Magisterprogrammet i Design

The Master’s Programme in Design offers three majors for specializing in Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID), Contemporary Design (CoDe) and Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design (FaCT). Overall, the programme comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. All students participate in joint studies of the Department of Design, and select compulsory studies from the major’s study offering. In addition, they choose elective studies according to their Personal Study Plan, and produce a thesis project around a design subject.

The Master’s Programme in Design collaborates closely with the Master’s Programmes in Creative Sustainability (CS) and International Design Business Management (IDBM). All are two-year programmes, whereby students graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Design.

After completing the degree in Design the graduates are able to:

• Create future oriented services and systems as a member of a multidisciplinary or trans-disciplinary team and/or as an individual designer.
• Combine creativity, curiosity, continuous renewal and expression with analytical skills and practice.
• Understand how to lead and communicate design-driven, often complex processes with empathy, critical thinking and research-founded reasoning.
• Comprehend how design contributes to socio-material transformations for a sustainable future.
• Undertake design research to build knowledge to support and justify the practical work, and to possibly apply for education leading to a Doctor of Arts degree.

Code: ARTS3051
Credits: 90 ECTS credits
Head of major: Severi Uusitalo

Pääaine suomeksi: Yhteissuunnittelu ja teollinen muotoilu
Huvudämne på svenska: Co-design och industridesign

Major description:

The students in Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID) focus on design's role in society. Students develop skills enabling them to work as design entrepreneurs and innovators in a range of roles within industry, business, communities, education, and public sector. The studies extend industrial design into interaction design, service design, co-design, and other emerging fields where design activities can enhance the quality of the environment and people’s lives. Students learn empathic, critical, strategic, and technical competencies and capabilities needed in design innovation processes. They are also encouraged to explore novel roles in design and industry. 

Over the duration of the major studies, students will develop an understanding of design in relation to innovation and contemporary culture, be it local or global, private or public. The students will also develop an extensive ability to design, lead design projects, and collaborate with designers and non-designers, and thus become able to shape change in communities and companies. 

Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID) is one of the three majors of the master’s programme in Design, others being Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design (FaCT) and Contemporary Design (CoDe). In addition, the master’s programme in Design collaborates closely with the master’s programmes in Creative Sustainability (CS) and International Design Business Management (IDBM). All are two-year programmes, whereby students graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Design.

Major's intended learning outcomes:

After completing a Master’s degree in Design in the major of Collaborative and Industrial Design, the graduates are able to  

• create future oriented products, services and systems as a member of a multidisciplinary or trans-disciplinary team and/or as an individual designer.
• combine creativity, curiosity, continuous renewal and expression with analytical skills and practice.
• understand how to lead and communicate design-driven, often complex processes with empathy, critical thinking and research-founded reasoning.
• comprehend how design contributes to socio-material transformations for a sustainable future.
• undertake design research to build knowledge to support and justify the practical work, and to possibly apply for education leading to a Doctor of Arts degree.
• apply design practices to social, environmental, organizational and technological transformations. 
• apply design strategically in the context of product development and innovation. 
• integrate collaborative and human-centred approach into different scales and domains.  
• use creative design, systems thinking, and participatory approaches to develop solutions accountably and ethically.  
• provide design expertise and leadership in complex projects in multidisciplinary teams. 
• articulate and transfer understanding of design process to other design and non-design competencies. 

Code: ARTS3053
Credits: 90 ECTS credits
Head of major: Julia Lohmann

Pääaine suomeksi: Nykymuotoilu
Huvudämne på svenska: Samtidsdesign

Major description:

Grounded on research-based knowledge on the societal, cultural and global change, the major in Contemporary Design nurtures creative exploration and conceptual thinking on a high artistic and professional level. The major support students to discover and advance their individual creative processes and to connect them into the design field and its stakeholders. Students work in a multifaceted learning environment that provides support for creativity, as well as critical and analytical thinking. The major bridges research and design practice, and provides students with strong foundation in practice-based research. It educates sensitive and visionary designers who have skills to propose radical solutions and responsible innovations for the future. 

Contemporary Design (CoDe) is one of the three majors of the master’s programme in Design, others being Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design (FaCT) and Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID). In addition, the master’s programme in Design collaborates closely with the master’s programmes in Creative Sustainability (CS) and International Design Business Management (IDBM). All are two-year programmes, whereby students graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Design.

Major's intended learning outcomes:

After completing a Master’s degree in Design, in the major of Contemporary Design, the graduates are able to   

• create future oriented products, services and systems as a member of a multidisciplinary or trans-disciplinary team and/or as an individual designer.
• combine creativity, curiosity, continuous renewal and expression with analytical skills and practice.
• understand how to lead and communicate design-driven, often complex processes with empathy, critical thinking and research-founded reasoning.
• comprehend how design contributes to socio-material transformations for a sustainable future.
• undertake design research to build knowledge to support and justify the practical work, and to possibly apply for education leading to a Doctor of Arts degree.
• execute material productions and experiments that demonstrate strong practical design skills.
• reflect critically established design traditions and innovate in emerging fields of design.
• implement new technologies and materials in their artistic and design practices.
• display strong artistic practice with an ability to argue for its relevance with research-based reasoning.
• exhibit and promote their work and explain their position as part of a wider societal, cultural and commercial context.
• carry out collaboration with partners from societal, cultural and commercial fields

Code:  ARTS3055
Credits: 90 ECTS credits
Head of major: Professor Maarit Salolainen

Pääaine suomeksi: Muoti-, vaate- ja tekstiilisuunnittelu
Huvudämne på svenska: Mode-, kläd- och textildesign

Major description: 

The studies in Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design nurture hands-on exploration and conceptual development grounded in critical thinking and practice-based knowledge. Students are supported in exploring multidisciplinary collaboration, new technologies and materialities to expand their creative thinking and innovate design methods and solutions on a high artistic and professional level.

Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design (FaCT) is one of the three majors of the Master’s Programme in Design, others being Contemporary Design (CoDe) and Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID). In addition, the Master’s Programme in Design collaborates closely with the Master’s Programmes in Creative Sustainability (CS) and International Design Business Management (IDBM). All are two-year programmes, whereby students graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Design.

Aalto University is now ranked 8th in the world in the field of art and design by QS World University Ranking. The world-class teaching and facilities ensure that, upon graduating from the study option, graduates are able to:

• create future-oriented products, services and systems as a member of a multidisciplinary or trans-disciplinary team and/or as an individual designer.
• combine creativity, curiosity, continuous renewal and expression with analytical skills and practice.
• understand how to lead and communicate design-driven, often complex processes with empathy, critical thinking and research-founded reasoning.
• comprehend how design contributes to socio-material transformations for a sustainable future.
• undertake design research to build knowledge, to support and justify the practical work, and to possibly apply for education leading to a Doctor of Arts degree. 
• Reconsider and reshape the current state-of-the-art in the field of textiles and/or fashion.  
• Proactively and creatively evaluate future socio-technical challenges and innovate new sustainable and culturally inclusive design solutions for the global field of textiles and/or fashion.
• Identify their own aesthetic approach and find their own creative voice in the field of textiles and/or fashion. 
• Practice experimental, practice-based and conceptual approaches in fashion and/or textile design.  
• display the skills and attitude to co-innovate, cooperate and communicate with various stakeholders.
• apply design and process management skills and verge strategic and systemic thinking in product and material development.    

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 other Finnish universities, participate in an international student exchange programme, do an internship in Finland or abroad, or take elective courses offered by student’s own programme.

Students can complete a minor as part of their elective studies. Please see all the minors under Minor studies 2024-2026.

Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design

Collaborative and Industrial Design

Contemporary Design