Aalto University Patternlab

Pattern Lab is a master’s level minor-study program at Aalto University of Arts, Design and Arhitecture in Helsinki, Finland. The project has an impressive and successful history of almost 20 years, and a number of today’s top textile and surface designers in Finland are Pattern Lab alumni. Through an increasing amount of international students, PatternLab alumni can now be found around the world working in various tasks in the design industry and business. Pattern Lab is a year long study project. The project was founded in 1999 by former Dean of Aalto ARTS, Emeritus Professor Helena Hyvönen. It has since been further developed and supervised by Professor of textile design Maarit Salolainen (2002-2008, 2014-present) and Pirjo Kääriäinen (2008-2014). The professors involved in the project are highly experienced, all having served as design directors inside industry. Lecturer Maija Fagerlund, herself a PatternLab alumni and a has been tutoring PatternLab-students since 2007. The aim of Pattern Lab is to create a large, professional surface design collection. During the year long project students learn how to design and coordinate surface designs for various application areas (e.g. prints for fashion and interiors, jacquards, tablewear etc.). Learning how to work as a team creating commercial designs in a business environment for international industry clients helps in the transition from MA-studies to professional working life. The designs are promoted at key industry fairs and directly to customers all around the world. During the past years, Pattern Lab teams have sold hundreds of patterns to a large number of companies in industries such as fashion, textile, paper products, interiors, etc.