9.4 RiiDesign – Regional development with the help of HAMK's business administration and design students In the area of Riihimäen Wanha Lasitehdas ('Riihimäki's Old Glass Factory' in English) will be built the RiiDesign Cluster, which brings together already active people and organisations still in scattered locations in glass, fashion, art, music, theatre and photographing sectors to form a company cluster that will make use of mutual cooperation. RiiDesign will draw also innovative company activities to the area. The development work in the RiiDesign project will be done in close cooperation between the industry and cultural sectors of the City of Riihimäki as well as with the owner of the premises, A. Ahlström Kiinteistöt Oy. The goal is to improve business conditions for entrepreneurs and self-employed people in creative fields and promote employment. Entrepreneurship in creative fields will be increased and cooperation networks to further develop the region will be built. The project formulates a concept, business plan and brand for the RiiDesign cluster, designs the marketing studies and marketing materials for their implementation and creates a cooperation network for creative fields, with its productised business development services, that supports the cluster. Research and development aiming at providing solutions for individual organisations will be linked to wider strategic development programmes, keeping in mind the development of the operational area. It is intended, with the use of educational structures, to allow the students to have diverse opportunities to participate in the workplace development through various research and development groups. The RiiDesign project implemented marketing plans by business administration students
IMAGES: Anna Vesén
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and concept designs by design students. A lot of satisfaction was expressed for the results. Production of new knowledge is a key factor of competitive ability in international competition.
ANNIKKA LEPOLA SENIOR LECTURER, TEL. +358 (0) 50 528 1699 SARI HANKA HEAD OF BUSINESS SERVICES TEL. +358 (0) 50 372 3544 MINTTU LAMPINEN PRINCIPAL LECTURER, TEL. +358 (0) 50 574 8431