This year, the Final Show will highlight the work on "Open Government" in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the "Continuity of Knowledge" project with Kela and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The Design for Government (DfG) program is a master's course at Aalto University where students team up with Finnish ministries and public service organizations annually to address significant national challenges through design methodologies.

Following an intensive twelve-week collaboration, students from various groups will unveil their research and design solutions at this gathering, bringing together civil servants, practitioners, and researchers to inspire systemic change through design.

The Final Show will take place at the stunning Helsinki City Hall (Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13, 00170 Helsinki) and is accessible to the public.

Program

13.00 Welcome

13.10 A vision for an age-friendly Finland

13.30 Continuity of Knowledge (Presentations, Q&A).

14:00 Stakeholder discussion (KELA, THL, and HUS)

14.20 Coffee Break

14.35 Open Government (Presentations, Q&A)

15:05 Stakeholder discussion (Ministry of Finance, Helsinki Elderly Council)

15.30 Panel discussion and closing remarks

About the projects

Open Government for an age-friendly Finland
Ministry of Finance

The Open Government Action Plan 2023–2027 represents Finland's commitment to transparency, participation, and inclusivity. This document highlights the necessity for innovative approaches to address societal challenges, especially for vulnerable groups. With Finland having a significant proportion of its population over 65, the Ministry of Finance aims to incorporate better solutions to ensure that the needs of older adults are considered in government policy making.

Main considerations:

• How can open government principles be customized to meet the distinct needs of older adults?
• How can open government tools promote digital inclusion among elderly citizens?
• What constitutes meaningful engagement for older citizens?

Continuity of Knowledge
KELA and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

This project embodies a continuous, long-term partnership between Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, and the Design for Government (DfG) course at Aalto. Building upon last year's focus on the "Personal Doctor" service, this year's initiative aims to refine how "Continuity of Knowledge" supports a cohesive healthcare system for the elderly population in Finland, which is currently challenged by access issues and high costs.

Main considerations:

• In what ways does knowledge continuity enhance the healthcare model?
• What are the key barriers to maintaining knowledge continuity?
• How does collaboration between citizens and healthcare professionals contribute to knowledge sharing?
• What knowledge currently remains unrecorded or underutilized?
• How can existing information systems and practices optimize healthcare decisions?
• What benefits arise from knowledge continuity amidst multi-morbidity challenges?

For further information about Design for Government, visit their website: https://dfg-course.aalto.fi/

Design for Government team

Students

Thalia Zelißen, Paola Rapino, Paul Grandchamp, Francesca Martini Carter, Xuan Huang, Valeria Nova Cázares, Yue Yu, Daniela Bianchi Schlotfeld, Sushmita Charlu, Ronja Chydenius, Takashige Doi, Joni Lappalainen, Warda Mohamed, Sanjana Punjabi, Yuchen Tang, Jaakko Vuorenkoski, Chu Chin-Ying, Vu Trang, Huang Tzu Tai, Marta Ligaj.

Núria Solsona

The responsible lecturer for the DfG Course, Núria Solsona, is a member of the Department of Design at Aalto University. Her teaching focuses on design practices in policy-making and service development, collaborating with various partners. Previously, she worked as a service design consultant in both the UK and Finland.

Marco Steinberg

As a Professor of Practice, Marco Steinberg leads the DfG Course at Aalto University, emphasizing strategic design in addressing complex socioeconomic changes. He is the founder of Snowcone & Haystack, a strategic design practice aiding government innovation.

Natalia Villaman

Natalia Villaman, a DfG lecturer and tutor, is a DfG alumna currently pursuing her doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki. Her research delves into practices that foster civic engagement within participatory and deliberative democracy.

Sara Rynefors

Sara Rynefors, a teaching assistant for the DfG course and a DfG alumna, is a master's student focusing on Creative Sustainability Design. Her thesis addressed private swimming pools in Sweden through a lens of sustainability.

Project partners

Janne Mattila and Ojajärvi Anni (Kela); Katju Holkeri (VM).

Privacy & Data processing

The gathering will be recorded and photographed.

Images and recordings from the session will be available on the DfG website later. For details on data management, please refer to: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/privacy-notices

For inquiries about privacy concerns, contact: heidi.henrickson@aalto.fi