BIP: Design, Architecture and Tourism Landscapes

In Finland, design is a part of national decision making. Design and architecture have been central elements in the development of a 21st Century Helsinki, the capital of Finland and the happiest place in the world for seven consecutive years. In this course, participants will learn about interplay between design, architecture, and tourism landscapes while designing ephemeral city-scapes in the context of the Experience Economy.

Please be aware that your home university may set a different application deadline depending on their internal selection process.

Registration dates 06 January 2025 30 April 2025

Course dates 25 August 2025 29 August 2025

Registration is open

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Course Highlights

This course aims to equip participants with competences to design ephemeral spaces for European cities within the experience economy. Through a blend of virtual seminar and a hands-on five-days design thinking , participants will work in teams and conceptualize new spatial interventions for the City of Helsinki.

The course will feature lectures from various Ulysseus partner universities, and it will be enhanced by field visits and guest presentations from industry partners. Course content includes:

Experience economy frameworks
Landscape and place frameworks
Design thinking process

Learning Outcomes

Following this course, participants will be able to:

Understanding landscape and place theories to interpret the cultural, historical, and aesthetic dimensions of city tourism landscapes
Apply theories of the experience economy and their relevance to designing meaningful city tourism experiences
Employ the design thinking process to collaboratively develop innovative architectural and/or design intervention for a city tourism scape.
Communicate design and/or architectural concepts to both academic and professional audiences
Reflect on personal contribution and team dynamics during the design process to improve future collaborative practices

Physical Mobility

The physical mobility part will be running from 25 to 29 August 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. The focus of the physical mobility seminar is the design of conceptual spatial interventions that address mega trends and emerging trends and challenges in European city destinations.

DAY 1

Morning:
Welcome to the course
Challenge presentation
Design Sprint process

Afternoon: Understanding on the field (aka Helsinki City)

DAY 2

Morning: Visualize Understanding
Afternoon: Define design opportunity

DAY 3

Morning: Generate ideas
Afternoon: Select ideas

DAY 4

Morning: Conceptualize solution
Afternoon: Prototype solution

DAY 5

Morning: Test solution
Afternoon: Present final solution

Virtual Component

The virtual seminar will take place on June 3, 2025, via Microsoft Teams.
Topic: City-scapes in the experience economy

Requirements

Students enrolled in studies of the following levels in Ulysseus Universities: Bachelor’s or equivalent level (ISCED level 6 – EQF level 6) & master’s or equivalent level (ISCED level 7 – EQF level 7).
Participants are required to have a B2 level of English

Application Process

Each Ulysseus University partner will select a maximum of 12 students.
Candidates should submit a 300-word motivation letter by April 30th. Applications must be sent to your Mobility Officer.
Selected students will have to apply for Erasmus + Short Stay Grant.