School of Arts, Design and Architecture
One of the most prestigious universities in its fields. We educate our students to create imaginative, collaborative, compassionate and unconventional approaches to the most pressing challenges of today.
Experience Aalto University at Helsinki Design Week
Aalto University is once again widely represented in Helsinki Design Week's official programme, all throughout the festival on 8 – 17 September 2023. Come and explore Aalto at HDW through exhibitions and events – see the listing to explore what, where and when!
Helsinki Design Week, 8 – 17 September 2023
Helsinki Design Weekis the biggest design and architecture festival in the Nordics. Revolving around these themes, it provides a perfect platform to showcase the wide expertise, novel perspectives and bold ideas that stem from the Aalto community.
HDW's inspiring, extensive programme consists of exhibitions, fashion shows and hundreds of other events – see the listing below to explore how, where and when to spot Aalto University at HDW. Get ready to dive in!
13–17 Sept / HDW's Main Exhibition – Several exhibitions by Aaltonians.
16 Sept at 11–23 / Living-with Feral Ecologies –A festival curated by Markéta Dolejšová and Gloria Lauterbach, Aalto University.
8–17 Sept / Sound Experiences – A pop-up exhibition at Music Museum Fame by Aalto University Design students, in collaboration with Genelec.
6 Sept – 6 Oct / Designs for a Cooler Planet 2023: Invisible – Science and design festival showcasing creative, multidisciplinary projects and prototypes by Aalto students and researchers.
8 Sept – 1 Oct / DIALOGUES – An Ode to Textile Stories – Exhibition exploring different themes through a multitude of textile works from Aalto University.
7–9 Sept / Pamela Hakala @Liike temporary showroom – Liike presents works from graduates from Aalto Fashion; this year's designer is Pamela Hakala.
13–17 Sept / Habitare – Several works by Aalto community, from students to alumni, on display in the event and numerous Aalto-based speakers on stage during the event.
HDW's Main Venue: Merikortteli
13 – 17 Sept 2023
Merikortteli, Pursimiehenkatu 29, Helsinki
HDW’s Main Exhibition tackles changes in work and living spaces and takes over two floors at the main location, Merikortteli.
Sixth floor presents innovative material solutions, inspiring collaborations and more, displayed by dozens of exhibitors including Aalto-VTT Fold and Aalto WUUD.
First floor showcases multidisciplinary prototypes, installations and new ideas through exhibitions like:
- ARTEFAKTI by Master's of Contemporary Design programme, Aalto University
- PROtoPlay by creators including Josh Krute, Aalto University
- HEHKU by the Interior Architecture Department, Aalto University
- Fashion + Sensibility, where one of the works on display is Miun by Ilona Hyötyläinen, Aalto University
Living-with Feral Ecologies
16 Sept 2023 at 11–23
Puutarhapiha at Lapinlahden Lähde, Lapinlahdenpolku 8, Helsinki
Living-with Feral Ecologies is a one-day, more-than-human festival exploring feral ways of knowing, caring and relating. The festival offers a 12-hour long program of co-creative outdoor activities happening both during the day and at night, and it has been curated by Markéta Dolejšová and Gloria Lauterbach, Aalto University.
Sound Experiences
8 – 17 Sept 2023
Musiikkimuseo Fame, Fredikanterassi 5 A, Helsinki
The pop-up exhibition brings in works that combine sound and design, from speakers to other innovative product concepts – all by Aalto University Design students, in collaboration with Genelec.
Designs for a Cooler Planet 2023: Invisible
6 Sept – 6 Oct 2023
Väre, Otaniementie 14, Espoo & Satellite locations
The collection of exhibitions and events that celebrate multidisciplinary collaboration, bold ideas and creative experiments. This year, the theme is Invisible. What don't we see even though we could – or should?
DIALOGUES – An Ode to Textile Stories
8 Sept – 1 Oct 2023
Central Library Oodi, Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki
The exhibition explores textile narratives, artistic exploration, material solutions and design pedagogy across a multitude of textile works from Aalto University.
Pamela Hakala @Liike temporary showroom
7 – 9 Sept 2023
Liike, Fredrikinkatu 24, Helsinki
During Helsinki Design Week Liike presents works from graduates from Aalto University Fashion. This year's designer is Pamela Hakala.
Habitare
13 – 17 Sept 2023
Helsingin Messukeskus, Messuaukio 1, Helsinki
Habitare is the largest furniture, design and interior decoration event in Finland. It offers experiences and ideas on interior decoration, and on the functioning and look of homes and other spaces. The event highlights the ideas and works by a new generation of designers, and sparks discussion – and Aalto is participating in various ways.
Habitare's Protoshop 2023 exhibition promotes novel design, with numerous prototypes by the Aalto community:
- Tex-lamps by Aalto alumni Yi-Chiao Tien and You-Chia Chen, Studio D-ja
- +30 serial table by Shoko Bamba, master's student of Interior Architecture at Aalto
- Seesaw wall lamp by industrial designer and Aalto alumni Simo Lahtinen
- Series of bee hotels called Block by interior architect and designer Hanna Särökaari, also an Aalto alumni
- Pompom chair by Eveliina Saarentaus, an interior architect student at Aalto
Habitare Design Competition2023 has been jointly organised by Habitare and Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, on the theme “Tools for togetherness”. The winner will be announced on 13 September 2023 at 10:00–10:30 at Habitare, and the finalist designs will be on display throughout the event.
Josh Krute is exhibiting the series of Fantastic Lypsy Stools at6n81 at the Block in Habitare. The series is also part of Designs for a Cooler Planet festival.
You can also spot familiar names – from current Aaltonians to Aalto alumni such as Annaleena Hakola, Yrjö Kukkapuro and Mikko Laakkonen –among the exhibitors and the speakers of this year's Habitare.
Much to explore and enjoy, we'd say!
Designs for a Cooler Planet
Discover tomorrow at Aalto University's biggest exhibition! Open 1 September – 30 October 2026.
Designs for a Cooler Planet 2023 – Events programme
Welcome and participate in Designs for a Cooler Planet 2023 through a variety of different events, from live talk shows to webinars, workshops and guided exhibition tours.
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