Murjottelu – interdisciplinary training campaign for industrial design and engineering students

Abstract

Today's growing business competition demands that design and technology must be seamlessly integrated. Designers should be employed increasingly as in-house in the industry, in addition to entrepreneurship and consultancy employment. How to realise this aim? Industry training is a tradition in engineering studies, but that is rarely the case in the field of design [Vanhamaa, M. 2006. Harjoittelu osana teollisen muotoilun yliopisto-opetusta Suomessa. Thesis (MA) TAIK]. This causes severe challenges for both industries and the designers themselves; employing industrial designers is perceived as difficult, as is applying for industry positions. The Murjottelu training campaign was launched by Helsinki University of Technology. The original idea behind Murjottelu was to form pairs, consisting of one industrial design student and one engineering student and offer the pair to industrial companies. In other words, to ‘smuggle’ the design student into the organisation. Training pairs typically work within manufacturing and product-development tasks, similar to traditional engineering trainees. As the campaign has expanded, interdisciplinarity in general has grown to a more important role. Including this year, altogether 91 companies with 188 trainees have joined the programme. Employing the first in-house designer has proved to be easier when arriving with an engineer. Another key conclusion is that both the practical deliverables and learning outcomes are of increased value. The student pair is more creative, effective and autonomous than singular trainees in the traditional training format.

Keywords:

• industry training
• interdisciplinary teamwork
• industrial design

Acknowledgements

Thanks for those who made this work possible: Technology Industries of Finland, Tekes, Ornamo, AEL, Murjottelu trainees 2004–2008, ABB Motors Oy, Abloy Oy, Aker Arctic Technology Inc., Artek Oy, Beneq Oy, Bronto Skylift Oy Ab, Buildercom Oy, Cimteam Oy, Company Cube Oy, Contium Oy, Deltatron Oy, Desigence Oy, Dicole Oy, Dosetec Vaakakoskinen Oy, Easy Led Oy, ED-Design Ltd, Ego Beta Oy, Elisa Oyj, Elsi Technologies Oy, Ensto Oy, Fimet Oy, Finncont Oy, Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society Teosto, Finpro/Cern, Fiskars Brands Inc., Furuno Finland Oy, Future Lab of Product Design (FLPD) at Helsinki University of Technology, Hollming Works Oy, Innovation University, Itella Oyj, Jukova Oy, Kaukora Oy, Kone Hissit Oyj, Konecranes Oyj, KSV Instruments Oy, Kuudes kerros, Lappset Oy, Luovi Productions Oy, Marioff Corporation, Mecano Group Oy, Metso Minerals Oy, Metso Paper Oy, Mozo Ltd, Next Icon Oy, Niemen tehtaat Oy, Nokia Oyj, Otaniemi International Innovation Centre (OIIC), Outotec Minerals Oy, Philips Oy, Planmeca Oy, Powerkiss, Rautaruukki Corporation, Raute Oyj, Rfer Oy, Saas Instruments Oy, Savox Communications Ltd, SEW Industrial Gears, Sintrol Oy, Sonay Oy, Sweco Industry Oy, The Finnish Cultural Institute for Benelux, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Vaisala Oyj, Xiha Oy, Technology Industries of Finland, Tekes, Ornamo, AEL.