Design and Fine Arts

Study Innovation + Design and shape the future through design-led innovation

The future of innovation lies at the intersection of design, emerging technologies and evolving needs for human well-being. The Innovation + Design programme is a design degree for those who want to explore this intersection through design-led innovation. 

During your studies, you will learn to develop concepts and explore new possibilities through human-centred design, prototyping, and experience-driven innovation. You will also study interaction design and gain a deeper understanding of human needs and experiences. Multidisciplinary learning will bring perspectives from a range of fields into your studies. In the later stages of your studies, you will apply your skills in project-based learning, with opportunities for industry collaboration. 

LAB Institute of Design and Fine Arts – known as LAB Muotoiluinstituutti in Finland – is one of the oldest design schools in the Nordic countries. You will study in a creative community where a long tradition of design education meets new perspectives on innovation, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of designers. Our Nordic and international networks also provide opportunities to broaden your perspective through international exchange. 

What do the studies include?

The Innovation + Design programme combines design knowledge with practical exploration and project-based learning. You will develop and apply design methods and tools through human-centred design, concept development, prototyping, and interaction design, with a focus on human needs, experiences and well-being. 

The first two years of the studies focus on building your design skills and deepening your understanding of human needs and experiences. As your studies progress, you will apply your knowledge and skills through project-based learning in future-oriented innovation contexts. You will also have opportunities for industry collaboration and participation in research, development and innovation (RDI) activities.

The four-year Innovation + Design programme comprises 240 ECTS credits. The studies progress from foundational and applied studies during the first two years to project-based learning and professional practice in the later stages of the programme. The studies include a 30 ECTS internship and a 15 ECTS bachelor’s thesis, enabling students to gain practical experience and strengthen their professional profile.

A master's degree in creating sustainable futures through design thinking

Design thinking provides a means to search for opportunities and create improvements toward sustainable futures. The interdisciplinary master’s degree programme in Design for the Planet is based on the principles of ​meaningful, sufficiency, and place-based design. It emphasises creative design thinking processes with human empathy for each other around real-world problems.

The degree programme is conducted online and as a part-time learning opportunity. Applicants are required to have at least two years of full-time work experience in a related field and an appropriate bachelor’s degree.

What do the studies include?

The studies include teacher-led online sessions, project-based online work in student teams, and independent student work. Virtual sessions are conducted approximately every two weeks during the autumn and spring semesters for the compulsory core and central complementary studies. The programme applies the flipped-classroom approach, where prework is required before online meetings and used for discussion and tasks.

The basis for development is understanding the main challenges of the state of the planet and how to follow the evolving sustainability rules, regulations, and reporting requirements. Design thinking includes systems understanding and evidence-based, human-driven information acquisition for holistic understanding and multidisciplinary development. Visual information forms an integrated part of the communication and development tools and result-building. 

The development context is studied both at the strategic level and in relation to the place-based, concrete situation. The strategic approach is not left at the abstract level, but concrete activities are sought as results, often through the means of co-design.

The thesis work includes presentations in online thesis seminars and joint online meetings. Individual online mentoring from the teaching staff is provided as an integral part of the thesis project.

For designers, engineers, and business or hospitality professionals: study circular economy solutions in a multidisciplinary master's degree programme

The multidisciplinary online master's degree programme in Circular Economy Solutions prepares students from design, business, hospitality, and technology backgrounds to address global challenges related to sustainable development and to promote societal change. Graduates will master circular economy strategies and business models.

Applicants are required to have at least two years of prior work experience in a related field (working full-time) and a desire to develop their professional skills in circular economy-related areas. The Circular Economy Solutions master's degree studies offer an excellent opportunity for networking and sharing expertise with your fellow students. 

Both Finnish and international students are strongly encouraged to apply. Also, applicants currently in a stage of career transition can avail of this opportunity to invest in their future skillset to help them re-enter the employment sector.

Duration and the scope of studies vary

Engineering and design students will complete a total of 60 ECTS credits of master’s-level studies in the degree programme, and MBA students a total of 90 ECTS.

In addition to core competence courses, students will plan a personalised learning path through complementary competence studies (15 ECTS for the engineering and design students and 30 ECTS for the MBA students), enabling them to tailor their studies to their individual learning objectives.

 In complementary studies, you can focus, for example, on 

• new technologies
• bio-based materials and solutions,
• the business potential of the circular economy.

The degree programme is conducted online and as a part-time learning opportunity. The courses are mainly executed by the LAB University of Applied Sciences' fields in Technology, Business and the Institute of Design and Fine Arts, in collaboration with the schools of LUT University. Complementary studies can also be selected from other faculties at LAB or other relevant institutions, offering opportunities to deepen and expand each student’s areas of interest.

The education is carried out under the guidance of experts from technology, design and business fields, and the studies include interdisciplinary teamwork. The students themselves represent diverse areas of expertise.

Sustainable Design Business educates contemporary designers for a sustainable future

Sustainability is changing the way businesses and organisations create value. This increases the need for designers who understand both the human and environmental impact of design. Sustainable Design Business (SDB) is a design degree for those who want to take part in this change. 

During the studies, you will learn how design can contribute to more sustainable products, services and systems in changing business and organisational contexts. This broadens the traditional role of the designer from form-giving to working with people, organisations and the wider contexts in which design decisions are made. 

LAB Institute of Design and Fine Arts – known as LAB Muotoiluinstituutti in Finland – is one of the oldest design schools in the Nordic countries. You will study in a design community where a long tradition of design education meets new perspectives on sustainability and the changing role of designers. Our Nordic and international networks also provide opportunities to broaden your perspective through international exchange. 

What do the studies include?

In the Sustainable Design Business programme, sustainability helps you understand the drivers and conditions of change, design provides methods for creating value, and business provides the context for implementation and impact.

Design thinking forms the methodological foundation for your studies, connecting design methods and tools with sustainability and impact. You will develop skills in visualisation, prototyping, human-driven design and futures thinking, alongside circular economy and lifecycle thinking. You will also learn to use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from a designer’s perspective to evaluate environmental impacts and support design decisions. During your studies, you will apply these skills in sustainable product and material design, sustainable service and systems design, and business design in sustainability. 

Your studies progress from building the foundations of Sustainable Design Business to integrating and applying your expertise through project-based learning and studio studies. During the first two years, you develop the core knowledge and skills of Sustainable Design Business through foundational and applied studies. In the third and fourth years, you put your skills into practice and develop your professional profile through project-based studio learning, a 30 ECTS internship and a 15 ECTS bachelor's thesis.

State-of-the-art facilities at the Lahti campus ensure that students can utilise a multitude of methods and modern equipment in their design work.