Hundreds of students have participated in Aalto University’s CHEMARTS courses in recent years. Read about their journey within the world of material science, exploration and collaborative design.
“Go all in and go crazy”
Jordan Danae Dornak is a designer and researcher specializing in biomaterials. Jordan completed Design Meets Biomaterials, CHEMARTS Summer School, and the CHEMARTS Project between 2023 and 2025 while studying for her Bachelor of Arts in Design and now pursuing a Masters of Arts in Design.
Architect and designer Talisa Dwiyani combines passion, materials, and collaboration in her work
Hailing from Indonesia, Talisa graduated with a Master of Creative Sustainability at Aalto University in 2020. Her takeaway from Aalto is the cross-disciplinary way of working.
Bringing the CHEMARTS spirit to the Netherlands
For researcher and educator Sam Edens, the Nordic Biomaterials by CHEMARTS course at Aalto University was more than a workshop; it became a reference point for how she now structures her own teaching and research practice in Amsterdam.
Finding a path through biodesign
When Iines Jakovlev took part in the Design Meets Biomaterials course in 2017, she had no idea how much it would shape her future.
CHEMARTS forms a vital part of alumnus Andreas Lindberg’s career path
Participating in the inaugural Aalto CHEMARTS summer school was a remarkable experience for Andreas strengthening his collaboration and communication skills for his future career in innovative materials technologies.
Learning to work at the material’s pace
Helena Manner joined CHEMARTS Summer School in 2016, bringing a background in glass and ceramics from the Estonian Academy of Arts.
From award-winning food packaging to researching biodesign spaces
From an early age, Ena Naito was drawn to both the sciences and design. CHEMARTS became the perfect place to bring those two worlds together.
Creating sound from nature
When Katri Oikarinen joined the CHEMARTS Summer School in 2018, she was a Bachelor of Arts student and already exploring sustainable materials through her own projects. The course offered the perfect setting to continue that exploration, and to experiment without limits.
From plant-based leather to solar cells
For Pranava Pakala, studying Electronics and Nanotechnology at Aalto University didn’t quite quench her curiosity. “When I found out about CHEMARTS, I loved the idea of combining design and science, of making biomaterials functional and beautiful.”
Jaana Pippola is driven by a sustainable future
Jaana Pippola has always been drawn to sustainable design, and her CHEMARTS studies at Aalto University gave her the tools and confidence to explore bio-based materials in creative and practical ways.