All members of the Aalto community—from all schools and from researchers to students and staff—are welcome to apply.

Apply by filling this online application by 26.1.2026

Exhibition application criteria:

• The proposal addresses a sustainability challenge
• The proposal has some societal impact or potential for impact
• The proposal explores a new phenomenon or topic
• The proposal can attract interest beyond its specific field

Ways to participate in the exhibition:

1. Apply to the Marsio Main Exhibition – 10–15 independent projects will be selected.
2. Organize an open event – such as a seminar, open studio tour, or workshop.
3. Register a satellite exhibition – on campus or off campus.

You can propose a project that will be completed in spring or summer 2026. Projects that have previously participated in Cooler Planet are also welcome if they include new developments.

You can propose an event or satellite exhibition if it takes place during Designs for a Cooler Planet in September–October (exact dates to be confirmed later).

How do we select projects?

The expert jury will choose projects that best fit the overall exhibition, complement each other, have societal impact, or explore new phenomena. The final program should also reflect the diversity of Aalto University’s disciplines as evenly as possible.

We particularly emphasize:

• Research and innovations that support the development of industries and the creation of new sustainable solutions.
• Solutions and approaches that promote well-being and a good, happy everyday life.

The primary audience for the exhibition is stakeholders outside the university. Therefore, content should be engaging for people outside the specific field, accessible to a general audience, and inspiring.

Evaluation is based on a comprehensive review, taking into account factors such as feasibility, sustainability and/or well-being perspective, solution-oriented approach, societal impact, accessibility to a general audience, interdisciplinarity, and presentation. Exhibitions must include something concrete to showcase, and events should attract interest beyond the field.

A successful exhibition presents its main points concisely, using clear examples, prototypes, and visualizations. In previous exhibitions, visitors have praised how projects concretely illustrate Aalto’s research and teaching.

A successful event has a clear message and target audience. Designs for a Cooler Planet events are open to everyone. For audiences outside the academic community, content that connects to socially significant topics or everyday life is particularly engaging.

The jury’s decisions will be communicated to all applicants by March 2026 at the latest.

Jury members, Aalto University
Paula Haikarainen, Managing Editor, Aalto University Magazine
Minna Hölttä, Managing Editor
Jussi Impiö, Senior expert, Green Transition
Pirita Posti, Manager, Corporate Relations
Katja Rönkkö, Senior Communication Specialist
Salu Ylirisku, Senior University Lecturer
Enni Äijälä, Senior Communications Specialist

Designs for a Cooler Planet will take place in September–October 2026 (exact dates to be announced later).

The main exhibition will be open for two months at the Marsio Building (Otakaari 2, Espoo).

Events such as seminars, open studio days, and workshops can be held on-site or online. All events must take place within the exhibition period. In 2025, several projects rented the Saastamoinen Foundation Stage or the cinema next to the Marsio main exhibition for their events, but events can also be organized elsewhere on campus.

The program can also include satellite exhibitions held elsewhere on campus or in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

Communications and event promotion will start in spring, with the first event announcements made before summer. The opening of the main exhibition will be celebrated in the first days of September.

Our partner event, Helsinki Design Week, will take place 28 August–6 September 2026.

We are looking for societal impact and visibility. The event invites a wide range of people, from decision-makers and school students to international media, foundations, donors, corporate partners, and alumni. In addition, Designs for a Cooler Planet introduces Aalto to new students and researchers.

Your work will reach a large audience. For many, the work done at the university only becomes visible through the exhibition. Each year, the event attracts well over 10,000 visitors.

You will receive support in presenting your work. Projects selected for the main exhibition are assisted with communications and visual presentation to ensure your work is showcased in the most engaging and impactful way.

New opportunities will open up. The exhibition enhances your project’s visibility and potential. Every year, we connect researchers and students with new stakeholders and media.

Exhibiting is a great way to distill and concretize your research for an external audience. Each year, the exhibition includes research projects that have never been displayed before. We collaborate with you to develop the content for the main exhibition.

Events and satellite exhibitions are promoted as part of the overall Cooler Planet program, through both university channels and Helsinki Design Week channels.

We also reuse some projects in new contexts. Over the years, Cooler Planet content has been showcased at Aalto’s Slush and Dutch Design Week booths, at COP climate conferences, in the European Parliament in Brussels, and at the Circular Economy Forum organized by Sitra.

There is no participation fee for Designs for a Cooler Planet, and campus exhibition spaces are free of charge. For some of the largest seminar rooms, the university charges a rental fee.

You are primarily responsible for the production and implementation of your project or event, but the exhibition team can provide support in planning and execution.

Main Exhibition at Marsio – the team provides:

• Booking and rental of the exhibition space
• Exhibition tables (special structures must be arranged by the participant) and support in planning the display
• Refining the main message and texts, and producing content for the aalto.fi website
• Promotion of the exhibition through Aalto’s channels, on campus, and as part of Helsinki Design Week, including guided tours for international and Finnish media
• Guided tours for key stakeholders
• A curated media image bank
• Studio photography days for your products; the images remain available for your project’s future use

Satellite Exhibition – the team provides:

• Visibility in the Cooler Planet program as part of the overall event
• Access to a shared media image bank
• Opportunity to borrow exhibition structures and IT equipment from Takeout
• The exhibition organizer is primarily responsible for the project production, costs as well as booking and renting the exhibition space.

Events – the team provides:

• Visibility in the Cooler Planet program as part of the overall event
• Assistance in creating a project page on aalto.fi
• The event organizer is primarily responsible for booking the venue, costs and producing the event.

Designs for a Cooler Planet is Aalto University’s largest annual exhibition.

The university’s communications team is primarily responsible for the event. In addition, the university leadership, Corporate Relations, Donor Engagement, Aalto Networking Platform, Innovation Services, and Aalto Studios Takeout are involved.

The event is part of the official program of Helsinki Design Week and the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative.