At the end of September, a lively atmosphere filled HAMK’s virtual classrooms. Students from across Europe logged into Zoom, ready to immerse themselves in innovation and design thinking. The week was part of the RUN InnoBoost project, which connects students and experts from different countries to develop future skills.
From the very beginning, the week emphasized learning by doing. Students were encouraged to experiment, prototype, and reflect on their own thinking under the guidance of HAMK’s lecturers and researchers.
Tuesday – From Attitude to Competence
The journey began with Jukka Raitanen, who sparked discussion and guided students toward the essence of the innovation process. Laura-Maija Hero expanded the theme by introducing definitions, processes, and perspectives on learning. With the help of Inno Cards, students explored their own innovation capabilities and reflected on what it takes to turn an idea into a real solution. The day highlighted that innovation is not only about creating something new, but also about learning together in multidisciplinary teams.
Laura-Maija Hero has developed cards for assessing team innovation competence – InnoCards 2.0 DBE.
Wednesday – Diving Into Design Thinking
On Wednesday, Milla Mäkinen and Ricardo Galiot led students into the world of design thinking. They presented it both as a mindset and as a practical method. Students discovered how empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing can help identify real problems and create meaningful solutions. Discussions also touched on challenges: human biases, assumptions, and the limits of scalability. Yet the day showed how human-centered approaches can unlock creativity and lead to innovations that truly matter.
Thursday – Sprinting Toward Solutions
The week culminated in a hands-on exploration of the Design Sprint method. Guided by Jukka Raitanen, students simulated the sprint’s phases, moving from problem definition to prototype testing. They compared the sprint with other development models and reflected on how speed and structure can support creativity. The atmosphere was energetic, with teams learning how to build trust, share ideas, and test solutions in just a few days.
Looking Ahead
HAMK’s Design Thinking Week was only one chapter in the three-week InnoBootCamp journey. Next, students would face real product development challenges with Maku Brewing and Lantmännen, and hear insights from experts like Milla and Ricardo. The story continues with flavors, prototypes, and reflections that bring innovation even closer to everyday life.
Want to learn more? Watch the recordings and explore the full content at www.innoboost.eu
Sources: This blog is based on lectures and content from the following experts:
- Laura-Maija Hero – Principal Research Scientist HAMK
- Jukka Raitanen – Lecturer, Business Administration, HAMK
- Milla Mäkinen – Principal Research Scientist, HAMK
- Vesa Tuomela – Lecturer, Business Administration, HAMK
- Ricardo Galiot – Lecturer, International Business, HAMK
Author: Katriina Peuhkuri (M.Soc.Sc.) Project Specialist, RUN InnoBoost Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), School of Bioeconomy