Design and Business (DB) Research Group

Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Estonia

Address:
Sandbox, 4th floor, Delta Centre, Narva mnt 18, 51009 TARTU ÜLIKOOL, Tartu, Estonia
E-mail: antti.ainamo(at)ut.ee

Research team:

Antti Ainamo

Head of the DB Research Group

Other current positions:

Associate Professor of Interaction Design
Institute of Computer Science
University of Tartu, Estonia.

Docent (Adjunct professor), School of Business, Aalto University, Finland

Docent (Adjunct professor), School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, Finland

Past positions:

Academic Visitor, Project Researcher, Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Finland (Alumni)

Project Researcher, Centre for Knowledge and Innovation Research, School of Business, Aalto University, Finland (Alumni)

Academic Visitor, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK(Alumni)

Project Researcher, Computer Science, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland (Alumni)

Associate Professor of International Business, School of Business and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia (Alumni)

Senior Researcher, Creative Europe EU project, Gothenburg University, Sweden (Alumni)

Professor of Textile Management, Textiles and Fashion, Swedish School of Textiles, Sweden (Alumni)

Research Director, Born Globals in Finnish Rock Exports project, Academy of Finland (Alumni)

Visiting Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, China (Alumni)

Cultural Coach, Center for Design Research, Stanford University, USA (Alumni)

Visiting Scholar, Scandinavian Consortium for Organisational Research, Stanford University (Alumni)

Academy of Finland Postdoc Fellow (Alumni)

Visiting Researcher, Centre for Design Management, London Business School, UK (Alumni)

Huber Flores

Huber Flores is Affiliate member in DB research group. He is also Associate Professor of Pervasive Computing at the Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Estonia as well as a Docent (Affiliate Professor) at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Prior to that, he held the prestigious Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Fellowship and the competitive Faculty of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship of the University of Helsinki. He is former member of UBICOMP at University of Oulu, Finland, and SyMLab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong. He is member of ACM (SIGMOBILE) and IEEE associations. He is also the recipient of the Jorma Ollila Award given by the Nokia Foundation. His major research interests include mobile and pervasive computing, distributed systems, and mobile cloud computing. 

Huber Flores is also alumni of the following research groups: NODES research – Pervasive Data Science Group, University of Helsinki, Finland; Center for Ubiquitous Computing (UBICOMP), University of Oulu, Finland; and HKUST-DT System and Media Laboratory (SyMLab), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong. For more information on e.g. Huber’s publications, please see huberflores.com .

Jorma Valjakka

Jorma Valjakka is Affiliate member in DB research group. His research focuses on the anomaly detection in audio and other signal processing, with a focus on distinguishing between noise, outliers, and first weak signals of disruptive change. Prior to his M.Sc. in Music a at the prestiguous Sibelius Academy and his M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Helsinki and becoming doctoral student and member of the Elfmo EU (http://elfmo.eu) research team, Jorma played oboe for the worldclass Radio Symphony Orchestra. Jorma is the son of Ilmo Valjakka , the architect, and worked with his father on CAD and other IT applications, being thus well versed with also another creative and cultural industry than music. 

Yagub Hajiev

Yagub Hajiev, M.A. in Innovation and Technology Management and B.A. in Computer Science, is Sandbox assistant in DB research group. With his broad expertise in robotics and machine learning, Yagub’s role in the DB research group s to design and to carry out experiments in and around Sandbox.

________________

Antti Ainamo, Head of DB Research Group

Teaching in 2025:

[Docent-Lecture giver ] Aalto University ARTS Design and business in a creative company.Community Service

[Co-lecturer] University of Tartu, (LLTAT.05.019) Digital Project Management Industry Project 

[Co-lecturer] University of Tartu, (LTAT.05.011) Digital Product Design Introductory Course

[Principal Lecturer] University of Tartu, LTAT(LTAT.05.022 ) Digital Product Management Seminar

[Principal Lecturer] University of Tartu, (T.B.A) Design Thinking and Business Modeling

[Principal Lecturer] University of Tartu, (T.B.A.) Software Entrepreneurship Project

Reviewer: Journal of Cleaner Production, Organisation Studies, Journal of Business Research, etc.Research:

Editorial board: She Ji

My current research interests include digitalisation and artificial intelligence in industries fast and slow: creative and cultural industries and KIBS; AEC; and sustainability science.

Research projects in progress:

Antti’s current research interests include artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation in industries fast and slow: creative and cultural industries and knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) such as consulting and journalism; architecture, engineering and construction (AEC); and sustainability science.

The phenomena,. industries and technologies under study include new value-added services design in and around autonomous driving; AI in healthcare; AI in the construction industry; the ‘innovation sociology’ of ‘cultural and social technologies’.

Samples of publications research by Antti Ainamo:

• Kaivo-oja, J & A Ainamo 2025 Truly sustainable responsibility: Building a new direction on corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and environmental management,Sustainability 3252413
• Nyqvist, R, A Peltokorpi, R Lavikka & A Ainamo 2024 Building the digital age: Management of digital transformation in the construction industry, Construction Management and Economics,  43(4), 262-283.
• Lappalainen, E, P Uusitalo, O Seppänen, A Peltokorpi, A Ainamo, A Reinbold 2024 User experiences of situational awareness in infrastructure construction, Construction Management and Economics,  42(11-12): 1012-1025.
• Lappalainen E, P Uusitalo, O Seppänen, A Peltokorpi, A Reinbold, A Ainamo, C Görsch & R Nyqvist 2024 Situational management and digital situational awareness systems in infrastructure construction: Managerial perspectives on relevance, challenges, and adoption. Buildings, 14(7):2035. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072035
• Kaivo-oja, J., & Ainamo, A. 2023) Quadruple helix stakeholders´ interest in the global landscape of artificial intelligence: A big data analysis. In ISPIM Conference Proceedings. The International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM): 1-17.
• Ainamo, A, C Dell’Era & R Verganti 2021 Radical circles and visionary innovation: Angry Birds and the transformation of video games, Creativity and Innovation Management , 30(3): 439-454. 
• Stutz, C, A Ainamo & J-A Lamberg 2021 Counter-clock world: How planning backwards helps in moving forward in collapsing environments, Management , 24(1): 17-30.
• Lehtonen, M, A Ainamo & TJ Harviainen 2020 Four faces of in creative industries: Visualising the game industry ecosystem in Helsinki and Tokyo, Industry and Innovation, 27: 1062-1087. 
• Ainamo, A,. P. Lehto & J. Porokuokka 2019 Robots and artificial intelligence as ways to integrate education and work life, in A Stachowicz-Stanusch & W Amann (eds.) Management and Business Education in the Time of Artificial Intelligence: The Need to Rethink, Retrain, and Redesign. Information Age Publishing: 103-116. 
• Kolho, KL & A Ainamo 2016 Progress in the treatment and outcome of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 12: 1337-1345. 
• Ravaja, N, P Aula, M Salminen, A Falco, S Laaksonen & A Ainamo 2015 Online news and corpo-rate reputation: A neurophysiological investigation, Journal of Media Psychology, 27(3): 118-133.
• Ainamo, A 2014 Rethinking textile fashion: New materiality, smart products, and upcycling, Design Research Journal, 12(2): 53-60. 
• Ståhle, P & A Ainamo 2012 (eds.) The Inspiring University (Innostava yliopisto). Helsinki: Gaudeamus Helsinki University Press.  
• Laaksonen, L, A Ainamo & T-M Karjalainen 2011 Entrepreneurial passion: An explorative case study of four metal-music ventures, Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 13(1):18-36 [ best paper award for the journal the year ] 
• Ainamo, A. & I. Lindy 2013 From missionary work to aid for trade: Institutional history of Finnish public development cooperation (“Lähetysseurasta kaupan tueksi: Suomalaisen kehitysyhteistyön institutionaalinen historia”), Social Policy (Yhteiskuntapolitiikka), 78(1): 65-80.  
• Laaksonen, SM,  A Falco, M Salminen, P. Aula, N. Ravaja, A. Ainamo & S. Neiglick 2012 Digital Reputation. Characterizing and Measuring Reputation, Reputation Risk, and Emotional Responses to Reputation in Digital Publicity.Final Report. Media and Communication Studies Research Reports 2/2012. ISBN 978-952-10-7904-7 / ISBN 978-952-10-7905-4 
• Ainamo, A, K Artto, R Levitt, R Orr, WR Scott & R Tainio 2010 Global projects: Strategic perspectives, Scandinavian Journal of Management, 26: 343-351. 
• Ainamo, A 2009 Building working relationships with ‘Others’, Building, Research & Information, 37(2): 222-225. 
• Ainamo, A 2009 Building the innovation factory: The people dimension, Knowledge, Technology & Policy, 22(4), 259–264.  
• Fink, M, D Roessl, S Kraus, S Hanninen & A Ainamo 2008 International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 4(1): 79-94.
• Ainamo, A. (2007) Coordination mechanisms in cross-functional teams: A product design perspective Journal of Marketing Management, 23: 841-860.  
• Falay, Z, M Salimäki, A Ainamo & M Gabrielsson 2007 Design-intensive born globals: A multiple case study of marketing management, Journal of Marketing Management, 23: 877-899. 
• Ainamo, A & Ahteensuu, M 2007 Journalism as part of the national system of innovation, Science Policy (Tiedepolitiikka), 32(2): 7-16.  
• Ainamo, A, E Vaara & J Tienari 2006 Between West and East: A social history of business journalism in Cold war Finland, Human Relations, 59(5): 611–636.  
• Nordfors, D, M. Ventresca, A. Hargadon, T. Uskali, A. Ainamo, S. Johnsson, S. Grodal, A . Weintein, M. Kennedy, P. Svensson & F. Reid (2006) “Innovation journalism: Towards research on the interplay of journalism in innovation ecosystems”, Innovation Journalism, 3(2): 1-18.  
• Djelic, M-L & A Ainamo 2005 The telecom industry as cultural industry? The transposition of fashion logics into the field of mobile telephony, Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 23: 45-80. [ cited in e.g. Admin. Sc. Quarterly ] 
• Ainamo, A 2005 Coevolution of knowledge management processes: Drawing on project  experience in a global engineering consulting firm, Research in Management Consulting, 5:107-129. 
• Ainamo, A 2005 Coevolution of individual and firm-specific competences: The imprinting conditions and globalization of the Jaakko Group, 1946–1980. Scandinavian Economic History Review, 53(1), 19-43. [ cited in e.g. Journal of Management ]
• Ainamo, A, J Tienari & A Parviainen 2005 Product development in management consulting (’Tuotekehitys liikkeenjohdon konsultoinnissa’), Liiketaloustieteellinen Aikakauskirja / Finnish Journal of Business Economics, 5/2005: 293-314.  
• Pantzar, M & A Ainamo 2004 Nokia–the surprising success of textbook wisdom, Comportamento Organizacional e Gestao, 10(1): 71-86.  
• Ainamo, A  & M Kukko 2004, Knowledge management in a growth firm, Hallinnon tutkimus / Administrative Studies, 23(1): 48-61.  
• Tienari, J & A Ainamo 2004 Liikkeenjohdon konsultoinnin nykykentästä ja historiasta Suomessa, Työn Tuuli, 1/2004: 7-16.  
• Korhonen, T & A  Ainamo 2003 (eds.) Handbook of Service and Product Development in Communication and Information Technology. Dordrecht, London & Boston: Kluwer/Pearson.Ainamo, A, A Kasvio & M Kukko 2003 Local champion as outcome and agent of change, Nordiske Organisasjonsstudier / Nordic Organization Studies, 5(4):79-99  
• Ainamo, A & J Tienari 2002 The recent success of the Finnish model: The role of management consulting (“Suomalaisen mallin viimeaikainen menestystarina: Liikkkeenjohdon konsultoinin rooli”), Liiketaloustieteellinen Aikakauskirja / Finnish Journal of Business Economics, 2/2002: 198-198.  
• Ainamo, A 2002 The multifarious relationships of design and profitability (“Muotoilun ja kannattavuuden moninaiset yhteydet”), Liiketaloustieteellinen Aikakauskirja / Finnish Journal of Business Economics, 4/2002: 381-400.  [ Short version of doctoral thesis on Marimekko textiles, fashion, accessories, and architecture ]
• Ainamo, A 2001 Tietämyksen välitystoiminta: Näkökulma uusien tuotteiden ja kulutusmallien syntymiseen, kehittymiseen ja vakiintumiseen, Hallinnon tutkimus / Administrative Studies, 4/2001: 346-356.  
• Ainamo, A & M Pantzar 2000 Design for the information society: What can we learn from the Nokia experience, The Design Journal, 3(2): 15-26.   
• Tienari, J & A Ainamo2000 Merchants of change and management fashions (”Muutoksen kauppiaat ja liikkeenjohdolliset muodit”) Aikuiskasvatus / Adult Education, 3/2000, 188-200.  
• Djelic, M-L & A Ainamo 1999 The coevolution of new organization forms in the fashion industry: A historical and comparative study of France, Italy and the United States, Organization Science, 10(5): 622-37  [ highly cited paper ] 
• Ainamo, A 1999 Strateginen tuotesuunnittelu, Hallinnon tutkimus / Administrative Studies, 4/1999: 326-337.  
• Ainamo, A & W Cardwell 1998 After privatisation: Economic development, social transformation and corporate governance in the Baltic states, Journal of Eastern European Management Studies, 3(2): 136-167 
• Fynes, B & A Ainamo 1998 Organisational learning and lean supply relationships: the case of Apple Ireland, Supply Chain Management, 3(2): 96-107  [ Recipient of SCM Literati best-paper award]
• Ainamo, A 1996 Industrial Design and Business Performance: A Case Study of Design Management in a Finnish Fashion Firm. Acta Universitatis Oeconomicae Helsingiensis, 112. Helsinki: Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration.  
• Sakakibara, K, C Lindholm & A Ainamo 1995 “Product development strategies in emerging                  markets: The case of personal digital assistants, Business Strategy Review, 6 (4): 23-38. 
• Ainamo, A & P Tahkokallio 1994 (eds.) Muotoilun tutkimus: Keskustelun avauksia (Design research: Beginnings of a Discourse) Hki: Taik [“Taik” is now Aalto U. School of Art, Design and Architecture].  
• Ainamo, A 1993 Is Good Design Good Business?. Licentiate thesis for a doctoral dissertation. Helsinki: Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration.  
• Kotler, P Markkinoinnin käsikirja. Translation by A Ainamo and H Ranta of P Kotler Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Control. Helsinki: Rastor-Julkaisut.
• Ainamo, A 1990 Taidekäsityön tekijät / Arts and Crafts Makers HSE Working papers. HKK: Helsinki. [ n. 90 sivua] 
• Ainamo, A 1988 Ylivoima, strategia ja kilpailukyky: tarkastelussa tekstiili ja vaatetusalan yritys (Excellence, strategy and competitiveness: a case study of a textile and clothing company). Helsinki: Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration.  
• Hamermesh, P 1988 Strategia toimivaksi (Making Strategy Work, translated by A Ainamo). Helsinki: Rastor-Julkaisut. 
• Ainamo, A 1988 Excellence, Strategy and Competitiveness: A Case Study of a Textile and Clothing Company (Ylivoima, strategia ja kilpailukyky: tarkastelussa tekstiili ja vaatetusalan yritys). Helsinki: Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration.  

Entrepreneurship:

Antti Ainamo Consulting Ky

Outreach over the years:

• Mentoring Ukrainian startups as part of D2XCL project (funded by the European Commission)  
• “Sugar is the new tobacco project”, with Fipra, consulting Coca-Cola. 
• WP lead in AI4Europe EU project on topic of “Govermance and Sustainability”
• Consulting Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland on governance of development cooperation as part of the Ministry’s participation in an EU project
• “Application developers at the heart of the Nokia ecosystem”, consulting for Nokia Strategy
• “Design strategy” for NokiaSiemensNetworks
• “Working with design consultants” for Kone Elevators.

Prospective postdocs and MSc/MA/PhD students — Supervision: 

I am always looking for exceptional students with hunger to climb up to the very top of the academic ladder, and willing to collaborate and learn from the best. If you have the passion for design business and technologies as also having social and cultural dimensions, drop me an e-mail with “Candidate for DBR group” in the subject line. Check our current open positions.