FUTURESCAPES
DESIGN SERIES
ESPOO, FINLAND
FEBRUARY 2025
What?
A dynamic 5-day program that brings together students, creative minds, and industry innovators to solve real-world problems through design. Each session immerses participants in a unique problem space, encouraging collaboration, creativity, and skill-building. Guided by experts, participants explore how design can reimagine possibilities and create actionable solutions for a better future.
WHY?
The world today faces 'wicked problems'—complex, multifaceted challenges that require innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions. Design Series - Futurescapes is vital because it empowers participants to think boldly, step beyond their comfort zones, and develop complementary skills to tackle these pressing issues. By applying design sprint principles, participants co-create impactful solutions that address real-world challenges, highlighting the transformative power of design in driving meaningful change.
HOW?
Each session is structured as a hands-on design sprint, where participants work on real-world case challenges provided by leading innovators and organisations. With every session, new experts, fresh challenges, and diverse opportunities are introduced, offering a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Participants connect, collaborate, and learn from one another while developing solutions that make a tangible impact.
SCHEDULE
Discover & Defining Problems
Ideation and Creativity Techniques
Collaboration and Decision Making
Storytelling and Pitching
FAQ
Q: What does the program entail each day?
A:
Day 1 (Feb 17): Discover and Define Problems. Activities include problem framing, empathy mapping, and developing problem statements.
Day 2 (Feb 21): Ideation and Creativity Techniques. Participants brainstorm and present innovative concepts.
Day 3 (Feb 24): Collaboration and Decision-Making. Teams prioritize and refine their ideas using decision-making tools.
Day 4 (Feb 27): Prototyping and Testing. Participants create prototypes and conduct quick user tests.
Day 5 (Feb 28): Storytelling and Pitching. Teams prepare and deliver a 2-minute pitch of their solution.
Q: What are the outputs for each day?
A:
Each day focuses on a specific deliverable:
Day 1: 1-minute problem statement.
Day 2: 2–3 innovative concepts.
Day 3: Feasible solution selection with rationale.
Day 4: Low-fidelity prototype or storyboard.
Day 5: Polished 2-minute pitch with visuals.
Q: How long is each workshop?
A: Workshops are 1 hour and 45 minutes, with the last 15 minutes dedicated to feedback or pitching.
Q: What are the benefits of the workshops?
A: They provide hands-on learning, foster teamwork, enhance lean thinking, and enable rapid prototyping.Mentorship and Networking
Q: Is mentorship available during the program?
A: Yes, teams receive feedback from mentors at the end of each workshop. Mentors are assigned to small groups for personalized guidance.
Q: Are there networking opportunities?
A: Yes, participants have opportunities to network with other attendees, speakers, workshop facilitators, and company representatives during sessions and dinner breaks.
Q: Do I need to attend all sessions to benefit?
A: No, each session is designed as a standalone experience, so participants can join individual sessions and still gain valuable insights.
Q: What should participants expect to gain?
A: Inspiration, practical design skills, and examples of how design influences various fields.
Q: What is the daily schedule?
A:
16:45 - 17:00: Doors open and check-in
17:00 - 17:15: Welcome and Introduction
17:15 - 17:45: Keynote Speaker
17:45 - 18:15: Dinner and Networking
18:15 - 20:00: Workshop
20:00 - 20:15: Closing words
(Note: Day 4 starts at 18:00 and ends at 21:00.)
Q: What is the prize for the best pitch on Day 5?
A: A Wolt gift card will be awarded to the team with the best pitch.
Q: What are the unique aspects of this program?
A:
Exposure to diverse companies and case challenges.
Practical skills for all stages of a design sprint.
Flexible participation options.
