Aalto ARTS Grad Show 2026
Explore the inspiring work of our graduating students in architecture, design, film, art and media!
Welcome to the School of Arts, Design and Architecture!
Art and design open up new perspectives and solutions to the world's big challenges.
Campaigning for a better future
Aalto’s research and innovations impact your everyday life. Whether it’s a breakthrough in detecting memory disorders, a sustainable alternative to cement, or turning ideas into startups, you too are connected to Aalto – and have many reasons to donate.
Current
Doctoral thesis: A film director doesn’t just lead the vision – the creative team also needs leadership
Hanna Maylett’s dissertation, to be examined at Aalto University, identifies two intertwined dimensions in a film director’s artistic leadership: the regulation of the work’s content and the social processes within the production team.
Ornamo Awards '26: The Design Forerunner Award to service designer Mariana Salgado
The Design Forerunner Award goes to service designer Mariana Salgado, who brings design into climate research and builds people’s participation in the sustainability transition.
The Metex Prize 2026 winner is Hana Rehorčíková
The Metex Prize is awarded for excellence in Master’s thesis work done in collaboration with a technology company or to promote the significance and use of design and art in Finnish industry.
Aalto’s Education Impact Award goes to the Department of Film – long-term work is paying off in international success
Aalto ARTS’s Department of Film (ELO) has received the Aalto Education Impact Award in recognition of its high-quality and impactful education.
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?
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The Long Read by Aalto ARTS
Longform stories, in-depth features and profiles, data visualizations and more coming up - enjoy our webmag!
Creativity Unfolded
Aalto University’s blog series Creativity Unfolded focuses on insights linked to creativity in a multitude of ways. Topics include design, technology, media, architecture, film, games, art theory and...
Meet our people
Professor Marco Steinberg: ’We need to change, and we need to do it now’
Professor of Practice in Strategic and Industrial Design says that the world’s most pressing issues, like climate change, won’t be addressed by tinkering at the edges of today’s solutions but rather require a more fundamental redesign.
Professor Ranja Hautamäki: ‘Diverse urban nature is key to increasing well-being and carbon sinks’
Professor of Landscape Architecture is tackling the issues of climate change mitigation and urban carbon sinks.
‘Environmental art education should address the problem of human-centeredness’
‘I claim’ series presents our researchers and the results of their work. Henrika Ylirisku researches the premises of environmental art education.
Julia Lohmann: ‘We know too much and do too little’
Lohmann’s magnificent seaweed pavilion won the sustainable design category for Dezeen Awards 2020.
'We must look to the past, for a lesson in designing buildings for the future'
Architect Karin Krokfors says buildings should be designed to be adaptable over time. And that history holds plenty of examples for us to study.
Aarni Kapanen illustrates Dudes & Feelings podcasts
Fighting toxic masculinity with a podcast and the help of Visual Communication Design.
Aalto Art and Design Cases
Aalto Design Cases is a platform for activity-based creativity and practice-based research in the Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Prominent art at Aalto University
Aalto University promotes visibility and impact of art and creativity both in society and at our own campus. Aalto University uses one percent of building costs to fund art.
Events
Take it or leave it – a recycling event open to all
Welcome to the autum 2026 Recycling Event!
Warm Clouds over the Cool Planet — Workshop
Workshop for critically engaging with material realities behind "the cloud", by turning the planetary resources behind our digital systems something we can see and touch.
Designers in Materials Research – From CHEMARTS to Biodesign
How does design shape the future of bio-based materials? Join us to hear experiences, practical insights and ideas for the future.
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Contact information: School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Where to find us
Väre
Otaniementie 14
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Undergraduate Centre
Otakaari 1