Futures studies argue that the future cannot be predicted, but rather alternative futures can be explored and preferred futures can be imagined. Furthermore, our images of the futures can be a resource that informs our decision making. Understanding and imagining futures needs transdisciplinary inquiry; it calls for creativeness and freedom from prejudice. In this study, we present a design experiment accomplished in the textile teacher education at the University of Helsinki. Our aim was to explore and strengthen the skills that students will need in their future work. Expression, design and technology are characterized by openended and complex design problems. When solving them, a student internalizes that there are no right or wrong solutions to problems, that the path of the design process cannot be precisely defined in advance, and that the same starting point can produce different solutions. This experiment familiarized students with the interrelation between materials and the techniques for their manipulation, and guides the students to understanding the opportunities provided by manual experimentation, spontaneous invention and discovery. Carrying out these experiments entails the free, unusual or absurd manipulation of the materials. Ugly was especially selected as the viewpoint to discuss possible new futures. Data were collected from students' portfolios and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The study shows that making something intentionally ugly raises emotional debate. Ugly was understood and defined in numerous ways. Ugly experiments impacted on motivation to invent and discover by empowering or encouraging, for example. A matrix was formed to summarize the findings of the study.

Tarkastelemme tässä artikkelissa kokemuksellisen oppimisen hyödyntämistä osana käsityön aineenopettajaksi opiskelevien muotoilupedagogiikkaa. Tuomme kahden tapauksen avulla näkyviin kokemusten työstämistä ja hyväksikäyttöä erilaisissa käsityön suunnittelu- ja valmistusprosesseissa. Tavoitteina kokemuksellisuutta painottavassa pedagogiikassamme ovat pelkistettynä 1. käyttää kokemusta suunnittelun apuvälineenä sekä 2. ohjata opiskelija tekemään itselleen merkityksellisiä tuotteita ja tiloja sekä 3. vahvistaa omaa ja yhteistä identiteettiä ja opiskelijan pedagogista ajattelua. Tarkastelemme ilmiötä empiiristen aineistojen pohjalta ja kysymme, kuinka opettajaksi opiskelevien omia kokemuksia voitaisiin muuttaa voimavaraksi erilaisissa suunnittelu projekteissa niin yksilön omassa kuin yhteisöllisessä kasvussa? Aineistosta nostamme esimerkkejä, jotka valaisevat tavoitteitamme kokemuksellisen oppimisen hyödyntämiseen.

Our aim in this article is to introduce the idea of ‘crafticulation’ as a part of scientific method and to present a case study related to it. A novel course, Materializing in Craft Science, was offered in the first year of the craft teacher master’s degree at the University of Helsinki. The aim of the course was to pilot a method of crafticulation by materializing theoretical mind maps. Crafticulation consists of the words, ‘craft’ and ‘articulation’ and further, crafticulation is seen as a part of practice-led research in which craft plays a key role in eliciting a wide spectrum of knowledge. Our research question is how crafticulation emerged in students’ inquiry processes. The research data included twenty individual mind maps, materializations and reflections of the course. Based on theory-driven data analysis, the results indicated that many students used crafticulation for demonstration purposes. For example, they tested the connection between their craft-making process and well-being. Another approach was to convey a certain experience by way of crafticulation. In some cases, crafticulation was linked to analogies and metaphors in learning theoretical concepts. Furthermore, the students found new avenues in which to reflect research topics and to deepen their inquiry processes.

In this article, we focus on film making as a part of craft studies and narrative inquiry. Short films were created in a course in the craft teacher master’s degree at the University of Helsinki. The aim of the course was to serve several purposes such as 1) to enable students to become familiar with a new way of deepening conceptual thinking through making, 2) to apply and develop craft skills in working on a selected concept or theme, and 3) to understand the dialogue between conceptual and material artefacts. We explore the opportunities to transmit multisensory experiences via short films. For illustration, we introduce two short films created during the course. Using the deliberative interviewing method, we have broadened the perspective on reflective and analytical level.