Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering

Design Factory

Design Factory develops creative ways of working and enhanced interdisciplinary interaction to support world-class product design in educational, research and practical application contexts.
Two students working at the Aalto University Design Factory's PrintLab

Aalto Design Factory is a pioneering hub for product development education, research and practice. Together with diverse stakeholders, the Design factory explores novel formats and insights on development collaboration and interdisciplinary education for innovation. Born as one of the first physical manifestations of Aalto University, a network of over 30 Design Factories across the globe has been formed to support reimagining higher education around product development. 

Whether you're a staff member, student, alumni or represent the surrounding societal and industrial ecosystem, Design Factory aims to lower the threshold for the first steps of experimentation in our university. We pilot new forms of practices in education and development, host a number of courses and research groups, as well as offer prototyping facilities that any student can make use of with the help of our lab masters. 

For more information, visit our complete website at designfactory.aalto.fi.

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Latest publications

AI-based defect detection and self-healing in metal additive manufacturing

Jan Sher Akmal, Kevin Minet, Jukka Kuva, Tatu Syvänen, Pilvi Ylander, Tuomas Puttonen, Roy Björkstrand, Jouni Partanen, Olli Nyrhilä, Mika Salmi 2025 Virtual and Physical Prototyping

Artificial intelligence-aided defect detection and healing in laser-based powder bed fusion

Jan Sher Akmal, Nikan Doosti, Mihai Macarie, Kevin Minet-Lallemand, Jukka Kuva, Tatu Syvänen, Pilvi Ylander, Tuomas Puttonen, Roy Björkstrand, Jouni Partanen, Mika Salmi, Olli Nyrhilä 2025

Extending Design in Organizations : A Meshwork of Organizing, Aligning, and Displaying Actions

Tua A. Bjorklund, Pia Hannukainen, Tuomas Manninen, Sampsa Hyysalo 2025 California Management Review

Navigating Dilemmas: university educators’ journeys in creativity teaching

Xiaoqi Feng, Sara Santos Figueiredo, Pauliina Mattila, Marko Keskinen, Tua Björklund 2025 Teaching in Higher Education

4D printing of electro-activated thermochromic composites for dynamic 3D displays

S. Siddharth Kumar, Wudith W. Niyagama, Jan S. Akmal, Mika Salmi 2025 Materials & Design

The impact of accelerated weathering exposure on the mechanical, thermal and chemical properties of natural insulators : natural cork, agglomerated cork and expanded cork

Guilherme J.A. Sousa, Fábio A.O. Fernandes, Sara Figueiredo, Ana P.F. Caetano, Rui M. Novais, Ricardo J.Alves de Sousa, António B. Pereira 2025 Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

Towards a definition of ‘empathic understanding’ in industrial design practice

Veronica Barnes, L.J. Theo, Vikki Eriksson 2024 The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa

Educating for Innovation

Tua Björklund, Vikki Eriksson, Sara Santos Figueiredo, Floris van der Marel 2024

Increasing interest towards engineering in the context of Nordic STEM outreach activities

Maria Clavert, Jaana Suviniitty, Lenagu Gumaelius, Panagiotis Pantzos 2024 European Journal of Engineering Education

Conceptualising and Recognising Radical Creativity in Art, Architecture and Design

Vikki Eriksson, Tua Björklund 2024 Proceedings of the NordDesign 2024 Conference
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
Research portal
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