Student Guide

Programmes

Master's Programme in Contemporary Design

Programme main page

Curriculum 2018–2020

The master’s degree consists of

Major studies:
- Advanced major studies 60 cr
- Thesis 30 cr
Elective studies 30 cr

Director of the Master's Programme: Professor Maarit Mäkelä

The aim of the degree is to provide students with:

good theoretical and general knowledge of as well as artistic and practical expertise in their field of study as well as a general knowledge of the field of arts;
knowledge and skills needed for independent and demanding artistic work and for multidisciplinary collaboration as well as knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific knowledge and scientific methods;
knowledge and skills to perform, both independently and collaboratively, demanding expert, development and management duties of the field, and to cooperate internationally;
knowledge and skills needed for education leading to a Doctor of Arts (Art and Design) degree and for lifelong learning;
good language and communication skills for work in the field of arts and for international operations and cooperation.

The education shall be based on scientific research and artistic activity and professional practices in the field.

Learning Outcomes of Master's Programme in Contemporary Design

The Contemporary Design Programme supports students to discover and advance their individual creative processes and in linking them to the problem-solving processes and methods of others. Students are working in a multifaceted learning environment that provides support for creativity, as well as critical and analytical thinking. It educates sensitive and visionary students who have skills to propose radical solutions and responsible innovations for the future.

In the programme, students learn strong practical design skills for material productions and experiments. They also learn to profit from emerging technologies and materials in their artistic and design practices. During their studies, students learn to critically reflect and innovate on established design traditions, emerging interpretations of design and their own design practice. The program trains students to display a strong artistic vision and take responsibility, argument and stand behind their work as a designer.

Students are also trained to understand how the field of contemporary design works internationally and how their own work is connected to broader developments in society and commercial opportunities. They gain experience in exhibiting and curatorial practices in the fields of design and contemporary craft, as well as how to connect their work to external partners and sponsors. The graduates are familiar with means to commercialize design and design driven innovations.

The program bridges research and design, and it provides students with strong foundation in practice-based research. The students learn skills in gathering and analyzing information and applying it to design and research. The programme provides students with skills needed to continue in doctoral studies.

Education Content

The Contemporary Design Programme enables designers to nurture an artistic mindset in a multidisciplinary environment that fuels design innovations as well as personal and business engagements. In the program design is understood in a broad sense including experimental and conceptual works from the spheres of critical and speculative design, experimental design, contemporary craft and product design.

The education prepares the students to develop their own creative and experimental processes to explore and materialize ideas, concepts and final designs. Alongside their own creative work, students study in multidisciplinary teams and develop their skills to present, exhibit, produce and commercialize their design works and talent. The education is studio-based with close connections to real life, critically merging features of hands-on material exploration and fabrication with observations of contemporary and emerging phenomena.

Main compulsory studies (48 ECTS) are selected from the Contemporary Design programme’s study offering. The particular contents are to be agreed upon in the making of a Personal Study Plan. Students will participate also to joint studies of the Department of Design (12 ECTS) and will produce a thesis project around a design subject (30 ECTS).

Code	Course name	ECTS credits
Joint studies of the Department of Design		12
MUO-E0000	INTRO	2
MUO-E0010	Design and Culture	4
MUO-E0002	Design Research	4
MUO-E0004	Thesis Seminar	2
Compulsory studies		10
MUO-E5019	Critical Design Practices	10
Alternative studies		38
Students select three of the following courses according ot the personal study plan:
General approach to Design:
MUO-E5009	Experimental Design	10
MUO-E5020	Personal Exploration	10
MUO-E5021	Bio Materiality	10
MUO-E5024	Color and Sensorial Design	10
MUO-E5025	Product and Form I	10
MUO-E5026	Product and Form II	10
MUO-E5027	Design Practice in Social Context	10
MUO-E5028	Curating and Storytelling	10
Advanced competenses with material-specific Design:
MUO-E5022	Product Design in Ceramics	10
MUO-E5023	Glass Challenge	10
SARK-E5016	Woodstudio: Design Project	10
Studies with varying and personalized content
CoDe students completes max. 8 credits from these studies to his/her studies in the major. These studies can also be used as part of the elective studies.
MUO-E5030	Project	2-10
MUO-E5031	Competition	2-10
MUO-E5032	Workshop	2-10
MUO-E5033	Literature Assignment	2-10
MUO-E5029	Internship	2-10

Students choose 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete minor studies and/or take individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University or under JOO agreement from other Finnish universities, participate in an international student exchange programme, or do an internship in Finland or abroad.

Students are highly recommended to undertake courses from schools or departments other than their own discipline, area of expertise or competence as elective studies.

The aim of the elective studies is to widen student's perspective and t-profile by providing understanding, knowledge and skills to design, business and engineering. The list of recommended courses can be found from the link below. Please note that for some of the courses, there might be eligibility and acceptance restrictions. In addition, students need to ensure that they fulfil all the pre-requirements set for the courses.

Recommended courses:

Code	Course name	ECTS credits
MUO-C1044	CHEMARTS Summer School	5-15
CHEM3040	CHEMARTS minor	15-20
CHEM-A1610	Design Meets Biomaterials	3-5
CHEM-E1100	Plant Biomass	5

Elective courses, Aalto cross-school courses:

https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopinnot/Elective+courses

(all the courses except the courses by ARTS)

UWAS-courses:

http://uwas.aalto.fi/

Courses according to Schools:

https://courses.aalto.fi/

Aims of the master's thesis

The objective of the master's thesis is to demonstrate the student's command of the field of the master's programme and ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the programme independently; to demonstrate ability for research-oriented work on an artistic, theoretical or applied research topic and demonstrate ability to use data and source material for research purposes; and to demonstrate good communication skills for work in the field of study. To graduate, students must meet the aims set for the thesis. The aim of the master's thesis is that:

Students demonstrate command of the field of the master's programme and ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the programme independently;
Students demonstrate ability for research-oriented work on an artistic, theoretical or applied research topic and demonstrate ability to use data and source material for research purposes;
Students demonstrate good communication skills for work in the field of study.

The thesis may be a piece of theoretical, artistic or applied research, a work of art or a combination of these; it may also include a production component. The production component may be, depending on the field, for instance, a design, a work of art, an exhibition, or project. Theses always include a written component. If the thesis consists of a design or other production component and a written component, the student must specify the emphasis to be given to the different components in the evaluation. However, the thesis is always evaluated as a whole, with all the components of the thesis included in the evaluation.

The recommended extent of the written component of the thesis is 25–70 pages (approx. 50 000–140 000 characters) depending on the extent of the possible production component.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits
MUO.thes	Master's Thesis	30
ARTSa.matr	Maturity Test	0

For more information on completing your thesis see: Completing your master's thesis

Students educated in Finnish or Swedish

For students educated in Finnish or Swedish, i.e. whose official mother tongue is Finnish or Swedish, language studies are designed to be completed as part of the Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design) or another Bachelor’s degree. Students who have not completed the required language studies before starting to pursue the master’s degrees specified above must complete them either as elective studies or in addition to the studies required for the degree. In such cases, the language requirements are as follows:

Master of Arts (Art and Design):

12 credits: 3 cr in written and oral communication, 3 cr in the second national language of Finland, and 6 cr in one foreign language.

Courses fulfilling language requirements for Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Code	Course name	ECTS credits
Written and Oral Communication		3
Course LCA-7000 Write and Speak Competently for students educated in Finnish, Course LCA-5705 Konsten att tala och skriva professionellt for students educated in Swedish
LCA-7000	Write and Speak Competently	3
LCA-5705	Konsten att tala och skriva professionellt	3
Second national language of Finland		3
LCA-5703	Writing and Talking about Art in Swedish	3
LCA-5704	Foundations of Writing and Talking about Art (Swedish)	4
LCA-5701	National Language Requirement (Swedish) Writing Test)	2
LCA-5702	National Language Requirement (Swedish) Oral Test	1
LCA-7003	National Language Requirement (Finnish) Writing Test	2
LCA-7004	National Language Requirement (Finnish), Oral Test	1
Foreign language: English		6
To fulfil the foreign language requirement (3 cr for the field of technology and 6 cr for the field of arts), students must demonstrate both oral and written skills (marked o+w) in a single language of their choice by taking courses at the CEFR level of B1–B2. In addition to English, the required foreign language studies may be completed in any of the following languages: Spanish, Italian, Chinese, French, German or Russian.
LCA-1008	Writing in Art, Design and Architecture (w)	3
LCA-1009	Talking Art, Design and Architecture (o)	3
LCA-1014	Directed Studies (o/w)	1-4
LCA-1020	Academic Communication for Master's students (o,w)	3
LCA-1022	Academic Writing (w)	3
LCA-1015	Autonomous Language Learning Path (o + w)	3
LCA-1016	Autonomous Language Learning Path II (o + w)	3
LCA-1112	Online Presentation Skills for ARTS (o)	3
LCA-1012	Integrated Written Skills (w)	3
LCA-1013	Integrated Oral Skills (o)	3
LCA-1018	Recognition of prior English learning (AHOT in Finnish; o + w)	6

Students educated in other languages than Finnish or Swedish

For students who have been educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish (i.e. whose official mother tongue is neither Finnish nor Swedish) or who have been educated abroad, the language requirements are:

Master of Arts (Art and Design): 6 cr

Students in this category may fulfil the language requirement for their Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree by completing courses that support their studies or their stay in Finland. Students who have been educated abroad are recommended to take Finnish courses as well as English courses that focus on the field-specific language of arts or technology and fulfil the language requirement of the degree. Students may also choose to fulfil the language requirement by completing courses in another foreign language of their choice; all courses counted towards the requirement must be taken in the same language. Language studies may either be counted towards the electives of the degree or completed in addition to the studies required for the degree.

For details on the language courses offered, see the Language Centre page.

Centre for General Studies (YoYo) offers a variety of art and theory courses which can be included in the elective studies.

Drawing and painting

Drawing and painting courses consist of two-dimensional expression carried out by various methods. The work involved emphasises the importance of practice, or ‘learning by doing’, but without losing sight of the connections to theory. The studies include working with drawing, painting and mixed-media. The student will gain increased awareness of the workings of visual perception and of different ways of describing the surrounding world and our relationship to it. The course also examines the role of ideas and concepts in art as well as art’s relation to design, its role in society and its significance.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
Drawing and painting
ARTS-A0608	General Studies Courses with Varying Contents	2-10	Finnish / English	I, II. III, IV or V
ARTS-A0201	Freehand Drawing	6	English (Finnish)	I-II
ARTS-A0213	Watercolour Workshop	4	English (Finnish)	Summer
ARTS-A0209	Drawing and Painting Workshop, BA	6	Finnish	III-IV
ARTS-A0214	Life Drawing for Comic Artists	1	Finnish (English)	I
ARTS-A0211	Life Drawing A	6	Finnish (English)	I-II
ARTS-A0212	Life Drawing B	6	Finnish (English)	III-IV
ARTS-A0215	Drawing in Space	2	Finnish (English)	V
ARTS-A0216	Drawing and Narrative	2	Finnish (English)	V
ARTS-A0217	Landscape - Then and Now	3	Finnish (English)	IV
ARTS-A0218	Basics of Comic Art	6	Finnish (English)	I-II
ARTS-A0206	Comics Workshop	1	Finnish (English)	I
ARTS-A0220	Comic Art Project	6	Finnish (English)	III-IV
ARTS-A0219	Forms of Comics Expression and Storytelling	6	Finnish (English)	I-II
ARTS-E0201	Painting Workshop (MA)	6	English (Finnish)	I-II, III-IV

Colour and perception

Colour and perception studies focus on visual perception and the theories about it. The English-language version of the course contains both theory and practical assignments. The course covers basic concepts about colour and the principles of colour perception. The course covers basic colour concepts and principles of colour perception. Colour composition and contrasts and their effects – mainly in two-dimensional expression – are studied by experimental means. The course ‘Colour-light-space’ is aimed mainly at Master’s students of architecture, interior architecture and landscape architecture. Through lectures and assignments, it deals with the role of colour and lighting in architecture and in building a city’s image.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
Colour and perception
ARTS-A0303	Varying Courses in Colour and Perception	2-10	Finnish	I, II, III, IV or V
ARTS-E0301	Colour - Light - Space	6	Finnish	III-IV
ARTS-A0302	Colour and Perception	4	English	II

Sculpture

Sculpture studies provide students with the skills needed to work with contemporary sculpture and design. Skills that students can apply in their own fields are emphasised, such as how to research new materials, working methods and methodologies. The ‘Ways of Making’ courses offer practical experience working in a sculptor’s studio, and ‘Metal Casting’ introduces foundry techniques. ‘Digital Sculpture’ introduces new and developing technologies in 3D art, and ways to combine these with traditional sculptural techniques. Conceptual and theory-intensive sculpture studies are also included within the contemporary art courses programme.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
Sculpture
ARTS-A0400	Sculpture Courses with Varying Contens	2–10	English / Finnish	I, II, III, IV or V
ARTS-A0404	Ways of Making 1 – Mold making & casting techniques	5	English (Finnish)	Summer
ARTS-A0411	Ways of Making 2 – Constructing sculpture with wood and metal	5	English (Finnish)	IV
ARTS-A0409	Ways of Making 3 – Kinetic & robotic sculpture	2-4	English (Finnish)	IV
ARTS-A0412	Digital Sculpture 1 – 3D modelling for Sculpture	3	English (Finnish)	I
ARTS-A0407	Digital Sculpture 3 – Programming for sculptors	2	English (Finnish)	III
ARTS-A0413	Metal Casting 101	3	English (Finnish)	I
ARTS-A0414	Synths & Amps	3	English (Finnish)	III
ARTS-A0415	Sonic Sculpture	5	English (Finnish)	II
ARTS-E0400	Advanced Metal Casting	3	English (Finnish)	IV
ARTS-E0401	Advanced Sculpture Project	4	English (Finnish)	II-IV
ARTS-E0710	Digital Workshop Basics	1-2	English	I, II, III and IV

Printmaking

Printmaking involves the handcrafting of printing plates as well as the prints produced by various methods (copperplate, woodblock, limestone, mesh screen). Prints are regarded as original artworks. Basic courses in printmaking offer the rudiments in a variety of printing techniques and develop the student’s command of the tools used. The intermediate courses deepen the knowledge and skill levels of students in their chosen method and enlarge their range of artistic expression. As printmaking is a specialisation study, beginners are recommended to take it during their second year of Bachelor’s studies.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
Printmaking
ARTS-A0502	Introduction to Silkscreen	3	English (Finnish)	I-II and III-IV
ARTS-A0503	Advanced Course in Screen Printing	3	English (Finnish)	IV-V (spring 2019)
ARTS-A0504	Introduction to Intaglio	3	English (Finnish)	I-II and III-IV
ARTS-A0505	Advanced Course in Intaglio	3	English (Finnish)	IV-V (spring 2019)
ARTS-A0506	Japanese Watercolour Woodcut	3	English (Finnish)	I-II
ARTS-A0507	Basic Course in Woodcut	3	English (Finnish)	III-IV

Contemporary art

Most of the contemporary arts courses focus on the production of art. In addition, the courses update students on the respective expressive forms of contemporary art today, including their current trends, recent histories and ways of operating. While the thematic content of the courses is defined by the teacher, the main emphasis is on themes and concerns of interest to the students themselves.
While the contemporary art courses are aimed at the Master’s level, Bachelor’s as well as Doctoral students may also attend or seek admission. Most of the courses are taught in English.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
Contemporary art
ARTS-E0706	Contemporary Art Courses with Varying Contents	2–10	Finnish /English	I, II, III, IV or V
ARTS-E0700	Aistien maailma / The Realm of the Senses	4–8	Finnish / English	III-IV (Spring 2020)
ARTS-E0701	Contemporary Drawing	6	English (Finnish)	III-V
ARTS-E0709	Media Intervention in the City	5	English (Finnish)	IV (Spring 2019)
ARTS-E0708	Sculpture Now!	5	English (Finnish)	III
ARTS-E0707	Hey, We´re in Space! / An Introduction to Installation Art	4	English (Finnish)	IV-V (Spring 2019)
ARTS-E0705	Reality Show / Performance Art Course	2	English (Finnish)	V (Spring 2020)

Art history and theory

Art history and theory courses aim to provide a general overview of the history and key theoretical questions and conceptions of art, design and architecture. The courses also discuss the relationship of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture with social change and cultural history. Seeking to enrich student understanding of their own fields, a particular goal of the classes in theory is to clarify critical concepts and thereby boost the abilities of students to resolve problems in their respective areas. History and theory classes in art and design build competencies relevant to research-based knowledge.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
Art history and theory
ARTS-A0601	Art History Courses with Varying Contents	2–10	Finnish / English	I, II, III, IV or V
ARTS-A0612	Nykytaiteen historia	4	Finnish	I-II
ARTS-A0607	History of Comics	2	Finnish	I
ARTS-A0609	Taiteen evoluutio	2	Finnish	I-II (Autumn 2019)
ARTS-A0617	Unfolding the Narrative. Contemporary view on Finnish Art History	3	English	II
ARTS-A0618	Unfolding the Narrative. Contemporary view on Finnish Design History	3	English	IV
ARTS-A0620	Dressing up: Fashion and Clothing in European History	2	English	II
ARTS-E0601	The Philosophy of Knowledge and Skills	4	Finnish	I-II (Autumn 2018)
ARTS-E0603	Seminar of Environmental Thinking, Aesthetics and Art	3	English	I
ARTS-E0604	Global Perspectives: Re-mapping the History of Art	4	English	III-IV

Digital Arts

The Digital Arts courses introduce students to the basic skills needed to work with screen based and digital arts. Students can learn how to use tools such as digital cameras and software that are widely used in all areas of creative work. Programming for artists introduces visual artists and designers to the wider world of computer programming.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Language of instruction	Period
ARTS-A0700	Photography and Image Processing	4	Finnish (English)	IV
ARTS-A0701	Digital art 1 - programming for visual artists	2	English (Finnish)	IV
ARTS-A0702	Digital painting and vector illustration (online course)	6	Finnish	I-II and IV-V
ARTS-A0608	General Studies Courses with Varying Contents	2–10	Finnish / English	I, II, III, IV or V

Published: 9.8.2022
Updated: 15.8.2023