Department of Design

Design for Sustainability

Our sustainability research includes the development of new sustainable materials – especially fibres - research on product-service systems for sustainability, sustainable consumption and research on sustainability transitions.

Julia Lohmannin Hidaka Ohmu. Kuva: Mikko Raskinen
Professor Julia Lohmann research with seaweed

The sustainable design research is closely connected with the NODUS, Fashion/Textiles Futures and INUSE research groups as well as the Creative Sustainability Master’s programme.

Examples of current funded projects

Creatures project logo

CreaTures: Creative Practices for Transformational Futures

CreaTures: Creative Practices for Transformational Futures aims at demonstrating effective paths to achieving sustainability, social cohesion and peaceful co-existence at a time of rapid change.

Department of Design
We need systemic and fundamental changes in the textile and fashion industry’s business model.

Sustainable textile systems: Co-creating resource-wise business for Finland in global textile networks (FINIX)

Sustainable textile systems: Co-creating resource-wise business for Finland in global textile networks (FINIX) is a joint research project with the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto Design Research among others.

Department of Design
Creative Teamwork in action

Towards Eco-Welfare State: Orchestrating for Systemic (ORSI)

Towards Eco-Welfare State: Orchestrating for Systemic (ORSI) is a joint research project between Tampere University, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto Design Research.

Department of Design

Sustainability News at the Department of Design

Aerial view of a green rooftop garden next to a parking lot with several cars and surrounding buildings.
Research & Art Published:

Funding for impact assessment research concerning the Helsinki Capital region available

Funding call of the Urban Impact project (Kaupunkivaikutus) is open until 11. October 2026.
Upward view between two rough tree trunks with green leaves, framing a bright cloudy blue sky
Aalto Magazine, Campus, University Published:

Pioneers, pollinators, and standing deadwood

Aalto University’s campus is home to thousands of species. Nature recovers and flourishes through gentle care and room to grow.
Cartoon of people growing larger as they walk, crushing green figures and flowers beneath their feet
Aalto Magazine, Research & Art Published:

We need growth – but what exactly are we growing?

Governments demand it, companies promise it, and universities are expected to deliver it. Growth is widely seen as the answer to debt, competitiveness, and the future of the welfare state itself. But what do we actually mean by growth – and what kind of growth are we aiming for?
Shimber's decorative wooden blocks and cones with floral and mosaic patterns
Cooperation, University Published:

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.

See the other foci of Aalto Design Research

Aalto Sustainability Hub community

Codesign and Human-Centred Design

Codesign and Human-Centred Design research includes co-design, service design, interaction design, user experience, end-user innovation and open design.

Department of Design
Shimmering Wood photos by Eeva Suorlahti

Materials, Textile & Fashion Design

Research on fashion and textile design and design strategies, and textile and fashion knowledge building, particularly sustainable fashion and textiles.

Department of Design
Prof. Maarit Mäkelä and her work

Practice-Based Design Research

Practice-based design research includes artistic research, design-driven exploration on emerging technologies and materials, and the action research–oriented development of new design methods and approaches.

Department of Design
Aalto Design Research
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