Nordic Product Design Winter School

Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology that makes it easier for organisations and individuals to identify challenges and create solutions in many industries. This undergraduate-level summer course explores the Nordic aspect of design, emphasising sustainability and ecological thinking, as well as functionalism and critical design.

Nordic Product Design is a two-week intensive interdisciplinary course focusing on a distinctive approach towards the design of products, materials, and systems in the Nordic context. The course explores themes of design thinking, merging it with the current trajectory of Nordic design with an emphasis on functionalism, ecological principles, sustainable futures, aesthetics, materiality, and critical design.

The initial phase of the course aims to develop a well-rounded theoretical understanding of these themes in the socio-cultural context of Nordic Countries, with a particular focus on Finland. This stage bridges theory and its historical and contemporary practices using visual materials, films, interactive dialogues, and assignments. The second phase is more hands-on and emphasises practical explorations. It includes workshops, site visits and experiments where students work in both group and individual tasks.

The course aims to foster a holistically creative process that extends from ideation to creating actual artefacts. At the end of the course, students will be able to develop a unique approach to solving and questioning design problems, anchored in the Nordic approach to design thinking and practice. The course further encourages students to apply these design strategies and solutions in their own international context, contributing to global design perspectives.

Course leader

Sushant Passi

Target group

This course does not require previous experience in the topic.

Participants must have completed a high school or vocational degree or equivalent by the time the course starts. However, they do not have to be a degree student at a university to participate in our courses.

Additionally, all summer and winter school course students must be 18 years or older, as it is the legal age in Finland.

Course aim

Learning outcomes:

Understanding Nordic Design: Developing an understanding of design history, contemporary design and design-thinking in Nordic countries, particularly Finland.

Practical Application: Developing theoretical and practical knowledge in ecologically driven product and material design via team and individual assignments, workshops, and site visits.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Exploring themes of design thinking and critical design in the creative process to solve design challenges innovatively.

Sustainability and Ecological Values: Developing theoretical and practical knowledge in ecologically driven product and material design.