Did you have a clear career path?
Moona: After graduating from a university of applied sciences, I worked as a producer for a long time. My work has always had something to do with urban spaces through events and art. When organising a large public art exhibition, I realised I wanted to understand urban spaces better.
Right after graduating from the master’s programme, I found a job as a service designer in a built-environment consultancy. Having a previous degree also on service design was a useful combination with the urban planning studies.
A year ago, I quit and established a business focused on participatory urban development oriented towards residents and culture. I wasn’t new to entrepreneurship, as I had already been freelancing as a producer. I originally didn’t even intend to change fields, I was just interested in the topic. Then it swept me away, leading me down a new path. Still, I don’t feel that I’ve switched fields entirely – I’ve been able to take advantage of much of what I’ve studied and done before, especially now as an entrepreneur. This is my dream job. I hope I’ll be able to do this for the rest of my career.
What was it like to study in the programme?
Moona: At the University of Helsinki, the master’s programme had three study tracks: USP Plans: Urban Planning and Design, USP Peoples: Urban Life, Economy and Cultures and USP Systems: Urban Ecologies and Systems. At the University of Helsinki, courses were largely based on lectures and independent study, while at Aalto they more often had one big assignment that was tackled in a group.
I also took courses outside the programme, including one in urban farming at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, which turned out to be surprisingly relevant for urban studies. It explored how community farms engender inclusivity and resilience. So many things are related to urban spaces; there are interesting perspectives to be found in so many places. I also took part in a couple of challenges outside the University, the Sustainable Cities in the Nordic-Baltic Region competition and the 72h liikennehaaste (Transport challenge) course.
Who are the programme and the associated career opportunities for?
Moona: Anyone interested in urban spaces. I would definitely encourage people with a background in the humanities and social sciences to apply, as urban planning in Finland is largely dominated by engineers. Urban planning requires a human-centred outlook, and I would like to see more room for it. Residential environments should be genuinely designed with an understanding of life in the environment, its cultural elements and people’s everyday activity. You can also orient your studies towards planning or research.
What career paths have other graduates found?
Moona: Many have ended up working for the City of Helsinki or other municipalities in survey- or planning-related positions. This seemed to be the second master’s programme for many, so people’s backgrounds influenced their paths to a certain extent. For example, someone trained as a landscape architect probably ended up in that field, but with a broader perspective.
Have you had any surprises in your transition to professional life?
Moona: Everything we studied was really interesting, but then I noticed how little it actually shows in professional life. The studies include a lot of urban phenomena that should be better understood on the planning side, but which are not evident there. There’s still a long way to go. I continue to think in my work about many of the things I learned on the courses, and I even dig up articles we read.
What part of your studies or student life has helped you the most in your career?
Moona: Writing my master’s thesis was definitely the biggest boon. My thesis explored the alteration of the Meri-Rastila town plan from the resident perspective. I interviewed residents with an ethnographic approach. I still get requests to give talks on the topic. I also established good contacts during my studies. With one fellow student, we took part in a European competition for young architects and received an honourable mention, which was great.
Do you have any specific future plans?
Moona: It was only last autumn that I founded my business, so it’s still early days. I would like to see it grow. And, more generally, I hope that this human-centred mindset will gain more traction in the urban planning tradition.
What is the breakthrough of your life or studies?
Moona: I’ve previously thought of myself as more of a practical person. But here the at University I realised that this is what I like, and that I’m good at reading and writing. The studies went smoothly, the grades were good and I felt good. I also remembered that writing was my thing already when I was a child. After my studies, I’ve also contemplated writing a doctoral thesis.
Being brave enough to quit my permanent job and become an entrepreneur also made me proud. It took courage.