PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (MEC-E3001) is aimed at students interested in developing new products, solutions or consumer goods. The problems are given and sponsored by both domestic and foreign industrial companies, who are searching for innovative cooperation with the next generation of product developers. Over the recent years students have also pursued their own projects and startup ideas in PDP. 

PROTOTYPING FOR INNOVATION (MEC-E3005) is a six-week-long course diving into different purposes and techniques of prototyping. Open to all Aalto students, The course offers a combination of theory, company cases and hands-on practice in purpose driven prototyping for innovation. Groupwork is utilized during class time, but all outside-class assignments are individual assignments.

Design thinking and creativity for innovation (MEC-E3006) is a modular self-study online course – pick modules to your interest from a changing collection of contemporary topics relevant to product development, innovation management and creative efforts in organizations.

METHODS IN EARLY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (MEC-E3020) covers the product development process from initial scoping to concepting. The course complements other courses in product development and is recommended to be combined with PdP, but can also be taken on its own.

GLOBAL INNOVATION PRACTICES (MEC-E3080) is a new course launching in Fall 2024, representing a collaboration of Design Factories across the world. This hybrid course combines cases and insights from different countries with face-to-face lectures on the Aalto campus to prepare you for global collaboration.

PROTOTYPING TOOLS AT THE DESIGN FACTORY (MEC-E3900) This course introduces the prototyping equipment at the Design Factory, including both safety procedures as well as familiarisation how to use the electronics, machining, 3D printing workshops as well as the range of other tools available (painting, woodwork, sewing, vinyl cutting etc.). The course starts with an online self-study introduction and safety preparation that can be completed at any time, after which you can enrol to the face-to-face workshop at the DF Labs prototyping facilities. This course is necessary to gain access to the DF Labs spaces outside of regular working hours.

AALTONAUT is a new Bachelor’s Degree Minor Studies Programme in Interdisciplinary Product Development. Aaltonaut courses rely on problem-based learning as well as interdisciplinary teamwork in hands-on projects. Aaltonaut aims to educate its students on different aspects of product development, reinforcing an entrepreneurial attitude, and improving working life skills.

Mechanical Engineering in Society (MEC-E1001) is a compulsory course for master’s level mechanical engineers, exploring how mechanical engineering links to sustainability, creative solutions and the society at large. Students work on individual and group assignments to identify how products, technologies and careers link to sustainability goals and what we can do to advance the positive impact the field can have.