Topic outline

  • Introduction to MEC-E3006

    This course is a self-study course, where students can choose from the online self-study modules offered on the MyCourse pages of the course that cover a changing collection of contemporary topics relevant to product development, innovation management and creative efforts in organizations. The full content of these modules becomes visible in MyCourses as soon as you register to the course, and these can be completed by the student at any time during the year. 

    After the completion of the course, you

    • are familiar with key practices in design thinking and/or creativity in organizations
    • can describe key considerations for innovation and connect these to practical examples
    • can identify appropriate conditions to utilize select design thinking and/or creativity methods in different types of innovation initiatives

    MEC-E3006 Design thinking and creativity for innovation

    From the beginning of the fall 2022, there will be three one-credit modules available for self-study, where you can pick 1-3 to complete to gain 1-3 study credits. 

    Note that while the course modules can be completed at any time, study credits are awarded thrice a year, for those having completed all within-module components by the end of the evaluation periods of Periods I, III and V. This is a pass/fail course.

    Responsible teachers: Tua Björklund (ENG) and Satu Rekonen (SCI)

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      Registering the credits to Sisu Questionnaire
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  • The design thinking process (1cr)

    This one-credit module focuses on covering the basics of the design thinking process. The module will cover key practices in different phases of the process: empathizing, framing, ideation, prototyping and implementation. After the module, you will

    • recognize the different phases of design thinking
    • be familiar with a range of key methods in each phase
    • understand how these approaches can be used in practice

    You will see the six lessons of this module below on this page once you have registered to MEC-E3006 (although please note that it sometimes takes a few hours or even overnight for MyCourses and Sisu to sync). 

    Each lesson contains three short videos and usually a reading, with related quiz questions and an open question that will be graded as pass or fail once you submit the modules of your choice for grading. You need to complete all lessons and questions to pass the module. You can retake the modules - but please make sure to save your essay responses to a separate file, as these seem to be deleted in re-takes. And please remember to leave some feedback to us once you are done so that we can iterate the module to serve your needs even better!

    NB! Some of the videos in this module were featured in the previous version of MEC-E3999 before 2022. If you have completed the old version of MEC-E3999, you may wish to choose another module.

    Questions on this module? Please contact MA Senni Kirjavainen, senni.kirjavainen@aalto.fi

    The design thinking process: Understand, reframe, ideate, prototype and test


  • Radical creativity: Making room for novelty and exploration (1cr)

    This module covers how higher degrees of novelty and exploration for innovation can be supported in organizations from an individual, management, and organizational perspective.You will learn

    • how organizing for exploration in innovation processes if different from efficient delivery

    • what kinds of barriers organizational and team culture should overcome to better support creativity

    • how professionals can actively advance new ideas and get others involved in the process

    The module consists of three lessons, each with a few short videos, case examples from companies, a few readings and associated quiz questions you need to complete in order to pass the module. You can retake the modules - but please make sure to save your essay responses to a separate file, as these seem to be deleted in re-takes. The open questions will be graded as pass or fail once you submit the modules of your choice for grading. 

    Questions on this module? Please contact MA Senni Kirjavainen, senni.kirjavainen@aalto.fi

    Radical creativity: Making room for novelty and exploration

    The lessons and their materials become visible below once you have registered to the course (although please note that it sometimes takes a few hours or even overnight for MyCourses and Sisu to sync). And please, remember to leave us some feedback when you are done so that we can embody the iteration crucial for experimentation and continue to improve the course!

  • Organizing design-driven innovation: Case ABB Marine & Ports Pilot Projects(1cr)

    In this module, you'll walk through what design thinking can look like in practice in an industrial technology context, getting familiar with the ABB Marine & Ports Pilot Projects. You will learn

    • how different functions and professionals collaborate in developing complex new products
    • how working together with customers and users can be supported in different phases
    • how management needs can differ in different types of product development projects


    The module consists of a number of videos based on ABB Pilot Project employee, manager and user interviews, course readings, and associated quiz questions you need to complete to pass the course. You can retake the modules - but please make sure to save your essay responses to a separate file, as these seem to be deleted in re-takes. The open questions will be graded as pass or fail once you submit the modules of your choice for grading. The module materials become visible once you have registered to the course (although please note that it sometimes takes a few hours or even overnight for MyCourses and Sisu to sync).

    NB! Most of the videos in this module were featured in the previous version of MEC-E3999 before 2022. If you have completed the old version of MEC-E3999, you may wish to choose another module.

    Questions about this module? Contact MA Senni Kirjavainen, senni.kirjavainen@aalto.fi (Aalto ENG) or Dr Satu Rekonen (Aalto SCI).

    Combining new technology and design to create new value

    This module is organized into four lessons and their readings, which become visible below once you have registered to the course. And please, remember to leave us some feedback when you are done so that we can continue to improve the module!