Aalto Design Factory

In Design Factory, we get to annually give our premises to use for a variety of ambitious and inspiring events - one of them is the Aalto AI Hackathon, happening on the 30th of May and the 1st of July. If this sparks your interest, click on AaltoAI's post and page for further details!

Monday! That means it's time for another weekly update from us at the University of Helsinki's entrepreneurship department on what we've got going on over the next few days to support our 150+ active founders currently taking part in our pre-incubator and incubator. Let's check it out! 👇🏻 🗺️ We'll start the week off later with the first Pathways pre-incubator session of the week, the theory lecture on goal setting & time management, helping our idea-stage participants gain clarity on how to manage themselves & their expectations, as well as defining their missions and visions in order to succeed on their entrepreneurial journey! 💥 Then on Tuesday, our incubator's #SocialImpact track will gather for a workshop on prototyping with mentor and expert Vesa Lindroos, who'll be helping the founders look at how to use various tools for functional prototyping and agile product development. 💎 Also on Tuesday, the #DeepTech and #AI track of the incubator will also be looking at prototyping tools and techniques, this time with visiting friends from Aalto University and Aalto Design Factory, Kalevi Ekman and Sushant Passi. Building on the previous week's lecture on lean development, they'll help the startups understand what digital tools are available for them to build prototypes and products without getting bogged down. 🗺️ And on Wednesday, the second Pathways session of the week, this time the workshop on goal setting and time management! Guided by the Pathways coaches Minna Melanie Mustapää, Ann Patterson, Jori Karvonen, Polina Vishnia, Jukka Tastula, and programme manager Santeri Tuovila, the participants will be working on creating their schedules and timelines for developing their ideas, as well as practice giving each other constructive feedback in order to learn how to use other people's insights to their advantage. 🌱 And lastly, on Thursday, our #Sustainability incubator track will host their own workshop on prototyping tools and techniques, this time with 🦦 🤖 Jorge Enrique of Otters, who will be guiding the founders through a variety of tools and methods to take their MVP's into practice in a rapid and effective way. Whew, what a busy week we've got coming, but this is what we live for. See you again in seven short days! 💪🏻

We are hiring! Aalto Design Factory (ADF) is now looking for an Operations Engineer for our Design Factory Machine Shop and related prototyping facilities for a full-time 2-year fixed-term contract. The role - Managing and maintaining workshop spaces and equipment - Providing expertise in manufacturing technology and prototyping - Organizing workshops and teaching materials  - Instructing students - Executing complex machining tasks - Developing prototyping functions and education - Oversee equipment acquisitions, maintain research tools, and improve occupational safety with the facility manager and head of operations. Your experience and ambitions - A bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field - Experience in product development and prototyping - Strong skills in computer-aided manufacturing (3D modeling, CNC) - Theoretical knowledge of manufacturing technologies - Experience supporting students, and a willingness to learn new skills - Supervisory readiness and travel flexibility are valued - Proficiency in English and Finnish is required, while Swedish is a plus - Experience with Design Factory or similar interdisciplinary hubs is an advantage What we offer This position offers a meaningful role in shaping the future of Aalto University’s Design Factory, an inspiring and inclusive environment that fosters creativity, research-based education, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Employees benefit from continuous learning opportunities, a salary ranging from (€3050–3350), and a strong emphasis on work-life balance and well-being. More information and application: https://lnkd.in/dUxCeeph

⏪ Recapping an exciting weekend full of innovation and ambition at PORT_ 2025! In this last of the three posts to recap the weekend, we would like to thank all of our wonderful ecosystem partners who joined us for networking activities over the weekend. In total, we were thrilled to have 15 different ecosystem partners, ranging from co-working spaces and startup hubs, to accelerator and incubator programs, all the way to various public-sector entities too! Here's the full list: ✅ Kiuas, represented by Tuomas Vapaavuori and Paula Juntura ✅ Espoon kaupunki - Esbo stad - City of Espoo, represented by Heli Hidén ✅ Maria 01, represented by Paramartha Sajjana Narendradhipa ✅ Slush, represented by Julius Thimm ✅ SILTA, represented by Tiina Erho, Sara Kivi, Henry Huttunen ✅ Sampo Accelerator & ✅ Startup Sauna, represented by Mike Bradshaw ✅ MIMIR, represented by Ghita Wallin and Ahmed Hadi ✅ Aalto Startup Center, represented by Tai Tran ✅ Aalto Innovation Services , represented by Zoltán Jávor ✅ Strive for Startups, represented by Alexander Warén ✅ Ignite Aaltoes, represented by Kadosa Varga As well as the main organizers of PORT which included, alongside ENTU: 💥 Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, represented by Doni Peltojärvi 💥 Junction, represented by Daniel Almi and Joel Lahtinen 💥 Aalto Design Factory, represented by Klaus Castrén and Tua Björklund 💥 And a special mention to our brilliant host for PORT_, Lauri Löyttyniemi! 📸 All the photos by Júlia Vila

The second edition of the DF Monthly Insider is here - packed with exciting updates, inspiring projects, and the latest happenings from our community! Sit back, get some coffee, and enjoy the read ☕ https://lnkd.in/dYYNRi4P

We are hiring! Are you the new lecturer in product development who will join us? We are looking for a full-time lecturer to join the Design Factory academic team in providing and developing teaching in interdisciplinary product development. As a member of our teaching team, the role involves teaching a variety of courses in interdisciplinary product design and innovation, visiting various Aalto schools to teach design thinking, co-creation, and prototyping, and teaching theses at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. In addition, you will participate in developing product development courses and other educational practices. We are looking for someone who’s an expert in product development, sustainable design, and innovation, with experience in bachelor’s and master’s teaching, project-based learning, industry collaboration, and diverse teaching formats. In addition, skills in course development, integrating sustainability, creativity, entrepreneurship, and strong research-teaching integration and collaboration in higher education are required. Check out the further detailed requirements and application process here: https://lnkd.in/d4mF2G4R

Design Factory is hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher (100%) for a fixed-term position until December 2026, starting in April 2025 or as soon as possible. The role focuses on product development collaboration and interdisciplinary education, involving qualitative research, teaching, student supervision, and engagement with the global DFGN network. Applicants must have a doctorate in a relevant field (e.g., management, design, or engineering), strong qualitative research skills, and a collaborative mindset. Fluency in English is required, while Finnish or Swedish skills are optional but not mandatory. Read more and apply: https://lnkd.in/d7_i5kHw

🗒️ The latest DF Newsletter is here! This time, we're highlighting Prototyping for Innovation, a course that’s been running for three years. You can read the whole article here: https://lnkd.in/d5W4-ahj

‼️ Applications close today at 23:55! Sign up via: https://lnkd.in/dznae9nd All Aalto University Students. 🎓 Two Tracks. 🔀 Winners take on the Global Stage. 🌍 🏆 The track winners will get an all-expense paid trip to either Seoul or Berlin, and have the opportunity to showcase their solutions at a university startup competitions like the Global Student Startup Competition and Innova Europe 2025 alongside students from other universities like University of Southern California, ESMT Berlin, Harvard University, EDHEC Business School and more. 💰 On top of that, the overall winning team will receive a cash prize of 2000€. Brought to you by ENTU, Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, Aalto Design Factory, and Junction.

Out now: our latest publication "Designing Culture - Perspectives on Creative Practices from Aalto Design Factory Designers" delves into the essence of what makes Aalto Design Factory a unique, design-driven organization. This visual documentary explores how we cultivate a culture that empowers creativity, experimentation, and learning within our community of students, staff, and collaborators. Through intimate conversations with our design professionals, we uncover their inspirations, practices, and projects that shape our collective identity. These stories highlight the value of hands-on learning and the tangible impact of prototyping and making as tools for innovation and collaboration. At Aalto Design Factory, design is not just a discipline - it’s a way of thinking and doing. By integrating design seamlessly into education and research, we aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across science, technology, art, and business. This approach enables us to address societal challenges with creativity and agility while building a vibrant ecosystem for co-creation. Link to “Designing Culture”: https://lnkd.in/dpFDt95u #aaltodesignfactory #aaltouniversity #design #cocreation #learning #educationculture #creativepractices