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Department of Design

Empirica: MakerStudioPeda (2020–24)

MakerStudioPeda examines maker pedagogies and studio-based learning in art and design education across Europe.

Materiality, Maker Practices and Design Studio Pedagogy at the Digital Age (MakerStudioPeda) is a project funded by the Academy of Finland and conducted jointly with the University of Helsinki in four Nordic countries. 

The rapidly transforming innovation-driven knowledge society emphasizes the importance of non-routine problem solving, design thinking capabilities, and creativity. The revolution of digital technologies provides new instruments and materials for creative design and production. In this light, MakerStudioPeda focuses on analyzing pedagogical practices for fostering creativity at university-level design education and craft teacher education in the digital age.

Two people arranging various textured and coloured fabric samples on a white table.
Materiality and making are integral to studio pedagogy. Photo: Luis Vega

MakerStudioPeda will examine the design studio pedagogy for design and craft teacher students’ at two different levels. First, micro-level investigations will focus on students’ creative working and the hybridization of traditional and digital technologies in contemporary design studios at Aalto University and University of Helsinki. Second, macro-level investigations will focus on the structures and practices of studio pedagogy in four Nordic countries. Systematic research on deliberate education of creativity will provide a sound basis for fostering creativity across all levels of education.

In the universities, studios are environments where traditional craftsmanship is combined with digital technologies. To be able to educate creative professionals, we need to deepen our understanding of how to teach creativity in a studio environment. The project endeavors to better understand how designers and artisans position themselves in the workspace in relation to their bodies, tools, materials, space, and other social actors. The main goal is to understand what kind of social and material factors the studio environment as a learning network is built on, and how learning takes place in this space. With a better understanding of this network, we will also be able to develop studio pedagogy to better support creative learning.

A 3D printer creating a circular object with intricate patterns on a white surface. Person in background.
Hybridization of traditional craftsmanship and digital technologies at the design studio. Photo: Nur Horsanali
Two people working on a craft project with red and white paper on a table. A terracotta pot and pen are nearby.
Studio environments provide an appropriate research setting to examine sociomaterial practices. Photo: Luis Vega

Project Consortium

Research Team

, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of Helsinki
Department of Education

Maarit Mäkelä, Doctor of Arts
Principal Investigator
Aalto University
Department of Design

Luis Vega, Doctoral Researcher
Project Researcher
Aalto University
Department of Design

Anniliina Omwami, Doctoral Researcher
Project Researcher
University of Helsinki
Department of Education

Collaborators

Camilla Groth, Doctor of Arts
University of South-Eastern Norway

Jessica Hemmings, PhD
University of Gothenburg

Flemming Tvede Hansen, PhD
The Royal Danish Academy

Advisory Board

Keith Sawyer,PhD
University of North Carolina

Nithikul Nimkulrat, Doctor of Arts
Ontario College of Art & Design University

Previous Team Members

Bilge Merve AktaÅŸ, Doctor of Arts
Project Researcher
Aalto University
Department of Design

Priska Falin, Doctor of Arts
Project Researcher
Aalto University
Department of Design

Summer School and Open Seminar 2023

From May 23 to 29, different locations in Helsinki, Espoo, and Björkboda served as the backdrop for the MakerStudioPeda Summer School 2023, a week full of productive activities. More information here.

Seminar poster: Materiality, Maker Practices and Design Studio Pedagogy in the Digital Age. Keynote speakers: Dr. Keith Sawyer, Dr. Nithikul Nimkulrat.

Project Publications

  • AktaÅŸ, Bilge Merve (2022). . Craft Research, 13(2), 439–46.
  • AktaÅŸ, Bilge Merve (2022). . In: Fredriksen, B.C., Groth, C. (eds) Expanding Environmental Awareness in Education Through the Arts. Landscapes: the Arts, Aesthetics, and Education, vol 33. Springer, Singapore.
  • AktaÅŸ, Bilge Merve; Omwami, Anniliina; Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita; & Mäkelä, Maarit (2023). , The Design Journal.
  • AktaÅŸ, Bilge Merve & Groth, Camilla (2021). . Proceedings of the DRS LEARN X DESIGN 2021 - 6th International Conference for Design Education Researchers: Engaging with Challenges in Design Education, 2, 553–66.
  • Falin, Priska; Falin, Petra; & Mäkelä, Maarit (2023). . FormAkademisk - research journal of design and design education, 16(4).
  • Kokko, Sirpa; Almevik, Gunnar; Høgseth, Harald C. Benyz; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2020). . Craft Research, 11(2), 177–209.
  • Lahti, Henna; Kangas, Kaiju; Härkki, Tellervo; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2022). . Techne Series, A, 29, 1.
  • Laamanen, Tarja-Kaarina; Mäkelä, Maarit; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2023). . Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education, 22(1), 33–54.
  • Mäkelä, Maarit (2022). . In: Fredriksen, B.C., Groth, C. (eds) Expanding Environmental Awareness in Education Through the Arts. Landscapes: the Arts, Aesthetics, and Education, vol 33. Springer, Singapore.
  • Mäkelä, Maarit & AktaÅŸ, Bilge Merve (2023). . International Journal of Art and Design Education, 41(4).
  • Mäkelä, Maarit & AktaÅŸ, Bilge Merve (2022). . Craft Research, 13(1), 9–34.
  • Omwami, Anniliina; Lahti, Henna; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2020). . International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 13(3), 341–51.
  • Omwami, Anniliina; Lahti, Henna; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2021). . Proceedings of the DRS Learn X Design 2021: 6th International Conference for Design Education Researchers. Bohemia, E., Nielsen, L. M., Pan, L., Börekçi, N. A. G. Z. & Zhang, Y. (Eds.). Design Research Society, Vuosikerta 2, 395–404.
  • Omwami, Anniliina, Lahti, Henna, & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2023). . Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education, 21(2), 173–89.
  • Omwami, Anniliina; Vega, Luis; Mehto, Varpu; Falin, Priska; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2023). . FormAkademisk - research journal of design and design education, 16(4).
  • Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2022) . Journal of the Learning Sciences, 31(1), 138–49.
  • Vega, Luis (2021). . In Matters of Scale: Proceedings of Nordes International Conference. Nordic Design Research Conference, 9(1)270–80. ISSN: 1604-9705.
  • Vega, Luis, Mäkelä, Maarit, Chen, Tzuyu, & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2021). . Form Akademisk - Research journal of design and design education, 14(2), Article 18.
  • Vega, Luis; Mäkelä, Maarit; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita (2023). . Design Studies, 88, Article 101203.
  • Warner, Linda Claire; Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita; & Hakkarainen, Kai (2020). The Journal of Arts and Communities, 10(1-2), 67–82.
  • Warner, Linda Claire; Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita; & Hakkarainen, Kai (2021). . Craft Research, 12(1), 51–78.
  • Yang, Weishu; Lahti, Henna; & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P (2022). . Design and Technology Education, 27(1), 9–28.

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Additional Information

This project is funded by the Academy of Finland (Project numbers 331778 and 331763).

Principal Investigators:

Prof. Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, University of Helsinki
 | tel. +358 (0)50 3513673

Prof. Maarit Mäkelä, Aalto University
 | tel. +358 (0)50 3722168

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