Pirjo Seddiki & Mirja Niemelä
From Crafts to Smart and Sustainable Design The history of design education at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is an illustrative example of the development from a crafts school to a design university. Founded in 1885 in Hämeenlinna by Fredrika Wetterhoff, the School of Crafts, later renamed Fredrika Wetterhoff Artisanal Teacher Training College, became Wetterhoff Institute of Crafts and Design during the 1990s. In the early days, the main education goals stressed the development of the cottage industry and, especially, giving women a possibility to earn their own living. The values in the beginning of the school included equality of education, internationality, technical progress and high quality of products. The first students in the weaving classes were young girls who had been released from prison while the first staff members had an international background. New weaving technology and tools were developed and the resulting products won awards in world exhibitions. The graduated students taught not only in Finland but also in other countries (Laitila, 2015, 68 – 85.) Today, HAMK provides design education in the Degree Programme in Smart and Sustainable Design (Bachelor of Culture and Arts, BCA) as part of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business. This education is available both in Finnish and in English for international students. (Älykäs ja kestävä muotoilu). The students can choose major studies in fashion, footwear or glass and ceramics. The education includes work-oriented design and expertise supporting the development of products and services in the design industries through conceptualization, product development, production and manufacturing expertise. HAMK is the only provider of undergraduate level education profiles in the footwear, glass and ceramics design sector in Finland. Focus is placed on project expertise and most of the study modules are implemented in cooperation with business and organizations in the field. The students of Smart and Sustainable Design can also participate in multidisciplinary projects in HAMK Smart Research Units and Design Factory. The research units operate in international innovation ecosystems. Design research focuses on projects for the development of working life and education in a diversity of fields such as in the health care, environmental 22
