Two decades of new media
16.09.2014
Aalto University Media Lab Helsinki has been providing the labour market with top experts for 20 years already.
In the midst of the 1990s recession, a common vision and a group of creative people in the art and design community was the start of something that has come a long way over the years.
'At that time, for example, we produced a website for President Martti Ahtisaari, which was very rare at a time when design tools barely existed,' says Philip Dean, who heads Media Lab Helsinki.
An unconventional approach and the desire to experiment led to success. The masters of art who graduate from Media Lab's multidisciplinary degree programme work in design groups at leading companies in the industry. Students and alumni from the programme have also founded numerous start-up companies, such as Zipipop, which was created by a group of social media experts.
With regard to games, Media Lab has had a particular impact on sound design for Finnish games. For example, Ilmari Hakkola, who will graduate from the degree programme next year, handles the sound design for Rovio's games.
'Finnish game composers like Hakkola are able to move in the multidimensional space between different genres, stylish sub-categories and music storytelling. Finnish game music and the sound worlds of games are very individual, diverse and carefully implemented,' says Lecturer Antti Ikonen.
Research has also been multidisciplinary and adapted right from the start, and has been performed in close cooperation with companies and communities. Among other things, research has focused on developing new types of learning environments. The Edukata tool kit that has been piloted in more than 2 500 European classrooms helps teachers identify learning-related challenges and improve learning.
'The digital tool kit makes it easier for teachers to put new learning methods into practice and utilise technology in a better way. Student cooperation and learning skills can also be developed with Edukata,' explains Professor Teemu Leinonen, who leads the Learning Environments Research Group.
Media Lab is celebrating the same way it lives – openly and in the city
The exhibitions to mark Media Lab Helsinki's 20th anniversary open on 16 and 17 September in downtown Helsinki and Arabia: in the Lasipalatsi Tovi & Akkuna spaces, Design Forum Showroom and a retrospective exhibition entitled ”20 years of new media” in the Lume Centre at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. An open anniversary seminar will also be held on Thursday 25 September, focusing on current topics in new media and its future.
More information about the exhibitions and the seminar are available on the Media Lab website: https://medialab.aalto.fi/2014/09/04/mlab20-seminar-and-the-exhibitions/
Further information:
http://medialab.aalto.fi/news
Kati Åberg
Producer
Media Lab Helsinki
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Kati.aberg [at] aalto [dot] fi
Tel. +358 50 4397224