Pirjo Haikola

Dr. Pirjo Haikola’s research focuses on more-than-human design, regenerative and conservation design, and advanced manufacturing. As an ‘underwater designer’ she is passionate about contributing to ocean literacy through public engagement and teaching.

Dr. Pirjo Haikola is a designer, researcher, certified diving instructor, sailor, and ocean advocate. Her research explores how design can contribute to environmental regeneration and conservation through more-than-human design approach and development of conservation technologies. Dr. Haikola specialises in biomaterials and natural materials for advanced and additive manufacturing. As an ‘underwater designer’ Dr. Haikola is passionate about contributing to ocean literacy through public engagement and teaching.

Dr. Haikola is a collaborator in the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), Coral Aquaculture and Deployment sub-program. RRAP develops interventions to help the Great Barrier Reef resist, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate change. Within the Coral Aquaculture and Deployment sub-program, Dr. Haikola is developing materials and devices for scalable coral restoration efforts.

Dr. Haikola’s installations, ‘Urchin Corals’ in the NGV Triennial 2020, and ‘Urchin Corals and Process’ in Sampling the Future at NGV Australia Ian Potter Centre in 2021 offered a snapshot to her research and practice. The 3D printed corals were produced with materials combining biopolymers, sea urchin shells and natural materials. The installations also included underwater films, bringing to the surface problems from two different locations in Australia. Sampling the Future installation additionally opened up the process of underwater photogrammetry, material development and additive manufacturing to the public. ‘Urchin Corals’ was purchased by and is now part of the NGV collection. In 2019 Dr. Haikola, Prof. Julia Lohmann, Dr. Gillian Russell and Gero Grundmann curated the ‘Critical Tide’ exhibition for Helsinki Design Museum. ‘Critical Tide’ exhibition later travelled to the European Commission, Committee of the Regions in Brussels. The exhibition explored the agency of design and art in marine conservation.

Dr. Haikola’s work has been part of several exhibitions internationally and has been featured from national to international press, including Australian Financial Review, Wallpaper and the New York Times.

2016-2019 - Design Research Consultant for Suunto dive (FI) 

2018 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Aalto University (FI) 

2007-2018 - Sessional Lecturer (annual courses), School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, Helsinki (FI) 

2014 – 2016 - Assistant Professor, IADE, Creative University, Lisbon (PT) 

2007-2010 - Lecturer and researcher, The Why Factory, Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology (NL) 

Dr. Pirjo Haikola's research explores how design can contribute to environmental regeneration and conservation through more-than-human approach and development of conservation technologies. Dr. Haikola specialises in biomaterials and natural materials for advanced and additive manufacturing.

Marine conservation technologies, More-than-human design, Nonhuman design, Regenerative design, Environmental design, Advanced manufacturing, Additive manufacturing

• More-than-human design
• Nonhuman design
• Ocean literacy
• Regenerative and conservation design

• Floating Roosts for Migratory Birds with Birdlife Australia, Lashna Tuschewski
  Supervisors: Dr. Judith Glover, Professor Liam Fennessy, Dr. Pirjo Haikola

• Designer-material relationality in more-than-human design practices, Javier de Urquijo Isoard
  Supervisors: Dr. Olivier Cotsaftis, Dr. Pirjo Haikola

• Food as fuel for localising more-than-human solidarity, Stephanie Ochona
  Supervisors: Professor Jaz Choy, Dr. Pirjo Haikola