Notes of the surfaces designer

Allow me to introduce yourself: Surface Agent, I work undercover. At the moment, my location is strictly classified, but this is far from a secret for my own: Aalto University, Finland. I am here with a patriotic mission - to find out what the design of surfaces is, how it is created, what is needed for it, what technologies, what skills and abilities must be possessed. In addition, Helsinki in 2012 is the capital of world design - so I will have something to tell you about.

If you are interested in prints, patterns, trends, the life of one of the most creative universities - ask, I will try to find out everything.

The University University is considered one of the advanced European educational institutions in the field of art and design and causes the Finns themselves a real sense of pride when it comes to the quality of modern education. And then an immediate question arises: why? But because Aalto has a number of pleasant features and secrets.

Let's start with the main one: the most obvious student bonus is a free education in international programs in English, here it is available, while this humane opportunity is gradually evaporating around the world. Secondly, the undeniable flexibility of curriculum and student mobility. Thirdly, a developed system of educational rights and a comfortable situation for intensive work. But about everything in order.

As already mentioned, they study here for free. For free, with the exception of a couple of programs, which in turn are endowed with scholarships on degrees A, B and C from 8,000 to 32,000 euros for 2 standard years in the magistracy. At the same time, a student from a student in one academic year is 8,000 euros.

Touching upon the financial issue, we note that you can live and save in Aalto - for this we must join the ranks of the Student Union. Then a full -fledged lunch (soup+second+salad+juice) will cost you 2.70 euros, which pleases no less than impressive discounts on public transport and high -speed intercity trains. In fact, and this is carefully noted in student guides, it is better to postpone 550-850 euros for every month for living in Helsinki, because scholarships are not supposed for free programs.

The duration of training for the degree of bachelor is 3 years, and to obtain a master's degree 2 + 2 years. In other words, traditionally studying in the magistracy requires 2 years, but depending on the circumstances and personal curriculum, it can last up to 4 years. The periods of the lack of a student due to a draft in the army for young men or departure from the female side are not included during the time allotted for obtaining a degree. In addition, it is possible for personal reasons, for example, to discharge unemployment benefits (only for Finland citizens), to interrupt the educational process for up to 12 months, however, this time will still deduct from the general period of academic service.

One of the most important points for the student is planning your own classes, the so -called personal curriculum. Each newborn must plan their studies, from the first year to the last, including the desired international internships, participation in parallel projects, and additional courses. In general, such a curriculum should consist of at least three mandatory modules - a mandatory educational program. Each module “weighs” 12 ECTS (English European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - the European system for transferring and accumulating loans), each loan is equated to 27 hours of work. In addition to mandatory modules, the personal curriculum includes optional disciplines, work on various projects, international student exchange, working internship in the company and the so -called additional program (Minor Subject), for which a certificate that calls you a specialist in an additional field is issued.

Any adequate person may seem frightening to such an abundance of opportunities. Therefore, in order for the beginners not to panic from the first days, each student is prescribed a tutor from among professors who controls and helps to form a curriculum, given all the student preferences. In addition, for the moral support of the student, each educational program collects a group of tutors from among senior students who coordinate young animals for the first few days and help in solving household issues.

Another interesting feature of the university is the ability to take courses from various faculties, not to be attached to your native program, constantly expanding your horizons. Thus, by studying textile design, for example, you can register for graphic design courses, business or a “fashionable” course of Creative Sustainability, with difficulty translated into Russian, but important in terms of product development that is able to hold out in the market for decades, taking into account global problems and ecology. By the way, yes, courses are always registered on the Internet, and do not check the paper schedule at the dean. No less attractive for students is the opportunity to register for courses from other universities, and even from other cities of Finland.

As for the general atmosphere of Aalto, it can be characterized as a combination of academic independence and personal responsibility, which is conveniently located on a soft sofa. And there are plenty of soft sofas, furniture corners and student kitchens with free coffee on all seven floors of the first factory building of the Finnish factory for the production of ceramics and porcelain, and now the school of art, design and architecture of the University of Aalto. So, at the end of the working day, you can sit with colleagues in studying on a designer sofa, catch wifi and share ideas about working in a workshop or an impending project behind a mug of coffee. By the way, in the university basement for group discussions on the topic of study there is a special cafe, working until 8 o’clock in the evening, in which you can even buy beer, in reasonable, of course, quantities.

The next note: Events under World Design Capital Helsinki 2012: Design Market or Open Studios 2012 (Finnish design studios open their doors for visitors).

Sincerely,

Your Surface Agent