✨ From Barcelona to Aalto: My Journey as an International Student in Finland

Over time, what was unfamiliar to me became deeply inspiring. My journey at Aalto University has been much more than an academic pursuit; it has been a personal and cultural transformation.

🌍 Why Finland? Why Aalto?

My decision to study interior architecture at Aalto University was not based only on its international reputation. I was looking for a place where design was not only taught but lived, where sustainability was not a trend but a way of thinking, where experimentation was encouraged and where design was seen as a tool for solving real-world problems.

Aalto caught my attention because of its interdisciplinary approach. It is a university where designers work alongside engineers, business students, and scientists. This openness creates a space where ideas evolve in unexpected ways. As an interior architecture student, I have had the opportunity to collaborate on projects that go far beyond traditional design, exploring how spaces can shape behavior, promote well-being, and respond to environmental and social challenges.

🕊️ Learning to Slow Down

One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned here didn’t come from a lecture or a studio project, it came from simply living in Finland.

Life here moves at a different pace. People are more reflective, nature is a constant presence, and silence is respected rather than feared. In contrast to the busy, loud environment I grew up in, this quietness felt strange at first, almost unsettling. But gradually, I began to embrace it.

In that silence, I found space to think more clearly, observe more deeply, and design more thoughtfully. It changed how I approach my work, focusing less on what looks impressive and more on what feels meaningful.

🌌 Inspiration in Darkness

Finnish winters are long, cold, and dark and for someone from the Mediterranean, this was a challenge I hadn’t fully prepared for. But surprisingly, it became one of the most inspiring parts of my experience.

When natural light is limited, you begin to notice its value in an entirely new way. I became fascinated by how light shapes mood, perception, and spatial experience. This fascination evolved into the core of my thesis, which explores kinetic lighting systems inspired by origami. The aim is to create lighting experiences that mimic natural light cycles and encourage a deeper connection between people and their environments, especially in places where sunlight is scarce.

Design here is not about decoration. It’s about experience, subtlety, balance. It’s about creating harmony between people and place, and that perspective has fundamentally shifted how I see my role as a designer and architect.

🤝 Becoming Part of the Aalto Community

As an international student, I was initially nervous about finding my place. But Aalto has a unique ability to make you feel included, not by asking you to fit in, but by encouraging you to bring your perspective to the table.

Through my role as a student ambassador, I’ve had the chance to represent Aalto at events, speak with prospective students, and share my journey. I’ve connected with people from all over the world who are also curious about Finland and I always tell them the same thing: yes, it’s cold, and yes, the language is difficult. But what you’ll find here: in the workshops, in the forests, in the quiet conversations over coffee is a sense of purpose and possibility that’s hard to describe but easy to feel.

🚀 Looking Ahead

As I near the end of my master’s degree, I often reflect on how much I’ve changed since coming here. My understanding of design has deepened, not just in terms of skills and theory, but in values: sustainability, simplicity, and empathy.

I now dream of working on projects that are experimental, interactive, and globally relevant, ones that combine technology and craft, storytelling and function. And no matter where life takes me next, I know that the lessons I’ve learned in Finland will stay with me.

✨✨✨ Barcelona taught me how to dream. Finland taught me how to listen.

And somewhere between those two worlds, I found my own design voice. ✨✨✨