Students kept a working diary as a personal documentation method and as a way to introduce their thinking and working process to other students and teachers. In the final works, the theme matter appears as the actual physical concept of matter and also on the psychological level of ¨what matters¨. Projects from the students are in a broad range of creative disciplines everything from ceramics, interactive sculpture to food design.

Lecturers:
Maarit Mäkelä
Priska Falin

More info at: http://empirica.aalto.fi/2017/06/matter-exhibition/

Lecturer: Anna van der Lei.

Breath V from Camilo Cortes on Vimeo.

I want to live there from Mare on Vimeo.

Lecturer: Anna van der Lei.

Self-folding composite surfaces – STAGE 1 from Dario Vidal on Vimeo.

The interactions shown in the video are a selection of the latest discoveries in the experimentation. About 100 tests were made in order to understand and find suitable combination of material, form, and other variables.

Self-folding composite surfaces – STAGE 2 from Dario Vidal on Vimeo.

Helsinki, Finland – 23 March 2017, The forest is central to the Finnish identity from the darkest moments of history to blissful moments of leisure and recreation, the Finnish forest has been standing tall, protective, nurturing and free for all to roam and enjoy. The forest, shaping so many of Finland’s cultural and culinary traditions, has also deeply chiseled Finnish self-perception and comprehension into a strong national identity built on democratic values and never ending technological advancement.

NAKUNA (Fin. naked) represents the very essence of Finland. It’s a raw land of lakes, archipelagos, and forests where the nature and landscape are an intrinsic part of the spirit of the country and its people.

With Finland now entering into its 100th year of independence, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture will present an exhibition at the Milan Design Week to honour that spirit.

The program revisits the Finnish ancestral connection to the forest as a source of food, emotional sustenance and technological ingenuity as well as a haven for peaceful reflection and contemplation. With its three installations IKKUNA (Fin. window), everyman’s right kiosk LAAVU (Fin. Lean-to) and MANIFESTI, the Nakuna exhibition takes its audience on a sensory journey through Finland’s historical development; its deep-seated values and attributes, all the principles which make Finland such a unique place. The exhibition exposes the core values of Finnishness and encourages people to be open, naked, and honest for themselves and for others; to metaphorically be naked values that are particularly relevant today when the world shows its increasing turbulence.

https://www.nakunaexhibition.com/

‘A designer’s work begins with an understanding of culture and the environment. For example, when designing an everyday item such as a coffee cup it’s important to consider, along with the aesthetic properties of the object, the material, functionality, shape and structure as well as raw material sources, production technology, marketing and cultural context,’ says Lecturer Nathalie Lahdenmäki from Aalto University.

Many design projects completed at Aalto University have been related to food and drink. Interesting ideas arise when students from different cultural and study backgrounds work together. A shape or taste that is familiar to one may be completely new to another, and differences in habits can be found near and far.

Sybaris is an experimental project by the students of Aalto University’s Design department. With the working title “luxury”, the teams have studied “passion” and “pleasure”.

Sybaris is an ancient Greek city where the inhabitants, Sybarites were known for their pursuit of opulent luxury and pleasure seeking. Sybarite creates a world that exists between the boundaries of art and design and explore pleasure and luxury in our times. One-off objects are created with personal interpretations of sensual pleasure, hapticity and primitive sensuality. Objects of desire are handcrafted and materialised from various explorations of contemporary pleasures.

The project was exhibited during the Helsinki Design Week 2015.

Inspired by the design and thinking of Kaj Franck, the MA students immersed themselves in designing furniture and tableware during the Spring of 2011. The task was to examine once again the idea, shape and use of everyday objects. In the strict and simple brief, the shape, material, use and structure allowed students to make personal and creative solutions.