Beyond Creativity – What Does Radical Creativity Really Mean?
A few years ago, Aalto University’s leadership team took a step back to rethink the skills that would truly set people apart in the future and help tackle big societal challenges. Creativity was an obvious answer, but they realized it wasn’t enough.
"We felt that just ‘creativity’ wasn’t ambitious enough for a place like Aalto. Here, creativity has always been a given," says Tuomas Auvinen, Dean of Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design and Architecture and Aalto’s “Champion of Radical Creativity.”
So, at Aalto, the bar was set even higher. The goal became radical creativity, or the ability to think and create something fundamentally new while challenging the status quo.
Sure, plenty of universities around the world have creativity programs and research units. But at Aalto, it’s different – radical creativity runs through everything, touching every discipline and always with a strong focus on real-world impact.
"We’re international pioneers in this space," says Riikka Mäkikoskela, the head of Aalto’s radical creativity initiative from 2021 to 2024.
Aalto University and Aalto EE Join Forces to Turn Creativity Into Action
The concept of radical creativity was born at Aalto University, but Aalto EE has been key in bringing it to the working world, turning ideas into real impact.
"Our mission is to take Aalto’s research and teaching and make it accessible to companies and organizations, both in Finland and beyond," says Nana Salin, Director of Alternative Funding at Aalto EE.
Aalto EE serves as a vital bridge between the university and the working world.
"At Aalto University, researchers explore and envision the future needs of the world. At Aalto EE, we focus on how to turn those insights into concrete solutions that help organizations innovate and grow in practice," Salin explains.
Radical creativity might have seemed unconventional to business leaders at first, but now? It’s a whole different story.
"In the past few years, we’ve seen a real shift. Companies are starting to realize that just focusing on efficiency isn’t enough anymore – they need something truly new. And that means leadership has to evolve to bring out the best ideas and thinking from their people," says Auvinen.
Tools and Opportunities for Organizational Learning
Aalto University and Aalto EE have created multiple ways to bring radical creativity into the everyday reality of organizations.
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Radical Creatives documentary: This film brings radical creativity to life, showing how it plays out at Aalto. "It’s been a great way to introduce the concept to businesses and spark real conversations," says Auvinen.
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Diving into Radical Creativity MOOC: With over 10,000 participants and counting, this course offers practical tools for leading radical creativity and fostering a culture of bold experimentation.
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Radical Creativity Summer School: This summer, the two-week intensive program is back, offering hands-on experience in applying creative ways to build a sustainable future and explore what radical creativity really looks like in practice.
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Customized programs: Aalto EE offers customized programs for companies and individuals to explore leading for creativity and discover new ways to drive organizational innovation. Our Leading Transformation with Creativity program, for example, helps participants tap into their own creative potential and that of their teams, organizations, and networks. “Radical creativity is also one theme in all Aalto MBA programs," says Nana Salin.
"In January, we also launched the Creative Ventures keynote and workshop series, designed primarily for creative professionals across the Nordic and Baltic regions. The goal is to support entrepreneurship, leadership, and networking. It’s been great to see interest from professionals in other industries as well," says Salin.
Supported by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Creative Ventures is offered in a hybrid format, and this year, it’s completely free for participants.
New programs for business leaders and decision-makers will be unveiled at an event on March 4.
Radical Creativity Takes Both Courage and Psychological Safety
Mäkikoskela, Auvinen, and Salin all agree that the future belongs to organizations that can innovate and tap into their employees' creative potential.
"The old-school management style that focuses solely on efficiency and lean thinking won’t survive this shift. Wisdom doesn’t just come from the corner office or the top, it comes from everyone. When individuals start thinking about how they can improve what they do, the drive for renewal becomes something completely different," says Tuomas Auvinen.
But radical creativity isn’t just about creative play and free-flowing ideas.
"It takes courage, psychological safety, and an environment where people feel safe questioning things and even failing. That kind of trust is built through action. And once we have it, we unlock an incredible force that can propel us forward in big ways," says Riikka Mäkikoskela.
"At the same time, a little conflict can be good for creativity. Employees should feel safe walking into the boss’s office and saying, ‘This isn’t working’ – without worrying about whether they’ll still be able to pay their mortgage. I like to call it a ‘brave space,’" Auvinen adds.
A Hub for Radical Creativity Is in the Works
Aalto University and Aalto EE are just getting started on their radical creativity journey. Looking ahead, Aalto envisions a dedicated center for radical creativity: a space where researchers, businesses, and public sector leaders can come together to collaborate and push boundaries.
"It would be a space that brings our people together while also connecting us to the wider society," Auvinen envisions.
While radical creativity is primarily a way to drive innovation and renewal in organizations, it’s also something bigger; it’s a method for bridging the growing gaps in our world.
"Global politics is becoming more fragmented, and many people feel like we’re drifting further apart. At the same time, organizations are clinging to old, familiar ways of working – even when the need for fresh, truly new solutions has never been greater. It feels like we’re living in a time where the big players dictate what the smaller ones can do. We need to reconnect, collaborate, and recognize the shared benefits of working together. Radical creativity might be exactly the method we need right now," says Nana Salin.
