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  3. Planning Your Studies
  4. Design Factory

Design Factory

Join the Design Factory community where we develop new solutions together – challenging, inspiring, and utilizing diverse expertise!

DESIGNING LEARNING EXPERIENCES

At HAMK Design Factory, we design learning experiences. Our interdisciplinary research and teaching team operates within a Design-Based Education (DBE) setting where interdisciplinary student teams work together with industry partners to solve authentic real-life challenges. Our research focuses on students’ learning experiences, authentic university-industry collaboration, design methodologies, and implementing educational change.

During the projects, students get to expand their thinking and work in a multidisciplinary field and thereby find new perspectives and ideas. During the studies, students will also learn new methods and tools like Design Thinking and also develop teamwork skills and self-management. Companies are heavily involved in our operations, so students can network with operators from different fields and potential employers already during their studies.

At Design Factory, we aim to participate in answering the challenges of the future by creating a common language, cooperation and innovations between different fields. Come join us to build solutions and network!

Courses

HAMK Design Factory courses

Interdisciplinary Solution Foundry (ISF) 15 ects

Interdisciplinary Solution Foundry (ISF) is an interdisciplinary course where students solve real-life business challenges as a team. The interdisciplinary team collaboration is meant for students to come together from different fields and being capable of learning from one another to develop themselves, and their shared project. Most of the real-life business challenges are provided and sponsored by various companies looking for innovative collaboration with the next generation of product developers.

In the course, we operate according with the design thinking process, which includes multiple different stages such as understanding the challenge, defining it, ideating, prototyping, testing, and evaluating. In the course, students will also have the opportunity to learn various different skills that can support the progression of their team project. For example, developing ideas into tangible form using 3D printing and electronics, how to train presentation skills, or how to manage a team constructively as a project leader.

The teaching and studying of the course takes place in English. The course culminates in multiple parts during its duration, which is composed of a training bootcamp week at the start of the course, afterwards with weekly lectures and coaching sessions until a halfway gala day. Afterwards the course will continue with weekly coaching but with less lecture sessions, and will finish with a Final Gala week, where student teams during the week finalize their projects and at the end present their latest functional prototype, which can be a tangible product, service, or a new operational model solution to their company challenge.

The course is implemented by HAMK Design Factory, which is a interdisciplinary product, service development operation, and learning environment that aims to bring together companies, students, teachers, and researchers as a collaborative culture. In Design Factory projects, solutions to companies’ challenges are sought through service and product design. The core of Design Factory’s activities is co-creation and development. For product development, Design Factory’s facilities offer various processing methods such as laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics assembly, as well as wood and metal processing capabilities.

You can view the results of the Interdisciplinary Solution Foundry (ISF) on the first floor of the E-building in the corridor leading to the kitchen. Also remember to follow HAMK Design Factory’s social media and check out the results of previous product development projects!

DF Workshops 1-14 ects

HAMK Design Factory järjestää erilaisia työpajoja eri alojen opiskelijoille. Tarjolla on yhdeksän HAMK Design Factory organizes different workshops for students from different fields. There are seven different workshops where students can choose the ones they like. The workshops are open for everyone and almost all the workshops are fully e-courses. Workshops are open from August to June.

At the moment the course contains nine workshops but there is a possibility for more to be added later. There are courses for:

  • 3D modeling (1 ects)
  • 3D printing (2 ects)
  • Graphic Design (2 ects)
  • Information Design (1 ects)
  • Laser working (1 ects)
  • Website Design (1 ects)
  • 3D with Blender (2 ects)
  • Blender to Unity (2 ects)
  • Design Thinking Process (2 ects)

If you need more information and help with how to apply, please contact:

Data-analytics courses

In Data Analytics course students learn the basics of data analytics and the possibilities of using data-analytics in work-life. Through case tasks, students can apply data analytics in developing applications. Teams are a combination of students from Bioeconomy Engineering, Business Information Technology, Computer Applications, and International Business that have skills and knowledge needed to develop data analytics solutions for companies.

Data Analytics Project is an 8 weeks-long sprint, where a data analytics solution is developed to the topics presented by project sponsor. A project sponsor is a company that describes the topic and problem and supply the student team with relevant data. The students learn the basics of data mining and the use of Excel and Power-BI in data-analytics. After completing the project, the students have a thorough understanding of the possibilities of data analytics.

Read more from blog!

International Design Factory courses

Millenium Fellowship Programme

The Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development programme designed to encourage and challenge degree students to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program is organized in partnership with the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the Millennium Campus Network (MCN).

HAMK students can apply for this Millennium Fellowship programme either as an individual student or as part of a project implemented by HAMK and Pace University in New York. The Millennium Fellowship programme takes place from August to December and it is mainly carried out as distance learning. The programme may include travel. The programme is free of charge for selected students.

Design Factory Internship opportunities

Internship at Design Factory?

HAMK Design Factory internship (15 ECTS) is suitable for students who want experience assisting in interdisciplinary industry or research projects while gaining insight into Design Factory’s international cooperation.

HAMK Design Factory provides internship opportunities for students depending on availability of suitable projects and activities. Specific tasks will be defined based on the student’s needs and interests. As an intern you may, for example, support implementation of one of Design Factory’s international courses, assist in a research project, help organize an international event, or work on communication and marketing of Design Factory activities.

The Design Factory internship is normally unpaid and compensated with credits. You need to check with your degree programme to make sure the Design Factory Internship will be accepted for your degree studies.

HAMK Design Factory Internship in a nutshell:

  • 15 ECST, 2-6 months
  • Languages: English or Finnish
  • Locations: Forssa, Hämeenlinna, Riihimäki
  • Compensation: Unpaid
  • Application period: Continuous 
  • Important: Requires approval from your own degree programme

Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Confirm with your degree programme that you can do your internship with HAMK Design Factory
  2. Write to Markku Mikkonen (markku.mikkonen@hamk.fi) to apply for the internship. In your email, please describe:
    • What do you want to learn during your internship?
    • What is the desired time/length of your internship?
    • What is your preferred HAMK campus for doing it?

Heading abroad for Design Factory Internship

It is also possible to do internship abroad with one of the members of the Design Factory Global Network. You will need to find the internship place yourself and have a nominated supervisor for your internship at the receiving Design Factory. Also, remember to agree with your degree programme to have the internship included in your degree. You may apply for a grant for internship abroad if it is a part of your degree.

Locations and workspaces

Hämeenlinna

Stage

A multipurpose workspace where events, lectures, and lightweight prototypes can be developed. The space includes a stage, presentation equipment, and two projectors. It’s easy to customize the space with collapsible tables and chairs according to individual needs, accommodating approximately 50-80 people.

ProtoLab

Responsible person: Markku Mikkonen

A space fully committed towards prototyping and creation of tangible ideas that may have been ideated through personal or school based projects. All of these opportunities are accessible for all HAMK students and staff after induction training has been cleared.

Equipment: 3D printers (SLA & FFF materials), electronic workstations with needed tools, laser printing (cutting & engraving), large scale printing (poster, vinyl, and roll-ups), large scale cutting (vinyl), graphic design using drawing screen.

Woodworking workshop

Responsible person: Markku Mikkonen

Materials to work with: Plywood, boards, MDF, and particleboard. Note: When working in the woodshop, it’s necessary to use ear protection and safety goggles at all times.

Equipment: Circular saw, table saw, band saw, planer, jointer, lathe, bench drill press, belt sander, disc sander, and spindle sander.

Metalworking workshop

Materials to work with: Metal rods, pipes, angle pieces, threaded rods, and flat bars.

Note: When working in the metal workshop, it is necessary to always wear ear protection, safety goggles, and protective clothing.

Equipment: MIG welding machine, bench drill press, sheet metal cutting table (guillotine), milling machine, lathe, bench grinder, gas torches, and edge bender.

Panama

Panama is a communal space for all HAMK students. It was created for group work and free time, anything the students can make up! Panama is furnished with confortable sofas, basket chairs, carpets adn lamps, but it was partly left up to the users to decide what else could be needed in the space! So you’re more than welcome to come and hang out here with other students or the E-building staff!

Matrix

Matrix is used as a self-study room where both students and teachers can sit for their studies and meetings. There are no assigned or reserved tables, so you can sit wherever you want. You are free to use the screens, keyboard and mouses as long as you are in this space and leave it as it was when you go leave the room. Feel free to join and work here as long as you would like but remember to considerate of other people working in this space.

Valkeakoski

The premises of Valkeakoski Design Factory can be found on the first floor of the Building B.

The Valkeakoski premises offer possibilities for 3D-printing and also has similar type stage setup for presentations and other events.

Forssa

At the Forssa campus, the focus is on work-life projects emphasizing sustainable development and data analytics.

The Forssa premises offer the multipurpose workspace called Agora.

Riihimäki

The Riihimäki facilities have equipment for building prototypes and spaces for working. The spaces are located in the premises of the Riihimäki campus, next to the cafeteria.

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All of our Design Factory staff

Head of HAMK Design Factory

IT Devices / Cameras / Coach

Machines and Facilities of HAMK Design Factory

Regenerative thinking / Lecturer

Riihimäki Design Factory

Forssa Design Factory

Service Design Lecturer, Hämeenlinna

Student assistant, Hämeenlinna

Blog

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