Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Midsummer in Finland is a magical time of the year when the sun barely sets and the horizon glows in soft golden hues. ☀️

Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy midnight sun’s atmosphere indoors throughout the year? Designer Henri Timperi has made it possible with Midnight Sun™ — a hand‑blown glass ceiling light which creates the effect of the midnight sun’s reflection on a rippling lake.

By combining expertise from multiple disciplines, Henri created a modular steel optic mould, which allows him to manipulate the surface of the glass. He also made a custom light source to enhance the reflections.

In autumn 2025, Henri participated in the Aalto Creatives pre‑incubator programme, where advisors and mentors helped him explore new ways to turn his work into a business.

Henri's multidisciplinary background is reflected in his work. He first studied mechanical engineering at Aalto University School of Engineering and business at Aalto University School of Business then trained as a cabinet maker, before returning to Aalto to study design at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture ✨

__

🏖️ Psst! Aalto ARTS is starting its summer holiday. In the meantime, explore our webmag (link in comments), which showcases a selection of some of our most ambitious projects.

Happy Midsummer! Enjoy the magic of the Finnish summer time! See you in August 👋

Aalto University is in constant dialogue with EU’s multiple layers of decision-making: top political leaders, administrative staff, institutions and field-specific professionals. The aim is to build connections, gather information, and influence the direction of European research, education and innovation policy.

One great platform for networking and dialogue is the European Commission’s biennial event, the New European Bauhaus Festival, which takes place at the heart of the EU in Brussels. It brings together leading names in EU policymaking, researchers, designers and grassroots actors to discuss and showcase sustainable projects from across Europe.

This year, Aalto University took part in the NEB Festival with the exhibition The Pathfinders: Overcoming circular economy bottlenecks. It presented multidisciplinary research strategies related to recycled construction materials, the textile value chain as well as the recovery of valuable battery metals. Although the circular economy has been a topic for discussion for more than a decade, the theme is about to become increasingly topical, due to the forthcoming EU circular economy act.

We were very pleased to host Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for environment, water resilience, and a competitive circular economy in our exhibition!

📸 Images:
1-2 & 5: Commissioner Jessika Roswall’s visit and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen’s opening speech, photos: European Commission 2026 / Simon Pugh
3-4: The Pathfinders exhibition, photo: Enni Äijälä

Another must-see exhibition at Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale! 🤩

Material Flow, an exhibition that explores the journey of matter in the hands of the next generation of designers, showcases the work of 29 Interior Architecture students from Aalto University.

From furniture and lightning to experimental objects, the exhibition showcases how emerging designers are pushing the boundaries of contemporary design through innovative material research, craftsmanship and hands-on experimentation.

The works on display represent a continous “flow” where the boundary between the natural world and the built environment dissolves.

Material Flow is curated by Tomek Rygalik & Katrin Greiling.

📍 The Old Granary, Fiskarsintie 333, Fiskars
📅 7 June – 30 August 2026

Read more about the works in comments.

📸 Photos:
1 Flou by Henna Haarala, Jade Huculak and Oskari Karo
2 Trocarts by Julia Postrzech
3 Maa (Earth) by Klara Sjelvgren, photo: Jesper Dolgov
4 Tapetti by Aura Lindèn
5 Aava by Sanni Edelmann
6 Solace by Jade Huculak
7 Happiness by Yongsub Shin and Nora Kaltenborn
8 Yhtenä by Eveliina Saarentaus
9 Sydänpuu by Selina Elg

Looking for a summer day trip in Finland? Head over to Fiskars Village and discover the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale 2026! 🌸

The main exhibitions of the Fiskars Village Art and Design Biennale, Sense of Water and Dew, are presented across three floors of Viljamakasiini. The entrance floor hosts Sense of Water, a curated exhibition by Riikka Latva-Somppi. 🌊

The exhibition brings together design, art, science and personal experience through cross-disciplinary research and creative projects. It explores themes such as water stewardship and the relationship between plastics and aquatic systems, inviting visitors to reflect on their own relationship with water 💧

Sense of Water features Aalto University researchers, teachers, and professors: Priska Falin, Riikka Latva-Somppi, Anna van der Lei, Julia Lohmann, Gary Markle, Maarit Mäkelä, and Kirsti Taiviola, as well as current and recent graduates: Atso Airola, Vala Boucht, Zoe Bruhat, Mira Niittymäki, Vilma Sainio, and Joanna Pomorska 👏

📍 The Old Granary, Fiskarsintie 333, Fiskars
📅 7 June – 30 August 2026
👉 Open daily from 11:00-18:00

📸 Photos by Justus Hirvi
1. Pia Sirén: Luonnos
2. Pia Sirén: Luonnos and Álvaro Catalán de Ocón: Plastic Rivers
3. Riikka Latva-Somppi: Troublesome Water
4. Julia Lohmann and Anna van der Lei: Echoes of Undercurrents
5. Gary Markle: Floating in a Sea of Change and Álvaro Catalán de Ocón: Plastic Rivers
6. Maarit Mäkelä & working group: Spring at Geassemahjohka
7. Sense of Water exhibition

Would you believe that this dress was made from a ship that sank over 300 years ago? ⛵️

When the Hahtiperä wreck was discovered off the coast of Oulu in 2019, conservation work left behind a large amount of fragile wood which was in danger of being discarded.

Instead, Aalto University researchers transformed the surplus material into something unexpected: the wood was turned into fiber, the fiber into yarn, and the yarn into a dress that continues the story of the 17th-century wreck.

The project is a great example of what can happen when different fields come together, combining the expertise and passion of archaeologists, chemists, materials scientists, and a designer.

The ’Shipwreck Dress’ also raises an important question: if +300-year-old wood can be transformed into something this beautiful, why are we still sending huge amounts of perfectly usable material to landfills every year?

📍The dress will be on display at the Oulu Museum of Art in the exhibition ’Tomorrow’s Wardrobe’, together with many other works from Aalto ARTS students, alumni and faculty.

Read more in comments 🔗

Huge shoutout to the multidisciplinary team behind the amazing project:
Michael Hummel, Inge Schlapp-Hackl, Susanna Ahola, Pirjo Kääriäinen, Lê Huy Quang, Suciati Krisnadewi, Bai Haoyu, Alexandra Hanhisalo, Nicole Nygren-Sundell, Collins Steven, Sami Rantasalo, Ylönen Timo, Seppo Jääskeläinen, Tapani Vuorinen, Lauri Rautkari, Christian Orassaari, Harri Koski, Minna Koivikko, Anna-Mari Leppisaari, Severi Uusitalo 👏

Photos credits:
1, 3 & 5. Shipwreck dress, photo: Esa Kapila
2. Finding the shipwreck, photo: Minna Koivikko
4. Anna-Mari Leppisaari knitting the dress, photo: Anna Berg

Welcome to Näyttely26 — a spectacular exhibition presenting textile, clothing, and fashion design concepts that don’t necessarily have to be worn.

Alongside collections, the exhibition features video works, multidisciplinary collaborations, and textile-focused works such as interior textiles.

Visit the exhibition in the heart of Helsinki at Bio Rex Lobby.

📅 Open until 7 June 2026
📍Bio Rex (2nd floor), Helsinki
👉 Free entry!

Opening hours for Bio Rex:
Mon 11–20
Tue Closed
Wed–Fri 11–20
Sat–Sun 11–18

📡 A satellite exhibition is also on view at the Aalto University campus, VÄRE Lobby, until 12 June.

🌟 Näyttely26 graduates: Viena Honkala, Venla Kokkola, Laura Sarmanto, Claire Aunison, Johanna Hehemann, Marina Piva, Mia Bøgedal, Natasa Hódosi, Ola Velure, Riikka Laaksoharju

Näyttely26 is part of the annual Näytös/Näyttely event, showcasing the graduate work of BA and MA students in fashion and textile design at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Main collaboration partner: Amos Anderson Fund

Näytös/Näyttely26 Creative direction: Ilona Hyötyläinen, Maarit Salolainen, Julia Vanne Noronha
Exhibition design: Emilia Lonka
Producer: Vanessa Agostini
Production assistant: Jere Vilo

📸 Photos by Liivia Pallas
1. Ola Velure - Beautiful Men - Dandyism Through the Lens of Oscar Wilde
2-3. Johanna Hehemann - Growing Ideas
4. Viena Honkala - Club Chromophile - Colour First, Think Later
5. Natasa Hódosi - Enjoying Hesitancy
6. Venla Kokkola - I Found a Pepperoncini on the Ground and It Tasted Good
7. Claire Pixie Aunison - Timeless Elegance
8. Riikka Laaksoharju - Step Up to an Empty Table

Whooa! What an unforgettable night! 🔥

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Näytös/Näyttely26 runway show, exhibition grand opening and award ceremony! And the biggest congratulations to our 30 incredible fashion and textiles graduates, well done! 👏💐

Näytös/Näyttely is above all a platform for the next generation of creators to display their cutting edge design, while also celebrating outstanding work with annual awards.

Meet the Näytös/Näyttely26 award winners:
🏆 EMMA Award: Sasu Takko
- Ihokas
🏆 Fiskars Award: Sasu Takko - Ihokas
🏆 Amos Anderson Fund Award: Johanna Hehemann - Growing Ideas
🏆 Bloom Agency Award: Auri Lukkarinen - Techno is Freedom
🏆 Iittala Award: Jarkko Karppinen - Outsiders
🏆 Finnish Textile & Fashion Award: Jarkko Karppinen - Outsiders
🏆 Architecture and Design Museum Award: Bethel Degefu - Yager Lij - Carrying Tradition in Motion
🏆 Marimekko Award: Nanna Marie Christensen - Clock In, Clock Out

Honorable mentions:
🌟 Amos Anderson Fund: Alexandra Hellberg - Flesh
🌟 Amos Anderson Fund: Eetu Kakriainen - Dress as a Spatial Practice
🌟 Finnish Textile & Fashion: Sasu Takko - Ihokas
🌟 Marimekko: Hanna Ruha - Bodily Antiquities

Still craving some more? We got you!

The Näyttely26 exhibition opens to the public at Bio Rex Lobby tomorrow 30 May and runs until 7 June, 2026. A satellite exhibition will also be open at the Aalto University campus, VÄRE building, until 12 June. Free entry!

Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us and to all the students, faculty and staff, collaborators, partners and supporters who made Näytös/Näyttely 26 possible! 😍

Read more via link in comments 🔗

Main collaboration partner: Amos Anderson Fund

Näytös/Näyttely26 Creative direction: Ilona Hyötyläinen, Maarit Salolainen, Julia Vanne Noronha
Producer: Vanessa Agostini
Production assistant: Jere Vilo

📸 Photos by Kristian Presnal:
1. Jarkko Karppinen - Outsiders
2. Sasu Takko - Ihokas
3. Auri Lukkarinen - Techno is Freedom
4. Bethel Degefu - Yager Lij - Carrying Tradition in Motion
5. Nanna Marie Christensen - Clock In, Clock Out
6. Aleksandra Hellberg - Flesh
7. Eetu Kakriainen - Dress as a Spatial Practice
8. Hanna Ruha - Bodily Antiquities
9. Johanna Hehemann - Growing Ideas

TONIGHT: Näytös/Näyttely26 runway show! The countdown begins! 🔥

Our amazing BA and MA fashion graduates present their collections at NÄYTÖS26 — and you’re invited!

📅 Tonight at 19:00 (GMT+3)
📍 Streaming LIVE on a giant outdoor screen at Lasipalatsi Square, Helsinki
🛜 Online on fashiontextiles.aalto.fi and on Instagram @ aalto_fashion
👉 Free entry to LIVE streams

You won’t want to miss this incredible show!

Main collaboration partner: Amos Anderson Fund