Aalto Design Factory
What makes this building on the other side of the world a powerhouse of ideas and inspiration?
I first went to Aalto Design Factory in October 2013 for the Product Design Project. PdP is a class based out of Aalto University in Otaniemi, Espoo, Finland, where companies pay to have teams of international students design products to solve a problem that the company is facing. Interdisciplinary teams from Finland, Australia, the US, Austria, China, Chile, and a few other places around the world work together for the school year to go through the design thinking process and come up with a compelling prototype of a product, within budget, and all of the deliverables that come along with pitching it to the company. Most companies also send representatives to work with the teams to check in on progress and guide the solutions. This process encourages entrepreneurial attitudes, and a level of professionalism that typically isn’t seen in school projects. Needless to say, I learned a ton, exercised creative muscles I didn’t know I had, and saw a quality in work that permanently raised the bar for my expectations of myself and others.
Aalto Design Factory itself is a building on the Aalto University campus, nearby the engineering school, that includes computer labs, machine shops, rooms with whiteboards, an auditorium, rooms with shipping containers, a library, even a kitchen. It’s staffed with people who are product design experts, engineering experts, know their way around technology, and are simply willing to share ideas, and sit down for a hearty conversation over some oatmeal and lingonberries.
A lot of thought went into designing that space. There are plenty of places for groups to meet, as well as quiet spaces for individuals to do focussed work. There are common areas where you’ll certainly run into people, and places to hide away. There are large garage doors to bring in large equipment. There is a fancy coffee machine that can make cups of any kind of coffee or hot chocolate drink. They have their own mugs, which gives a feeling of blonging and community. The kitchen is the heart of this work-and-play space, where people build relationships over a meal. The kitchen is stocked with any equipment that anyone could need to create a meal, and teams often cook for each other to say thank you for the valuable exchange of ideas. Another critical part of the Aalto Design Factory is the Finnish sauna in the basement, complete with the cool pool, and a wooden steam sauna that gets mighty hot.
What the Design Factory does very well is fosters a community of creative people who are more than willing to share thoughts, feedback, ideas, and expertise. There is definitely a sense that everyone is there to work hard, and a lot gets accomplished during the day, but breaks are spent engaging in activities that are brain-bending. This keeps everyone operating at a higher capacity all day.
Despite all of this talk of comradery, Finns are not known for being an extroverted group of people. Finns also tend not to mince words; they are very honest. Being a country with a relatively small population, and a culture that respects one another’s personal space, it feels a little uncomfortable to approach a new person and start a serious conversation. However, it’s even more uncomfortable to be in a crowded room, making small talk, and keeping your thoughts and opinions to yourself. This makes the environment that exists at Aalto Design Factory even more important.
Personally, I’m hooked. While the teamwork, design skills, and high standards of work output come along with me, I constantly crave the constant ideation, community, and atmosphere of fun and creativity that exists within the Design Factory. I’m not the only one; many people from around the world have visited Aalto Design Factory and felt that it was worth immense amounts of work to replicate it in their home cities. This is the Design Factory Global Network. Schools on 6 continents have devised their own Design Factories where students can go to be entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative. But it is no easy feat to replicate the magic at Aalto Design Factory. At least not without a Karhu and some time in the sauna.
