Design Factory Global Network

Sharing the passion for doing

Design Factory Global Network

Design Factory Global Network (DFGN) is a network of innovation hubs in universities and research organisations in five continents of the world. DFGN is on a mission to create change in the world of learning and research through passion-based culture and effective problem solving. Shared understanding and common ways of working enable Design Factories in the network to collaborate efficiently across cultures, time zones and organisational boundaries fostering radical innovations.

Where we are

DFGN currently extends to almost all corners of the world with partners in five different continents. All Design Factories are created to drive change in the local context, whether it is hosted by a university or a research institution

santiago
helsinki
shanghai
melbourne
geneva
porto
seoul
leeuwarden
riga
philadelphia
new york
ankara
bogota
valencia
são paulo
cali
hamilton
warsaw
barcelona
ghent
kyoto
mannheim
tartu
Start or join
a design factory
Get involved

What is going on

Design Factories are platforms for experimentation, action and co-creation. In addition to the activities of each individual Design Factory, there are activities the Design Factories do together which forms the Design Factory Global Network. Find out more of the activities below

Ankara
Bogota
  • ¡El plazo vence en dos semanas! ¿Ya..

    ¡El plazo vence en dos semanas! ¿Ya registraron su proyecto? El tema de los Premios PANDA este año gira alrededor de los proyectos ecosociales. Recuerda que el formulario de inscripción lo encuentras acá:..

  • Muy orgulloso del reconocimiento que..

    Muy orgulloso del reconocimiento que recibieron nuestros estudiantes este semestre, por parte de nuestros colegas de la Corporación Mundial de la Mujer. Desde el Diseño Industrial aportaron valor a comunidades que trabajan con la Corporación Mundial de la Mujer y..

  • ¡Seguimos creciendo!

    ¡Seguimos creciendo!

  • Nuestros amigos de la Universidad de Sao..

    Nuestros amigos de la Universidad de Sao Paulo ya tienen su Design Factory. ¡Sigue creciendo la familia de la Design Factory Global Network! ¡Felicitaciones!

  • Job done. First Bootcamp Latinoamérica..

    Job done. First Bootcamp Latinoamérica completed. Gracias a todos.

  • Lo logramos! Disfrutamos, aprendimos,..

    Lo logramos! Disfrutamos, aprendimos, fortalecimos lazos con la DFGN. Muchos proyectos vienen el resto del año!

  • Último día de nuestro DFGN Bootcamp..

    Último día de nuestro DFGN Bootcamp Latinoamérica! En el espíritu del Design Factory ea clave invitar a diseñar colegas del sector privado. Hoy estamos con Proquinal, Sodimac, Flores Funza y otros más!

  • Finalizando el PD6 con prototipos rápidos e..

    Finalizando el PD6 con prototipos rápidos e ideas presentándolo a profesionales en medicina. Desarrollo de productos y servicios en 6 horas!

  • Listos para iniciar nuestro tercer día del..

    Listos para iniciar nuestro tercer día del DFGN Bootcamp Latinoamérica! PD6: Tendremos máximo 6 horas para desarrollar y prototipar un producto a partir de un reto entregado por una organización real.

  • Soñando con nuevos retos, nuevos cursos,..

    Soñando con nuevos retos, nuevos cursos, nuevas formas de trabajar con estudiantes y otros stakeholders, con el Design Factory.

Geneva
Helsinki
Kyoto
Leeuwarden
Melbourne
Porto
Riga
  • 24 hours to solve climate change all around..

    24 hours to solve climate change all around the globe? Easy 🙂 Everything is possible in #Climathon https://t.co/fWn8eaRYGt

  • Getting ready for the new season. Staff..

    Getting ready for the new season. Staff criteria – same hairstyle #garbagebaghair #trashbaghair #gang #rtudf #r…… https://t.co/hw9N9BuT04

  • Meet us – average boring team…..

    Meet us – average boring team… #rtudf #rtudesignfactory #rtudizainafabrika #rtudfteam #staff #boring #old #team… https://t.co/MAY78FlAxK

  • Have you visited theLAB this Semester (3D..

    Have you visited theLAB this Semester (3D prin, lasercut)? if yes, please check this out and tell us what you think: https://t.co/XldZM9rGWi

  • When it’s last week before your..

    When it’s last week before your vacation… #laser #laserengraving #vacationmoodisnoton

  • The real value in networking is to know when..

    The real value in networking is to know when to use resources that are outside of your company. If you’re short on brainpower for fresh ideas and new perspectives, Demola Latvia is the answer.

  • Studentu uzņemšana Rīgas Tehniskā..

    Studentu uzņemšana Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte – RTU Ķīpsalas 6 no 4.-11.jūlijam! RTU Idea LAB komanda ir ieņēmusi labāko spotiņu un gaida idejas 😉 #pasviedideju #startup #business #incubator #innovation

  • TechChill is the meeting place of founders,..

    TechChill is the meeting place of founders, investors and bright young talent from across the region. We’ll be there and we hope you’ll join us too – so check out their first speakers and get your pass for TechChill 2018 and see you in February!

  • Prakse ir beigusies, lai dzīvo prakse!..

    Prakse ir beigusies, lai dzīvo prakse! Sakam milzu paldies mūsu praktikantiem Ardis Dambis un Katrīna Sproģe par palīdzību RTU Dizaina fabrikas theLAB darbā. Viņu pienākumos ietilpa theLAB apmeklētāju dažādu problēmu un jautājumu (gan gudru, gan ne tik gudru)..

  • Woop woop, sveicieni mūsu draugiem no..

    Woop woop, sveicieni mūsu draugiem no Startin.LV ar veiksmīgi aizvadītu Startup Slalom hakatonu! Lasi rakstu un iedvesmojies no ambiciozajiem 21.gadsimta pasniedzējiem, kuri piedalījās hakatonā 😉 Woop woop, congrats to our friends at Startin.LV with successful..

Santiago
  • Acabo de subir “Rat Relay L” a #Vimeo:..

    Acabo de subir “Rat Relay L” a #Vimeo: https://t.co/HOmKYjSz6h

  • Acabo de subir “Rat Relay Corto” a..

    Acabo de subir “Rat Relay Corto” a #Vimeo: https://t.co/VE9Orcvf6R

  • Asiste al principal encuentro de innovación..

    Asiste al principal encuentro de innovación y emprendimiento de Chile y aprende e inspírate de los talentos creativos del país – 14 y 15 de junio ¡Entrada Liberada! www.creoenchile.cl DuocUC estará presente en la Feria Duoc UC: Sede San Joaquín Punto Estudiantil..

  • Revisa las imágenes de lo que fue el Rat..

    Revisa las imágenes de lo que fue el Rat Relay 2017 en Duoc UC https://flic.kr/s/aHskZjy6PY

  • Working on slot #4 prototype in DDF Viña..

    Working on slot #4 prototype in DDF Viña Del Mar Many good ideas from ADF to the Project challenge from FDF #ratrelay2017 First dirty and fast prototype, and then concept prototype Diseño Duoc UC Design Factory Global Network DuocUC: Sede Viña del Mar

  • Equipo n*3 de DDF Concepción! En sesión de..

    Equipo n*3 de DDF Concepción! En sesión de trabajo ayer por la tarde. #ratrelay2017 CTD Escuela de Diseño Duoc ConceDiseño Duoc UC Concepcion Design Factory Global Network Diseño Duoc UC Duoc UC: Sede San Andrés de Concepción

  • Ya llevamos días días de #ratrelay2017 en..

    Ya llevamos días días de #ratrelay2017 en DDF! Fotos de Equipos 1 y 2 de Santiago. Hoy nos vamos a DDF Viña Del Mar!! Diseño Duoc UC Design Factory Global Network Duoc UC: Sede San Joaquín

  • Atención V Región! Iniciamos las..

    Atención V Región! Iniciamos las actividades en Valparaíso de OpenD con una invitación abierta para un workshop intensivo de propiedad intelectual e industrial para Diseñadores y Emprendedores. Toda la info en el link > http://bit.ly/2otGtf2 CUPOS LIMITADOS IF..

  • Estás interesado en ¿trabajar en desafíos..

    Estás interesado en ¿trabajar en desafíos reales y globales?¿Trabajar en equipos interdisciplinarios? ¿trabajar en un proyecto en idioma inglés? Aún estás a tiempo de inscribirte y participar del PRIMER maratón de desafíos globales de Duoc UC entre el 25 y 28 de..

  • Actividad dirigida a alumnos Duoc UC de..

    Actividad dirigida a alumnos Duoc UC de todas las sedes y carreras Región Metropolitana, Quinta y Octava. Deseable dominio medio-avanzdo de idioma inglés. *Cupos limitados

São Paulo
Seoul
  • 2017’s Capstone teams nailed their..

    2017’s Capstone teams nailed their final presentations at Capstone Gala night! After 3 month of hard work, our proud 12 teams came out with brilliant ideas, prototypes, and to go market strategies. great job to all!! On June 21, interdisciplinary teams from Yonsei..

  • Finnish Parlamentarians of Educationand..

    Finnish Parlamentarians of Educationand Culture Committee visited Design Factory Korea on May 30th to learn about DFK’s education philosophy and collaboration between academia and industry.

  • 2017-1 IID major exhibition Students from..

    2017-1 IID major exhibition Students from the Information and Interaction Design (IID) major at Techno-Art Division, Underwood International College, Yonsei University will be holding their end-of semester exhibition from June 12, Monday to June 16, Friday from 10-6. Please..

  • You are cordially invited to the inaugural..

    You are cordially invited to the inaugural DFK Gala Night event on June 21, Wednesday! The DFK Gala is an annual event celebrating the final results of Yonsei University’s Techno-Art Capstone Project course. Seniors from the Techno-Art majors (IID, CTM, CDM) will present..

  • Exploring outside the boundaries is what..

    Exploring outside the boundaries is what makes our college life more fulfilling and special. We are happy to share this beautiful work done by Wonderwood (a movie production team innitiated by UIC students), and follow up their journey 🙂 Can anybody recognize this was..

  • When DFK has way too talented TAs…!..

    When DFK has way too talented TAs…! created by Dongseong Kim and JoonYoung Byun using CNC milling machine.

  • Design Factory Korea is looking for a new..

    Design Factory Korea is looking for a new passionate member to join the DFK team as Design Factory Coach at Yonsei University International Campus. Check out the job announcement and apply now by sending the application to <a target="_blank"..

  • Recent renovation of design factory korea in..

    Recent renovation of design factory korea in 2017. We try to reconstruct the space as we move forward.

  • Here is our new staff :) please name him/her!

    Here is our new staff 🙂 please name him/her!

  • DFk is holding a small workshop next week..

    DFk is holding a small workshop next week from April 3rd to 5th (19:00 – 22:00). If you wanted to learn one of these design software programs but didn’t have a chance yet, come and join us! Check the programs and time schedule you want to participate and meet us..

Shanghai
Social Media
  • .@aigaphilly names #PhilaU graphic design..

    .@aigaphilly names #PhilaU graphic design communication alumna Ali Doucette ’13 the 2017 winner of the Fresh Award.… https://t.co/nGAps8QoYH

  • AIGA Philadelphia has named #PhilaU graphic..

    AIGA Philadelphia has named #PhilaU graphic design communication alumna Ali Doucette ’13 the 2017 winner of the Fresh Award. #PhilaUProud

  • #PhilaU students win People’s Choice Award..

    #PhilaU students win People’s Choice Award from PA-DE @landarchitects. https://t.co/bGYXbtVmE1 #PhilaUProud https://t.co/12w4zZHnYa

  • #PhilaU fourth-year landscape architecture..

    #PhilaU fourth-year landscape architecture student Hakeem Wilson and fifth-year architecture student Rajvi Vyas won the People’s Choice Award at the Pennsylvania-Delaware American Society of Landscape Architects Conference. Landscape architecture professionals selected..

  • Come see #PhilaU’s #TextileDesign..

    Come see #PhilaU’s #TextileDesign Undergraduate Capstone Showcase this Friday, 6-8 p.m., Gallagher Center Racquetba… https://t.co/3DhoVAecGE

  • Come see #PhilaU’s Textile Design..

    Come see #PhilaU’s Textile Design Undergraduate Capstone Showcase this Friday, 6-8 p.m., Gallagher Center Racquetball Court.

  • Yes! @OfficialDrJ6 will receive the honorary..

    Yes! @OfficialDrJ6 will receive the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters @PhiladelphiaU commencement 5/15… https://t.co/yQIUC7iFLG

  • Basketball legend Julius “Dr. J”..

    Basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving will give the undergraduate address at #PhilaU’s Commencement ceremony on Monday, May 15, 10 a.m. at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Mark L. Tykocinski, M.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs..

  • #PhilaU baseball lands four on All-CACC..

    #PhilaU baseball lands four on All-CACC Team; first baseman Steven Wells tabbed as Player of the Year.… https://t.co/UxW2Tdpv6N

  • The #PhilaU baseball team tied a school..

    The #PhilaU baseball team tied a school record with four players earning a place on the All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Baseball Team, highlighted by first baseman Steven Wells being selected as the 2017 CACC Player of the Year. #PhilaUProud

Tartu
    August 1

    Future Lab of Product Design

    FutureLab of Product Design was a research project that supported interdisciplinary collaboration and the education of product designers. FLPD later transformed into Aalto Design Factory.
    October 3

    Aalto Design Factory

    Aalto Design Factory launches as one of the spearhead projects of the forthcoming Aalto University. Inhabiting an old 3000m2 research laboratory, ADF becomes the first building and physical manifestation of Aalto University.
    May 25

    Aalto-Tongji Design Factory

    Aalto-Tongji Design Factory, the first Design Factory outside of Finland, officially launches in Shanghai on May 25th 2010 under Tongji University. ATDF is the first phase of strategic partnership between Aalto & Tongji Universities. The launch ceremony is joined by Aalto on Tracks, a group of 82 Aalto students who rented a private train to travel to the opening of ATDF & Shanghai World Expo.
    November 29

    Design Factory Melbourne

    Design Factory Melbourne (originally Swinburne Design Factory) launches in Melbourne, Australia, on November 29th 2011. Design Factory Melbourne is the third Design Factory in the world and the Design Factory Global Network is born.
    October 1

    International Design Factory Week 2012

    The first International Design Factory Week (IDFW) gathers together 12 participants from 4 institutions to Aalto Design Factory. IDFW is the annual opportunity for people from existing Design Factories to meet face-to-face and plan for collaboration.
    November 13

    Duoc Design Factory

    Duoc Design Factory launches in Santiago, Chile, under Duoc Universidad Catolica. The opening ceremony of the fourth Design Factory takes place during the annual conference of the Cumulus Association, bringing present a wide network of people from Universities of Art, Design & Media. With the launch of Duoc Design Factory the DFGN now extends to South America.
    October 21

    International Design Factory Week 2013

    The second International Design Factory Week is hosted by Sino-Finnish Centre at Tongji University. In Shanghai, a total of 27 participants from 8 different institutions came together, almost doubling both the number of institutions and participants.
    June 9

    Design Factory Bootcamp 2014

    The first ever Design Factory Bootcamp took place between June 9th to 13th 2014 at Aalto Design Factory. The DF Bootcamp is an intensive hands-on learning experience of the Design Factory concept for universities interested in setting up their own experimental platform. A total of 12 people from 5 institutions participated to the first DF Bootcamp.
    October 6

    International Design Factory Week 2014

    Third International Design Factory Week takes place in Melbourne, Australia, between October 6th to 10th, 2014. Total of 37 participants from 12 different institutions spend a week in Melbourne planning for collaboration within the DFGN.
    December 9

    IdeaSquare @ CERN

    IdeaSquare, the Design Factory of CERN, launches on December 9th 2014. The purpose of IdeaSquare is to bring together CERN personnel, visiting students, and external project collaborators from the domains of research, technology development and education.
    April 22

    Design Factory Korea

    Design Factory Korea, the sixth Design Factory in the network opens in Yonsei University. DFK is hosted Underwood International College, within Techno-Art Division.
    May 11

    Porto Design Factory

    Porto Design Factory, the seventh Design Factory in the network, launches on May 11th 2015. Porto Design Factory is hosted under Porto Polytechnic.
    May 25

    Design Factory Bootcamp 2015

    The second Design Factory Bootcamp takes place between May 25th to 29th at Aalto Design Factory. Total of 16 participants from Spain, Portugal, USA, the Netherlands and Belgium spend a week developing their own experimental platforms. DF Bootcamp is the annual hands-on learning experience for universities interested about the Design Factory-model, hosted at Aalto Design Factory.
    September 11

    Philadelphia Nexus Design Factory

    Philadelphia University Nexus Design Factory launches as the eight Design Factory in the DFGN. With the launch of PNDF the DFGN now also extends to North America.
    October 5

    International Design Factory Week 2015

    International Design Factory Week 2015 is hosted by Duoc Design Factory in Santiago,Chile. Total of 25 participants from 10 different institutions participate the week. During the week a total of 8 collaborative initatiaves between the Design Factories are pitched and worked on.
    November 11

    Frisian Design Factory

    Frisian Design Factory launches in the city of Leeuwarden, located in the northern province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The Frisian Design Factory is located in Blookhuispoort, an old prison that will transform into a hub for creative industries. Leeuwarden will be the European Capital of Culture in 2018 and the FDF hopes to play an central part in that initiative.
    January 28

    DFGN Rat Relay

    The first DFGN Rat Relay is organized between Design Factories in Helsinki, Porto, Philadelphia & Melbourne. In this teaching experiment global problems were solved for eight hours by one country and then passed on to a new country, just like runners pass on the baton in a relay. In the end the problem returns back to the originating country for finalization of the outcomes.
    April 11

    Design Factory Bootcamp 2016

    Third Design Factory Bootcamp takes place between April 11th to 15th 2016. Total of 22 participants from Turkey, Colombia, Peru, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Latviaspend a week developing their own experimental platforms. DF Bootcamp is the annual hands-on learning experience for universities interested about the Design Factory-model, hosted at Aalto Design Factory.
    May 12

    METU Design Factory

    METU Design Factory launches in Ankara, Turkey, under the Middle East Technical University. The launch of METU DF marks a milestone in the DFGN by being the tenth Design Factory in the network.
    September 14

    Design Factory Javeriana

    Design Factory Javeriana launches in Bogota under the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Design Factory Javeriana is the second Design Factory in South America.
    September 30

    New York City Design Factory

    New York City Design Factory launches in PACE University. Located in downtown Manhattan, in close proximity of Wall Street, NYC DF is the eleventh Design Factory in the network and second in North America.
    October 13

    Riga Technical University Design Factory

    Riga Technical University officially launches their Design Factory. At this point the Design Factory has already been in operation for two years, and with the official launch they get access to additional space. The opening ceremony is organized simultaneously with annual Award Ceremony of World Cultural Council where the founder of the Design Factory concept Kalevi Ekman receives the Jose Vasconcelos World Award for Education.
    December 12

    International Design Factory Week 2016

    In December 2016, the 5th International Design Factory Week (IDFW) was organized at Ideasquare @ CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. IDFW is the annual opportunity for Design Factory Global Network (DFGN) members to meet face-to- face and plan for collaboration for the following year. IDFW2016 was the biggest event in the history of DFGN as altogether 43 participants from 14 different institutions travelled to Geneva. Whereas CERN is know for the LHC, the Large Hadron Collider, Ideasquare is playfully referred to as the Large Human Collider, creating a perfect location for the intensive week of workshops and events for people from around the world. IDFW2016 was orgnized by DFGN team in Aalto together with the hosts in Ideasquare, with the help of DFGN members.
    March 28

    UPV Design Factory

    UPV Design Factorty launches under Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, being the 14th Design Factory in the network. The Design Factory is connected with the student-empowerment initiative called Generación Espontánea at UPV
    April 24

    Global Design Sprint Rat Relay

    DFGN Rat Relay is organized for the second time between six Design Factories in Helsinki, Porto, Leeuwarden, Cali, Bogota and Santiago with total 166 students and 30 coaches participating. In this unique three-day global product design marathon teams solve real global challenges provided by sponsoring companies, startups or NGOs. The challenges rotate around the world in slots and in the end the problem returns back to the originating country for finalization of the outcomes.
    June 20

    Design Factory São Paulo

    Universidad de São Paulo launches their own Design Factory. The 15th Design Factory in the world located at the heart of the main campus of USP

    Meet the DFGN team

    DFGN is the activity that takes place in and between the different Design Factories. To find out more, meet the local faces of each platform. DFGN also has a small team in Aalto University, looking after the development of the network.

    Päivi Oinonen

    Design Factory Global Network

    Viljami Lyytikäinen

    Design Factory Global Network

    Klaus Castrén

    Design Factory Global Network

    Start or join
    a design factory
    Start

    Local representatives

    Martti Jerkku

    Aalto Design Factory

    Xihan Cheng

    Sino-Finnish Centre

    Pauliina Mattila

    Design Factory Melbourne

    Andrea Ordenes

    Duoc Design Factory

    Tuuli Utriainen

    Ideasquare @ CERN

    Chanhee Lee

    Design Factory Korea

    Alex Neto

    Porto Design Factory

    D. R. Widder

    Philadelphia Nexus Design Factory

    Eric Voigt

    Frisian Design Factory

    Arzu Gonenc

    METU Design Factory

    Omar Ramirez

    Design Factory Javeriana

    Jaclyn Kopel

    New York City Design Factory

    Liga Efeja

    Riga Technical University Design Factory

    Carlos Ripoll Soler

    UPV Design Factory

    Diana Riveros Ospina

    Cali Design Factory

    Eduardo Zancul

    Design Factory São Paulo

    Margi Moore

    Design Factory New Zealand

    Piotr Palka

    Warsaw Design Factory

    Laura Bellorini

    Fusion Point

    Jolien Coenraets

    Ghent Design Factory

    Sushi Suzuki

    Kyoto Design Lab

    Kirstin Kohler

    inno.space

    Anne Jääger

    University of Tartu Delta Sandbox