Latest Student Projects
Exploring biochar as a carbon-storing and waste utilizing material in a design context by Emma Sivusalo
This thesis approaches biochar, a carbon-rich product utilizing waste biomass, using experimental design as a method. The research contains a theoretical and a practical part and aims to understand biochar鈥檚 material properties to explore whether applying biochar-based material combinations as an alternative for more carbon-intensive and energy-heavy materials would allow easing up the emissions generated in the production of artefacts.
Modular mold development - From experimental design to product series by Heikki Konu in cooperation with Jukka Jokinen
This research is about the development of the modular glass blowing mold and the usage of the mold for manufacturing glass objects in hot work shop. The modular mold enables countless shapes produced with one mold, which makes the form creation process different from the traditional way. The project is carried out as teamwork; the mold development process, testing and design of the products manufactured are done in full cooperation with Jukka Jokinen and Heikki Konu. The literary work has been divided equally 50-50 between the designers, Jokinen focusing on the mold development and Konu on using the mold in glass blowing process.
We Make Effort. Reflections on feminism, togetherness and practicing in the context of design by Aliisa Talja
We Make Effort enquires into personal experiences of aiming to practice feminism collectively in the context of design. The thesis stems from a place in time coloured by a sense of societal urgency, value contradictions with practicing as a designer, and not quite knowing how to negotiate them. It unfolds some personal, professional and political meanings of engaging with feminist theory and collectivity, as well as the consequent shifts in conceiving practice in the field of design.
Pigments of Microorganisms by Eveliina Juuri
'Pigments of Microorganisms' is a study of microorganisms that are able to produce colourful pigments. Within this thesis work I inspected in depth to laboratory working with the biochemistry scientists and as a designer I implemented a series of material experiments together with the microbial produced colourants.
hashtag #hakolamama, Anatomy of a Finnish wooden chair by Samuli Helavuo
The topic of this master鈥檚 thesis is the design of a wooden dining chair for Hakola Huonekalu Oy. The aim was to design a chair that can be industrially manufactured in the Jurva area in Southern Ostrobothnia. The chair should complement Hakola鈥檚 existing product line in a natural and fresh way, adding more content and value to the customer鈥檚 brand. The choice of topic was influenced by the author鈥檚 need to diversify his product design expertise and challenge himself to design a product that had not been completely designed before by himself.The focus of this thesis was also on increasing professional knowledge of wood materials, wood furniture production methods, the potential of the domestic furniture industry, ecologically and ethically sustainable design and seating ergonomics.
Kuulas: Examining the design processes behind the development of a chair prototype with practice-led research methods by Joshua Krute
Through the designing and making of Kuulas 鈥 a wooden low chair with textile components, I examine the development processes by which iterative and explorative methods are employed with research tools through a practice-led research framework. The development of woven textiles and the development of the low chair are narrowed with step-by-step process descriptions and reflections thereof. These foretell how research tools were employed to examine the iterative, explorative processes behind the project development, and to convey the decisions emitted towards the form-language of the Kuulas chair, which the name comes from the Finnish meaning: clear or pure. Throughout development stages of the project, communicative tools and form-finding techniques are developed to best examine furniture/textile making and design processes. These studies indicate the importance of documentation and reflection, as they are present in communicating how thinking and making has evolved throughout the project. Furthermore, this thesis examines how an artist-designer can employ his/her experiences and personal histories to develop abstract concepts for design projects.
Soil Care: Symphony Rehearsal by Tzuyu Chen
Soil Care: Symphony Rehearsal is a Master鈥檚 thesis project that takes soils as its fundamental focus in a collaborative craft practice in order to reclaim attention for soils in an age of ecological challenges. When focused on soil care, craft making can be considered a dialogical practice for establishing conversations between humans (makers), soils (materials) and the human-soil interaction that exists within the local environment. By utilising the practice-led approach, this research is driven by inquiring into whether collaborative craft practices would provide a different way to re-think and re-evaluate our relationship with soil.
Weaving Landscapes by Mariana Sol铆s Escalera
鈥淲eaving Landscapes鈥 is a research through design thesis that explores the relationship between craft and design, by using concepts from the material culture, with(in) the landscape. Landscape in this thesis refers to the environment(s) in which humans and nonhumans interact. Meanwhile, material culture is the concept that brings together activities from human society and natural ecosystems (natural culture) into one culture. Furthermore, this thesis examines the collaboration that exists between craft and design, which is studied on the notions of preservation and revitalization. In order to find a way to revitalize craft and design I have reviewed craft鈥檚 knowledge, values and relationships with the landscape and the raw materials it provides. The context of the thesis is situated in Finland, in the relation that birch bark weaving technique has with the natural environment and with the society.
Materials and Living Systems
As biomaterial is a broad and currently widely used term, the students learn to explore and discover new perspectives to biomaterials within their systems and understand how to create their own creative approach towards these materials.
Twig Lady by Salla Luhtasela
Twig Lady is a series of ongoing works executed outdoors as a way of taking care of myself through the repetitive and meditative action of making by hand. Working with new materials, mainly twigs and reeds, forced me to really get in tune with them, feel their will in my fingertips, and forget my own designerly ambitions - and just have fun.
Kuuleeko mets盲? by Miia L枚tj枚nen
"As we humans are big beneficiaries in our relationship with nature, my goal was to give something back in return. I wanted to use music to help the spring forest grow. Studies have shown that music affects the growth of plants as it is enjoyed by humans in general. Could we use music as a way to re-connect and coexist with nature?
Crown of Thoughts by Joel Levander
Crown of Thoughts is animated short film made with stop motion technique. It follows a figure created from various materials and its encounter with a humanlike head. Through a coalescence, the head changes the figures perception of time and their surroundings.
Objects of Care by Sofia Guridi
Our days are full of silent care. Care for others expressed through small gestures and actions like combing a child`s hair or cooking for the family, which are accompanied by objects normally considered trivial. This collection explores the beauty of these everyday objects and the relevance of this invisible care that is usually taken for granted, but that is so fundamental for everyone's wellbeing. Through the repetition of small hand made porcelain items, jewelry pieces are created to show the value of these marginalized actions usually asociated with feminine care, while being in contact with our bodies.
How can I unsubscribe from patriarchy? by Vertti Virasjoki
We at war.
We at war with racism, sexism, but most of all we at war with ourselves. In this complex situation the enemy is invisible and the weapons we use are not made of steel.
Through exploration into the past environments, emotional atmospheres and cultures I鈥檝e lived in I鈥檝e tried to make sense of how they have shaped me as a person and how to accept the fact that it has not always changed me for the better.
Maja by Julius Rinne
鈥淢aja鈥 in Finnish means 鈥渟helter鈥 or 鈥渂lanket fort.鈥 A shelter is a place to feel safety and care.
In my project I wanted to fulfill a childhood dream of living in a self-made fort. I built a blanket fort in my apartment from materials I already owned and spent a week there taking care of myself, by doing things I have not had time to do in a long time. Maja offered me a safe place to be relaxed, creative and playful.
Earthly bonds by Linnea Kilpi
Earthly bonds is a series of sculptural vignettes studying relational dynamics and the complexity of care. Each scene depicts a relationship inevitably compromised by notions such as power, trust, and dependency. Their varying stages of decomposition question if and how the relationships function without tension holding them together. Who is dependent on whom?
Weight lifting by Jenna Lee Shenyer
'Weight lifting' is an ongoing process between human and nature and the weight we put on the land. By walking through memorable islands, finding objects of affection that don't belong to the landscape, and doing an exchange between the land.
I've taken the objects back where they belong, replaced their form in unfired clay and left it for the land to absorb in its natural way. In this process the land gives me an opportunity to ground myself, to study and enjoy everything it has to offer, and in exchange I thank the ground by helping it recover from the trash that doesn't belong there.
Place to be by Sirena Nieminen
鈥樷婸lace to be鈥嬧 is an experimental painting process, in which the journey is more important than the final artefact. The main thing was to paint mostly blindfolded, to get deeper in touch with paper and paint to forget rationalisation and overthinking. I mind-travelled to the places and freedom of my childhood to let go of the stress and control of adult-me.
Underwater traces by Julia Strand
It clears the sea by eating plankton but it is not native to our ecosystem and causes harm by attaching to any surface. What is left from it is the small round traces and beautiful details.
It is not always clear what is best for nature, but most important is that we care for and pay attention also to the smallest details of the world.
A Manifesto in my room by Aura Latva-Somppi
This is a manifesto for myself, to be presented in my own room with the dust and hair lying in the corners, next to my messy bed and piles of clothes, letters and drawings, with the houseplants and fruit-peels and the smell of my biodegradable. It is not still or silent; there is light reflecting from a window of a neighbour house, the shadows of trees of the nearby forest and the sounds of buses and dogs and bicycle bells skipping around the neighbourhood. This manifesto is born from within myself but also from the outside, readings and discussions and perceptions, and it is to be presented and projected from and to all these directions.