- Muotoilu, taiteen kandidaatti (only in Finnish and Swedish)
Majors of the Master’s Programme in Design
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
Research Groups
Collaborate with us
We offer our partners the opportunity to collaborate with international level designers and design researchers.
Gallery
The gallery of the Department of Design.
News
Would you like a small piece of future design history — shimmering wood?
Coming to the Aalto University Shop this September: a limited batch of 20 unique, handmade works by Shimber, crafted entirely from wood. Each piece is finished with Shimber’s wood‑based structural colour — a material that makes the surface shimmer and come alive with the light.
Keep in touch: a friend book for building your student network
A student team designed a friend book for Aalto University Shop to help students build contacts and make connections.
Emrecan Gulay started as a Data Agent at the School of Business
Aalto Open Research Network has a new member, Emrecan Gulay. Their aim is to support data management practices at the School of BIZ.
Design at the start of the supply chain – Aalto University leads a major EU project to transform textile colouration practices
The EU Horizon-funded MELANGE project brings together design, technology and business to rethink colouration practices in the textile industry and accelerate the transition towards circular and sustainable textile systems.Events
Public defence, Design, MA Annukka Svanda
Participatory service design reveals inequalities in public services and supports the development of more just and inclusive services.
We Design, But We Are Not Designers
In this Design Interrupted panel discussion, we delve into the limits of design as seen from outside its professional confines.
Unfolding Design Culture: practical investigations explores possibilities for a new praxis of design and enquiry.
Symposium on post-solutionist design culture: how Design Culture Studies scholars practice creatively, engage publics, and generate insights beyond project conventions.
Aalto ARTS Grad Show 2026 exhibition grand opening
Join us in celebrating our graduates from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture! Let's meet in Kipsari on 3 September 2026 at 3 p.m.Department management
Department of Design - Personnel
Visit the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Information for guests
Where to find us
Väre
Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture