Aalto DFDESIGN IN ORGANIZATIONS
We believe design and creative practices have much to offer in creating holistic solutions to the complex issues organizations and society face, crafting a triple bottom line of value that works in practice in addition to theory. Design represents a human-centered approach to change and development – in other words, just what we need to move the needle in making sustainable solutions a part of our everyday lives.
Check out some of our recent work below, and ollow us on LinkedIn and instagram to get some bite-sized insights. Our aim is to start a discussion on the next steps that organizations and professionals can take to shape a sustainable future. We welcome you to join the conversation!
DESIGN INTEGRATION
We’ve examined how companies can benefit from design and design thinking in multiple projects, including studying the interconnection between design and strategizing practices in DRIVE (funded by the Emil Aaltonen Foundation), looking into design and sustainability (enabled by a donation from UPM), as well as studying design thinking in innovation projects and organizational culture in Design+ (funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund and company partners).
For example, examining OP Financial Group, we’ve found a meshwork of organizational actions required to make the most of design in companies – check out more at the California Management Review 2025 article and video!
DESIGN + SUSTAINABILITY
READ THE 2021 DESIGN + SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
In 2021, we interviewed designers and design managers at 101 organizations in Finland to examine how far along we are at leveraging design to create value. Talking with 29 consultanies and agencies, 66 private companies from all sizes and industries and 6 public organizations, we’ve synthesized key findings and examples on how design adds value in organizations and can advance sustainability. Click on the button to read the English report, or check out the Finnish version further below.
DESIGN + SUSTAINABILITY 101 -RAPORTTI
Haastattelimme muotoiluammattilaisia ja -johtajia yhteensä 101:ssä Suomessa toimivassa organisaatiossa keväällä 2021. Mukana oli 29 konsultti- ja muotoilutoimistoa, 66 yksityistä yritystä edustaen eri kokoluokkia ja toimialoja, sekä 6 julkista organisaatiota. Tutkimuksemme tavoitteena oli kartoittaa miten organisaatiot hyödyntävät muotoilua käytännössä, ja miten sitä nykyisellään valjastetaan kestävään kehittämiseen. Olemme koostaneet avainlöydökset raporttiin, jonka suomenkielisen version pääset lukemaan painamalla alla olevaa linkkiä.
GET INSPIRED THROUGH CASES
Hoping to design more sustainable solutions, or teach sustainable design? Take a look at our Design & Sustainability Case Toolkit, a collection of case cards to serve as examples of different areas of sustainability and types of perspectives to consider.
PUBLICATIONS
- Björklund, T., Hannukainen, P., Manninen, T. & Hyysalo, S. (2025). Extending design in organizations: A meshwork of organizing, integrating and displaying actions in organizational change. California Management Review, 67(4), 95-120.
- van der Marel, F. (2024). Implications of hospital workers’ sense of safety and effectiveness in participatory design. The Design Journal.
- Björklund, T.A. & Hannukainen, P. (2022). Tracking design from offerings to strategy. Touchpoint, 13(1), 86-92.
- van der Marel, F. & Björklund, T.A. (2022). Designers as change agents: Perceived roles in advancing sustainability in organizations on different design utilization levels. Design2022, International Design Conference.
- Björklund, T.A. (2022). Expedite change. In Valtonen & Nikkinen (eds.): Designing change – new opportunities for organizations (pp. 128-137), Aalto ARTS Books, Joensuu. ISBN 978-952-64-0758-6 / Björklund, T.A. (2022). Vauhdita muutosta. In Valtonen & Nikkinen (toim.): Muotoilulla Muutokseen – Kehitystyön uudet mahdollisuudet (ss. 128-137), Aalto ARTS Books, Joensuu. ISBN 978-952-64-0734-0
- Björklund, T.A., Keipi, T. & Maula, H. (2020). Crafters, explorers, innovators, and co-creators – Narratives in designers’ identity work. Design Studies, 68, 82-112.
- Björklund, T.A., Maula, H., Soule, S. & Maula, J. (2020). Integrating design into organizations: The coevolution of design capabilities. California Management Review, 62(2), 100-124.
- Björklund, T.A. & Keipi, T. (eds.) (2019). Design+ Organizational renewal and innovation through design. Aalto University, Helsinki. ISBN 978-952-60-3782-0. 220 p.
- Björklund, T.A. & van der Marel, F. (2019). Meaningful moments at work: Frames evoked by in-house and consultancy designers. The Design Journal, 22(6), 753-774.
PEOPLE
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Senni Kirjavainen Researcher
senni.kirjavainen@aalto.fi
+358 50 521 5964 -
Vikki Eriksson Head of Research
vikki.eriksson@aalto.fi
+358 50 466 8713 -
Tua Björklund DF Director, Associate Professor
tua.bjorklund@aalto.fi
+358 50 511 3182