Why the Design and Media BA at Aalto Was the Perfect Choice for Me (and Could Be for You Too!)
Hey there! I’m Kata, a second-year student in the English Design BA program (now called Design and Media) at Aalto University. I’m originally from Hungary, and just 2 years ago, I was in high school, stressing over finals and facing “the” big questions: What am I interested in? What do I want to study? And, essentially, what do I want to do with my life?
Looking back, I know now that this decision wasn’t as final as it felt—but try telling that to my 18-year-old self. I knew I loved design because it offered the perfect balance between creativity and pragmatism, but I wasn’t sure which specific area I wanted to pursue.
Why I Chose the Design BA
One of my biggest concerns was committing to a specialized field—graphic or industrial design—without ever really exploring it first. That’s when Aalto’s Design and Media BA caught my eye. The curriculum is broad, covering everything from product design to service design, allowing students to try different areas before narrowing down their focus.
Was It the Right Decision?
Short answer: Absolutely.
More than that, it exceeded my expectations. The mix of physical and digital design courses, along with a good balance of individual and group projects, has helped me evolve both with my personal expertise and teamwork.
I also love how international my class is—everyone brings different perspectives, interests, and skills to the table. It’s fascinating to see how one course can be someone’s absolute favorite while another student might not enjoy it at all. Moving abroad can be daunting, but being part of an international community has made it easier to make friends and learn from different cultures.
The only thing I sometimes feel is missing is pure theoretical knowledge. Since everything is project-based with a focus on group work and tutoring, there isn’t as much traditional academic study. While this hands-on approach is great for learning by doing, I sometimes wish there were more structured theoretical insights into design history and methodology.
What Surprised Me About Studying Design
Design is so much more than visuals. Or as I like to say, it’s not just about “moving colorful rectangles around.” The final product might be a visual outcome, but visuals are just the outlet—the way all the research, problem framing, communication, and user testing come together. Behind the scenes, design is about concept development, research, problem framing, communication, and user testing. There’s a whole process of interviews, evaluations, and iterations before you ever get to the final look.
Have I Figured Out What I Want to Do?
Yes and no! My biggest realization is that sometimes, instead of discovering what you love, you first figure out what you don’t enjoy—like those assignments where time seems to crawl. This process has helped me identify my interests earlier than expected (and I’m only halfway through my degree!).
One great thing about this program is that many projects come with open briefs. This means that if you already have an area, you’re passionate about—like I do with 3D modeling—you can incorporate it into different projects, like using 3D visualization in a service design project.
Final Thoughts
I know the word interdisciplinary gets thrown around a lot, but it truly describes this degree. You get to explore different areas of design, collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds, and develop skills that can be applied in so many fields.
That being said, one critique this degree often gets is that it doesn’t offer deep specialization—you gain surface knowledge across various fields rather than mastering one specific area. For me, this was perfect because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to focus on. I was ready to dedicate my BA to exploring different aspects of design and then specialize in my master’s. However, if you already have a clear vision of the field you want to work in, this might not be the best program for you.
If you’re curious about design but unsure about committing to a specific niche, this program might be the perfect fit for you—just like it was for me!
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