Core skills:
robotics design, service design, UI/UX design, co-design facilitation, graphic design
Secondary skills:
basics in Python, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, beginner in C
Special interests:
robotics, AI, emerging technologies & technology ethics
Studies:
PhD Student at University of Cambridge, 2020 - / Computer Science
M. Sc. Tech. with honours 2018 / Information Networks
B. Sc. Tech. 2016 / Bioinformation Technology
Important to me:
Human-centered tech, design ethics, democratizing learning & co-designing our future.
Beautiful words from my colleagues:
"fearless", "very good communicator", "seeks deep understanding", "gets sh-t done".
years of professional design experience in industry (robotics design, service design & UI/UX design)
different fields of experience: robotics, IT consulting, biotech, non-profit organizations, face-to-face sales and marketing, elder care and health food
year as the editor-in-chief of a student publication, leading 11 journalists
different schools attended at university: University of Cambridge, Aalto SCI, National University of Singapore, Aalto ARTS and Aalto ELEC
countries lived in: United Kingdom, Finland, Portugal, Malaysia & Singapore
spoken languages
Finnish: native / English: native
Swedish: good / German: basics
ready for any challenges
Selected professional works, and a few favourite hobby projects.
Order from newest to oldest. Click on the project picture to open.
Professional works showcase robotics design, UI and UX design, design facilitation.
Projects showcase programming knowledge, leadership abilities and artistic talent.
Ekho Collective
Group of Artificial Intelligence for People and Society (GAIPS)
Futurice
Futurice
Nightingale Health
Planmeca
Pulp Agency
HelsinkiMissio
Espoo City
Sprout factory
Co-founder & artist
Robotics researcher
Robotics designer
Designer
UI&UX designer (summer intern)
Graphic design, UI/UX design (summer intern)
Face-to-face sales and marketing (Samsung, Huawei, Valio)
Face-to-face charity worker
Care for elders (summer intern)
Sprout packer
05/2020 -
09/2019 - 12/2019
11/2017 - 08/2019
05/2017 – 11/2017
05 - 09/2016
05 - 08/2015
07/2013 - 08/2015
06 - 08/2013 & 06 - 08/2012
07/2011
07 - 08/2009 & 07 - 08/2010
University of Cambridge
Aalto University / School of Science
National University of Singapore
Aalto University / School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Aalto University / School of Electrical Engineering
PhD Student / Computer Science / Human-Robot Interaction
M. Sc. Tech with honours / Information Networks major
Exchange studies
B. Sc. Tech / Media minor
B. Sc. Tech / Bioinformation Technology major
10/2020 -
09/2016 - 10/2018
01 - 05/2016
09/2014 - 04/2015
09/2012 - 05/2016
EPSRC
Osk. Huttunen Foundation
FEDORA Digital Prize
AMIGOS-project
Opera Beyond immersive opera project
IxDA Interaction Design Awards
Grand One
GAYY, Aalto University's LGBT organisation
Aalto School of Science
Slush
Aalto University Student Union
Synapsi magazine
Aalto University's Party Committee
IEEE AP-S: Student Design Contest
Graffathon Demohackathon
DTA PhD Studentship
Scholarship
For Laila with Ekho Collective
EU research grant
Helsinki Opera & Ballet
Shortlisted for "Disruption" for Robot Sign Language Tutor for Autistic Children
Shortlisted for "Best Use of Data" for SaferGlobe Arms Report
Webmaster
The Dean's Encouragement Scholarship
Group Lead (Junction)
Scholarship for Exceptionally Active Exchange Students
Editor-in-Chief
Board member
3rd place
2nd place
2020 -
2020 -
2020
2019
2019
2019
2018
2017 & 2018
10/2017
09 - 11/2016
12/2015
01 - 12/2015
01 - 12/2015
07/2015
07/2014
BBC Look East Television Program
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Radio Aalto
Tekniikan Maailma
Helsingin Sanomat
Yle news
Fast Company
Autismi-lehti (Finnish publication on Autism)
Werben und Verkaufen (wuv.de)
Satakunnan Kansa (Satakunta's regional magazine)
YLE (Finnish national broadcaster)
Presentation on robotic well-being coach
Interview on well-being robot coach together with Dr. Indu Bodala
Jani Nivala interviews experience designer and robotics researcher Minja Axelsson
Uusi diiva on syntynyt – Kansallisoopperassa esitettävä virtuaalinen Laila vie oopperan uusiin ulottuvuuksiin
Tekoälyolio Laila saa tärkeän roolin Kansallisoopperan uudessa teoksessa
Interview for news channel on robotics
How Googly Eyes Solved one of Today's Trickiest UX Problems
"Robots can also tutor assistive sign language" in print and web issue
"School of New Thought" on Robot Croupier for Slush featured in print issue
"It began in Ulvila: Momo is Finland's first assistive sign language robot"
Middle East the primary destination for record Finnish arms exports in 2016 on SaferGlobe Arms Report
06/2021
05/2021
08/2020
08/2020
08/2020
08/2019
08/2019
12/2018
07/2018
04/2018
10/2017
I highly recommend Minja for any service design and design research work. During Minja’s time at Futurice, she has shown that she has the futures oriented mindset, and great design and research skills. She is amazing at analysing complex information. These things combined with understanding requirements of social robotics and emerging tech, all make her a truly exceptional designer, who can take concepts to the next level. (2019)
Minja was a great asset to the X-ray department at Planmeca. Her creative insights and can-do attitude brought a great dose of energy to the teams she was a part of. The comic book project that she was in charge of was a huge success, and her work on an iPad app aimed at training employees was also impressive.
I would warmly recommend her for similar tasks. (2015)
Minja took on an enormous task at her summer internship at Nightingale Health. As a UI and UX designer, she independently created 2 application prototypes all the way from concept design to the graphic interface design. She successfully addressed the challenge posed to her, and provided a great showcase for our product. (2016)
E-mail me at minja.axelsson@gmail.com
Blog at medium.com/@minjaaxelsson
Photography at minjaphotos.tumblr.com
Read my CV
