Design Educator

I graduated as Master of arts from The University of Art and Design Helsinki 2004.
I studied in the School of Art Education and took additional courses in industrial design as well as doing exchange studies in Faculty of Colour and Form in Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden. This way I could follow my interests and create a combination of studies that were at that time not existing within the usual study path of art educators in the university. Thus I became a design educator and was quickly busy with projects in the booming field of design education in Finland. Years 2005-2007 I worked as an education curator in Design museum, Helsinki.

What fascinates me in Design education is it’s position in the intersection of art, design and pedagogy. My special interest is in the user and object interaction, the meanings we give to objects we use. The things we interact with effect us on a personal level. They bind us in a certain culture and time. We use objects to build our identity, to enhance qualities we wish to have and we reflect our experiences and values on them. The western lifestyle that emphasizes consuming as expression of individuality is in striking conflict with the efforts to preserve our planet for future generations. Design education promotes conscious consumption by giving tools to orientate in our designed surroundings. It gives new insights and viewpoints to the material needs that we often take for granted.

 

Projects and workshops:

Day Of Architecture And Design, Ampiainen
Finnish design and architecture education project, named Ampiainen, which provides teaching material, hosts a website with on-line exhibition of children’s works, organizes happenings for teachers and children and sends architects and designers to schools to tell about their work. The project took place for the first time in 2005 and is now a yearly event. It is a co-operation project of Design museum, Museum of Finnish Architecture, Finnish association of Architects SAFA, Finnish association of Designers Ornamo, Association of Professional Graphic Designers in Finland Grafia and Arts Council of Helsinki Metropolitan Region.

Designed Environment Workshop
Workshop in SOCRATES Intensive Teacher Education Programme, University of Art and Design Helsinki, 2006.

Fantasy Design project
European design education project Fantasy Design - Children and young people as designers was coordinated by Design museum. Participating countries were Finland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Scotland. 2003-2005

Design workshop to children
Periodic design workshop to children of 12-14 years of age in the Art School of Northern Helsinki, 2004.