“Somehow Sanna created a super safe and nice space for students to discuss and ask many questions.”
Student feedback, 2024
Teaching & Supervision
Completed doctoral supervision
MFA Jaana Okulov: "Quantifying Qualia: Aesthetic Machine Attention in Resisting the Objectifying Tendency of Thought" Aalto University Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Art & Media, 05/2019–04/2024
MFA Hanna Timonen: "Ordering the Everyday: Serial photography, repetition and everyday acts", Aalto University Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Art & Media (photography), 01/2020–02/2024
Doctoral supervision in progress
MA Ida-Sofia Tuomisto, “Designing Inclusion through Dress – How Fashion Practices Foster Diversity” Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Design, 08/2024–
MsC Jere Pääkkönen, "Contemporary Dystopian Cinema as Architectural Critique Viewing and creating cinematic environments as commentary on the current state of architecture and its possible future directions", Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Architecture, 06/2023–
MSc Iris Andersson, "Turvallisen tilan anatomia", Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Architecture, 01/2023–
MSc Joona Hulmi: "Resonance and Atmosphere: Notes on the Experience of Architecture and Temporality", Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Architecture, 01/2022–
MA David Flood: "Coded Space: Digital Visual Representations and the Remaking of Urban Publics", University of Helsinki, Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences DENVI (urban geography), 05/2020–
MA Noora Korpelainen: "Aesthetic Sensibility in the Era of Global Environmental Change", University of Helsinki, Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences DENVI (aesthetics), 08/2019–
MA Henrik Pathirane: "Hermeneutics, Life and Communities: The Everyday Urban Experience", University of Helsinki, Doctoral Programme in Philosophy, Arts, and Society (aesthetics), 08/2018–
Paused or discontinued doctoral supervision
MA Tom Lammi: "Time Matters. Phenomenological Perspectives on the Temporal Dimension in the Aesthetics of the Built Environment", University of Helsinki, Doctoral Programme in Philosophy, Arts, and Society (aesthetics), 11/2020– (paused)
MSc Merja Salonen: "Noisy Knowledge: Art-activism in Social Media as a Trigger for Corporate Knowledge Building", Aalto University Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture, Dept. of Media (new media), 12/2016–19 (discontinued)
Master’s level supervision
Pili Valdivia, Aalto University, Dept. of Art and Media (New Media), 2025
Linda Valkama, Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture (Architecture), 2025
Priss Niinikoski: Sonic Mediations, Academy of Fine Arts, The University of the Arts Helsinki, MFA (sculpture), 2024
Alves Ludovico, Spaceways to Earthly Matter, Academy of Fine Arts, The University of the Arts Helsinki, MFA (sculpture), 2024
Viola Schulman: Kick the Habit: Alternative Heritage Discourse Perspectives on Mass-Produced Heritage, Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture (Architecture), 05/2024
Veera Kemppainen: Näkymättömän esittäminen visuaalisin keinoin, Aalto University, Dept of Art & Media (Visual Communication Design), 2024
Laura Tuorila: Kaupunkiluonnon esteettinen potentiaali: Tapausesimerkkinä Helsingin Eteläsatama, Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture (Landscape Architecture), 2023
Ada Pärnänen: Are we on the same page? A Thesaurus in Leaving Marks Through Street Art, Aalto University, Dept. of Design, MA in Creative Sustainability, 2023
Ulla Eronen: Polyphonic frames for nature: Visualising the diverse of biodiversity loss, Aalto University, Dept. of Art and Media, Visual Communications Design, 2023
Ronja Rajamäki: Urbaani villiys: Joutomaiden spontaani kasvillisuus osana esteettisesti monimuotoista kaupunkiluontoa, Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture (Landscape Architecture), 2023
Helmi Korhonen: Time Landscape: Exploring the Artistic, Urban, and Ecological Potential of a Living Monument – A Site-Specific Study in Manhattan, NYC, Aalto University, Dept. of Design, MA in Creative Sustainability, 2023
Amanda Halme: Millainen Nuottaniemi on? Aineeton kulttuuriperintö paikan tulkintaa ohjaavana työkaluna, Urban Studies & Planning (USP) Master's Programme, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Art, 2022
Ella Müller: Out of sight, out of mind: Modern architecture and waste, Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture, 02/2022
Emmi Turkki: Urban meadows have landed in Finnish cities: an examination of how they are aesthetically and ecologically appreciated, Urban Studies & Planning (USP) Master's Programme, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Science, 01/2022
Kamilla Kūna: Aesthetics of Boredom in post-soviet neighborhoods. Multisensory experience of Laumas microdistrict in Liepaja, Latvia, Urban Studies & Planning (USP) Master's Programme, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Art, 01/2022
Jalmari Sarla: Placemaking and suburban regeneration in Helsinki: ethnographic exploration into spatial and aesthetic experiences of public spaces in Malmi and Malminkartano, Urban Studies & Planning (USP) Master's Programme, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Science, 12/2021
Jaakko Saraste: Täydellisyys – omakohtaisia esseitä arkkitehtuurista, Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture, 12/2021
Suvituuli Saari: Esteettisten päätösten teko Ella ja Paterock -musiikkinäytelmän lavastus- ja videosuunnittelussa (title in English "Ella and Paterock: The Making of Aesthetic Decisions in the scenography and videography of Ella and Paterock musical play"), Aalto University, Dept. of Film, Television and Scenography (Scenography), 05/2020
Liinu Kivioja: Kivijalka ja kaupunkilainen: Kivijalkatilat osana helsinkiläistä arkimaisemaa (title in English ”Brownstone and the Urban Citizen: Brownstone Spaces as Part of the Everyday Urban Landscape in Helsinki] Aalto University, Dept. of Architecture (Spatial Planning), 09/2018 (Winner of the City of Helsinki thesis prize 2019)
Sanna-Susanna Östman: Ekologisesti ennallistava ympäristötaide, University of Helsinki (Environmental Ecology), 2015
Doctoral pre-examinations
Matteo Savoldelli, Aesthetics within the Storm: A Critical Compass to Contemporary Ecological Sensibility, Doctoral degree in Philosophy, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, Italy, 2025
Enrico Chinellato, Artistic Practices and City Transformations: How City Changes Impact the Logic and Modes of Urban Artistic Practice, Doctoral degree in Architecture and Design Cultures, University of Bologna, Italy, 2024
DSc Iida Kalakoski, Too Much to Handle: Architectural Conservation in the Widening Scope of Heritage, Doctoral degree in Architecture, Univ. of Tampere, Finland, 2023
PhD Aleksi Lohtaja, Architecture as Spatial Configuration of Politics, Doctoral degree in Cultural Policy, Univ. of Jyväskylä, Finland 2022
External reviewer for Master’s theses
MA Michela Sammut, Hybrid Languages: Diagrammatic Thinking and Subjective Mapping for Negotiating Space & Identity, Aalto University, Dept. of Design, Visual Communications Design, Aug 2024
MFA Jere Vainio, Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki, University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland, Nov 2022
MA Yachan Yuan: LET IT GROW: Immersive installation in relation to cultural expression and audiences' perceptual experience, Aalto University, Dept. of Design, Collaborative and Industrial Design, May 2020, Reviewer and grading committee member for Master of Arts thesis
MA Heli Keski-Huikku: Radikaali maaseututaiteen kaipuu, Aalto University, Dept. of Art, ViCCA Visual Culture and Contemporary Art, May 2015, Reviewer and grading committee member for Master of Arts thesis
”The course introduced important subjects in relation to the field of Aesthetics, it was an introduction to many streams of thought that are going to be very important for my development. Although the teacher's knowledge of the topic was clearly vast, it has been a pleasure to see her way of interacting in the students discussions during the lectures.” (student feedback, 2019)
Annually recurring courses
Technology, Tools and the Human Agency ARTS-A0633, elective master's level course, 6 ECTS, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2024–
Environmental Thinking ARTS-A0622, elective master's level course, 6 ECTS, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2022–
Theory of Contemporary Art Practices ARTS-A0123 / Taiteen nykykäytäntöjen teoria ARTS-A0122, compulsory Bachelor's level course, 1 course implementation in English and 2 in Finnish/year, 3 ECTS, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2020–
Knowing Aesthetics (elective doctoral level seminar, 6 ECTS), Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2020–22; 2023/24
Aesthetics (compulsory master's level course, 3 ECTS), Master's Programme in Information Networks, Aalto University School of Science, 2016–
Lecture visits
Estetiikka ja kestävyys (Aesthetics and Sustainability), Johdatus kestävään suunnitteluun/Prof. Matti Kuittinen (Introduction to Sustainable Design course), Bachelor's Programme in Architecture, Aalto University, 2022– (recurring annual visit)
Urban Aesthetics and Aesthetic Sustainability, Urban Design Thinking course/Prof. Karin Krokfors & Tommy Lindgren, Master's Programme in Architecture, Aalto University, 2020– (recurring annual visit)
COSM3, Humak, 2020–24
Role of Aesthetic Value in Real Estate Development, Real Estate Development course (REC-E3030)/Asst. Prof. Saija Toivonen, Master's Programme in Real Estate Economics, Aalto University School of Engineering, 26.1.2017 & 5.4.2021
Urban Aesthetics, Fastighetsvetenskapliga seminarier (Real Estate Science Seminar), Lund Institute of Technology (LTH), Lund University, 7.4.2020
Urban Aesthetics, Urban Transitions and Futures course/Asst. Prof. Idil Gaziulusoy, (MUO-E8027/USP-343), 4.3.2019
Taiteilija ja kaupunki: Näkökulmia kaupunkiestetiikan tutkimuksesta (Artist and the City: Perspectives from the Study of Urban Aesthetics), Taidekoulu Maa/Pekka Niskanen, HAM Corner, 4.10.2018
Past teaching
Ympäristöestetiikan perusteet, Introduction into Environmental Aesthetics, compulsory bachelor's level course, 5 ECTS, University of Helsinki, 2018–23
Sustainability and the Urban Experience, Introduction to Urban Studies and Planning course/Giacomo Bottà, Urban Sudies and Planning Master's Programme, University of Helsinki and Aalto University, 2020–22 (annual lecture visit)
Ympäristöestetiikka (Environmental Aesthetics), Monitieteinen ympäristötutkimus -kurssi (JMY/MYT) (Multidisciplinary Environmental Research course)/Janna Pietikäinen, University of Helsinki, 2014–23 (annual lecture visit)
Seminar of Environmental Thinking, Aesthetics and Art (elective master's level seminar 3 ECTS), Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2016–2021
Kaupunkiestetiikka (Urban Aesthetics, Master's level course, 5 ECTS), University of Helsinki Open University, August 2021
Ajatus: Empatia / Estetiikka (Idea: Empathy; compulsory Bachelor's level course, 3 course implementations/year, 2 ECTS), Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2019–2021
Ympäristöestetiikka (Environmental Aesthetics, bachelor's level online course, 5 ECTS), University of Helsinki Open University 2016–20
Ajatus: Antroposeeni / Estetiikka (Idea: Anthropocene; compulsory Bachelor's level course, 3 course implementations/year, 2 ECTS), Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2017–2019
Ajatus: Ihmisyys / Estetiikka (Idea: Humanity; compulsory Bachelor's level course, 3 course implementations/year, 2 ECTS), Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2015–2017
Tilakokemuksen estetiikkaa (Aesthetics of Spatial Experience; Master's level course, 5 ECTS), 14.3.–28.4.2016, University of Helsinki
Estetiikka ja taiteenfilosofia (Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art; doctoral level seminar, 6 ECTS) 22.2.–23.5.2016, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Estetiikan nykysuuntauksia I (Contemporary Approaches in Aesthetics I; TES130E, 5 ECTS), responsible teacher & coordinator, 5.11.–10.12.2009, University of Helsinki
5 aistia, 5 lähestymistapaa taiteeseen (5 Senses, 5 Approached to Art; TES240T, 5 ECTS), with MA Karoliina Korpilahti, 2.11.–14.12.2009, University of Helsinki
Luxus vs. rähjä: Estetiikan Rajat 2007 (Luxe vs. Shabby; TES240T, 5 ECTS), with MA Karoliina Korpilahti, 12.09.–5.12.2007, University of Helsinki