Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Artistic and research interests
Pirjo Kääriäinen serves as a Senior Advisor at Aalto University, focusing on fostering collaboration across disciplines, particularly in exploring new material innovations. Her academic journey has spanned several key roles: she worked as a Professor of Design and Materialities, Professor of Practice, Designer in Residence and as a Professor in Textile Art and Design (TaiK). Having joined Aalto University in 2008, Kääriäinen played a significant role in the CHEMARTS collaboration, a joint effort between the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and the School of Chemical Engineering. The initiative, which she co-facilitated from 2011 to 2025, aims to inspire both students and researchers to innovate with bio-based materials and develop sustainable concepts.
Before her academic career, Pirjo Kääriäinen gained experience in the textile industry and business and worked as an entrepreneur and consultant in the creative industries.
Education/Academic qualification
Master's degree, Arts and Design, Helsinki University of Arts and Design
Award Date: 15 Aug 1992
Keywords
- Chemarts
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Bio-based materials
- Textile design
- Design for sustainability
- Biomaterials
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Tomorrow’s wardrobe & Aalto University
Niinimäki, K. & Kääriäinen, P., 22 May 2026, Espoo: Aalto University. 27 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open Access -
Designs for the Material Future / Dutch Design Week
Isola, G., Ahola, S., Kääriäinen, P. & Vuorinen, T., 18 Oct 2025Research output: Artistic and non-textual form › Exhibition › Art in coproduction › peer-review
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Everyday Materials / Designs for a Cooler Planet (artist)
Jakovlev, I., Kääriäinen, P. & Partanen, N., 4 Sept 2025Research output: Artistic and non-textual form › Exhibition › Art in coproduction › peer-review
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Everyday Materials / Designs for a Cooler Planet (curator)
Kääriäinen, P. (Curator), Äijälä, E. (Curator) & Ahola, S. (Curator), 4 Sept 2025Research output: Artistic and non-textual form › Exhibition › Art in coproduction › peer-review
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Marvelous materials : Instructions for bio-based experiments
Isola, G., Ahola, S., Kääriäinen, P. & Vuorinen, T., 2025, Espoo: Aalto-yliopisto. 77 p. (Aalto University publication series Crossover; vol. 2/2025)Research output: Book/Report › Book › Professional
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-: 2021 SA Profi 6
Hämäläinen, J. (Principal investigator), Markkula, T. (Project Member), Lähteenoja, S. (Project Member), Khan, I. (Project Member), Hollmen, S. (Project Member), Haltia, A. (Project Member), Klenner, N. (Project Member), Karhu, K. (Project Member), Khan, M. (Project Member), Nurmi, N. (Project Member), Shin, J. (Project Member), Haukkala, T. (Project Member), Stead, D. (Project Member), Salminen, E. (Project Member), Ovaska, J.-P. (Project Member), Dagnaud, K. (Project Member), Diehl, M.-R. (Project Member), Baldasso, V. (Project Member), Jokelainen, A. (Project Member), Hämäläinen, M. (Project Member), Dzhengiz, T. (Project Member), Sawhney, N. (Project Member), Turunen, L. L. M. (Project Member), Keskinen, M. (Project Member), Moliner, E. (Project Member), Ruotoistenmäki, A. (Project Member), Itani, S. (Project Member), Peña Torres, D. (Project Member), van der Marel, F. (Project Member), Wikström, J. (Project Member), Villo, S. (Project Member), Hetemäki, M. (Project Member), Ibrahim, N. (Project Member), Chandramouli, S. (Project Member), Markkanen, J. (Project Member), Kääriäinen, P. (Project Member), Keipi, T. (Project Member), Van Leemput, K. (Project Member), Oinas, P. (Project Member), Laurila, T. (Project Member), Tehrani, A. (Project Member), Eriksson, V. (Project Member), Pudas, A. (Project Member), Paler, A. (Project Member), Härkönen, E. (Project Member), Nielsen, S. K. (Project Member), Lafaire, A. P. (Project Member) & Bingham, E. (Project Member)
01/01/2021 → 31/10/2027
Project: RCF Profiling
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-: FOLD2 A80329
Kääriäinen, P. (Principal investigator)
01/03/2024 → 28/02/2026
Project: Business Finland: Strategic centres for science, technology and innovation (SHOK)
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FOLD2: FOLD2
Peltonen, K. (Principal investigator), Holste, M. (Project Member), Badiee, M. (Project Member), Kalgutkar, A. (Project Member), Könkkölä, J. (Project Member), Soleimani Javid, Z. (Project Member), Rodriguez Chavez, M. (Project Member), Suominen, M. (Project Member), Lehtonen, N. (Project Member), Wu, Q. (Project Member), Luotoniemi, T. (Project Member), Niiranen, J. (Co-PI), Kääriäinen, P. (Co-PI) & Joutsela, M. (Co-PI)
01/03/2024 → 31/05/2026
Project: BF Co-Innovation
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-: SUSTAFIT/Kääriäinen
Kääriäinen, P. (Principal investigator)
01/10/2022 → 01/10/2024
Project: Business Finland: Other research funding
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SUSTAFIT/Tehrani: Sustainable fit-for-purpose Nonwovens
Tehrani, A. (Principal investigator), Gebeyehu, E. K. (Project Member), Saha, T. (Project Member), Shrestha, R. (Project Member), Tarhini, A. (Project Member), Shamloo, P. (Project Member), Johansson, P. (Project Member), Schlapp-Hackl, I. (Project Member), Nygren-Sundell, N. (Project Member), Hart, E. (Project Member), Hummel, M. (Co-PI) & Kääriäinen, P. (Co-PI)
01/10/2022 → 01/10/2024
Project: BF Other
Prizes
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Aalto Awards 2022: Aalto Research Impact Award
Ahola, S. (Recipient), Hummel, M. (Recipient), Kruus, K. (Recipient), Kääriäinen, P. (Recipient) & Laine, J. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Award or honor granted for a specific work
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Aalto Awards 2022: Education Impact award
Vuori, R. (Recipient), Bratton, C. (Recipient) & Kääriäinen, P. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Award or honor granted for a specific work
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Art Goes Metsä competition
Kääriäinen, P. (Advisor), Jeskanen, T. (Recipient), Suominen, A. (Recipient), Heikkinen, K. (Recipient), Weintraub, D. (Recipient) & Vuorinen, T. (Advisor), 2 Mar 2018
Prize: Invitation or ranking in competition
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Award of Excellence in ICMA competition for 'Lost in the Wood(s)' publication
Kääriäinen, P. (Recipient), Tyyri-Pohjonen, S. (Recipient), Suorlahti, E. (Recipient) & Tervinen, L. (Recipient), 12 Nov 2017
Prize: Award or honor granted for a specific work
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CHEM Impact Act of 2025
Isola, G. (Recipient), Ahola, S. (Recipient), Kääriäinen, P. (Recipient) & Vuorinen, T. (Recipient), 2025
Prize: Award or honor granted for a specific work
Activities
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Design Interrupted: conversations about the past, present and future of design
Julier, G. (Speaker), Lohmann, J. (Speaker), Niinimäki, K. (Speaker), Puintila, S. (Speaker), Mattelmäki, T. (Speaker) & Kääriäinen, P. (Speaker)
27 Feb 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public talk to non-academic audience (public outreach)
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Jimena Alarcon
Kääriäinen, P. (Host)
23 Sept 2024 → 28 Sept 2024Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Insights from Finland: Towards Sustainable Textiles
Kääriäinen, P. (Speaker)
8 Apr 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public talk to non-academic audience (public outreach)
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Insights into Future of Materials – A Designer’s Perspective
Kääriäinen, P. (Speaker)
9 Aug 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited academic talk
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Luonnosta vai laboratoriosta - näkökulmia tulevaisuuden materiaaleihin
Kääriäinen, P. (Speaker)
16 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited academic talk
Press/Media
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1600-luvun laivanhylyn matka jatkuu ainutlaatuisena neulemekkona
Schlapp-Hackl, I., Hummel, M., Leppisaari, A.-M., Uusitalo, S. & Kääriäinen, P.
20/05/2026
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
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Unite!’s Open Science and Innovation Handbook - a practical guide for researchers
Kääriäinen, P., Rousi, A. & Vicente-Saez, R.
18/12/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
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Aalto University: Unite!'s Open Science and Innovation Handbook - A Practical Guide for Researchers
Kääriäinen, P., Rousi, A. & Vicente-Saez, R.
18/12/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
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Master of Arts students from the Department of Design imagine jobs for the future
20/10/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
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”Hiilidioksidi pysyvään muotoon vuosisatojen ajaksi” – Kasvualusta biohiilestä voitti innovaatiokilpailun
21/04/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance