ABOUT
What is Dada?
DaDa is a student association founded by students of the Media Lab Helsinki of Aalto University. DaDa was founded to support the interests of Media Lab students. It includes organising a variety of events to support the members’ professional development and networking during and after studies. The association also aims to promote the fields of study in the Media Lab within the Aalto University and broader society.
Through different activities DADA also builds and strengthens a sense of community amongst the students and the department. Our aim is to everyone feel that they are supported and represented. Through our advocacy program we ensure that student rights are respected.
More for information about the rules of the association can be found here.
why dada?
We are a student organization for you, no matter where you study or even if you don’t study at all, because we are a group of enthusiasts of art, design and digital creations. Yes, we represent particularly the students of the Media Department at the Aalto University, but don’t let that stop you from joining our ranks. We are a bunch of misfits trying to make and build cool things, organizing workshops and events just for you!
Like mentioned before DADA is particularly a media department students association when it comes to student advocacy, but open to all who are interested in technology, arts, media, sound and game design. We guard the rights of our students and help improve teaching by means of providing complimentary workshops and events in relation to the New Media study program. DADA is also working towards helping its members to network in order to provide those crucial contacts in the “real world”. We spread knowledge about the disciplines studied at Media Lab within Aalto and the society at large by being open and accepting of anyone who wants to join without discrimination of gender, nationality, color and religion.
More information regarding the Aalto code of conduct can be found here.
Notable Projects
ÄÄNIAALTO
An annual festival featuring audiovisual performances, new media and sound art as well as workshops free of charge. The festival is open to everyone in the Helsinki region. Throughout its different editions, ÄÄNIAALTO has become a linking platform between emerging and established sound artists in their field.
FLUX ISLAND
An annual exhibition produced by Department of Art and Media students at Aalto University. The exhibition lasts for three weeks featuring ten artworks and installations from 14 students and alumni. Flux Island combines the figurative and literal. Flux as in flow of people, ideas, electricity, water, etc. and flux as in the substance used when soldering.
Demo DAy
The Media Lab was founded in 1994 and is now a part of the Department of Media at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University. The mission of the Media Lab is to explore, discover and comprehend the new digital technology and its impact in society; to find and exploit the possibilities it opens to communication, interaction and expression and to evaluate, understand and deal with the challenges it poses to design and creative production.
Already in the late 1990s we adopted the slogan, ‘hands on with minds on’ to explain our work. We also adopted the ‘demo or die’ attitude of other Media Labs and formalised this into bi-annual Demo Days, organised at the end of each term. Our Demo Days have become regular events at which we demonstrate our work to each other and the ‘outside world’, people from other departments and schools, companies, partners and prospective partners. Demo Days are also a chance to have fun together before the onset of the vacations.
board 2021-2022
monika hauck, chair
Cześć! My name is Monika Hauck I am a Canadian/Polish artist and musician currently completing an MA in New Media Design and Production. I am interested in creating immersive experiences for live performances and installations.
My background is in fine arts and in my free time, you can find me thrifting, working on DIY projects, biking, hiking, and crafting. This year my main goal as chair of DADA is to engage the artists and designers within Aalto to create a community of creatives who can share knowledge and exchange experience to better equip ourselves in both our personal and professional journeys on and off-campus.
Mathias Hörlesberger, Vice-chair
Hej hej! My name is Mathias Leopold Hörlesberger. Briefly about myself, I am a designer and social scientist with a background in service, interaction and user experiences design.
Originally from Vienna but have been living on/off in /Helsinki for 8 years and currently studying New Media Design and Production. In my free time I like bouldering and outdoor sports. As a vice-chair of DADA, my goal is to support students in building a strong community on and off-campus and as well as multiply student voices within Aalto and represent the ARTS community.
I don’t have any social media anymore due to ethical reasons. You might still find some stuff of mine online, but the best way to reach me is through Telegram or irl.
Katie Ballinger, Treasurer
Heyo! My name is Katie (Kathryn) Ballinger. I’m a New Media artist from Toronto, Canada, I also spent a few years living in California working in the Tech industry as a software engineer.
I love houseplants, bass heavy beats, playing video & board games, and bird watching. My art practice is centred around installation works, often with interactive components using electronics, code, and digital fabrication techniques.
I handle accounting & money stuffs with DADA as well as helping out in general with events and knowledge building. I strive to create a sense of community and help students feel settled here. Please say hello if you see me around!
Marija Sumarac, Secretary
Ćao! My name is Marija Šumarac and I am a sound designer and composer, studying MA Sound in New Media. Originally from Serbia, grew up near the beautiful river Danube.
My background is in sound design and music (both classical and jazz). I play trombone, and my hobbies are jewellery making, hiking and photography. As secretary of DADA, my goal is to provide better communication between students, to provide all information that they need and to help them in exchanging knowledge and experience during studying at Aalto. Feel free to say hi if you see me around!
Calvin Guillot, Communications
Hola! My name is Calvin Guillot. I am an artist, designer and developer. Originally from Colombia, I’ve been living for 8 years in Finland. Currently I am pursuing my second masters degree in New Media. I also like to be outdoors all the time and do bouldering and windsurfing.
As the communications person in DaDa, my goal is to create effective digital spaces where the members of DaDa and the Aalto community in general can share their ideas, art, and voice.
Ida Budolfsen, Events
Hej! I’m Ida Budolfsen from Denmark with a background in art and tech now studying New Media Design and Production. I like to get hands-on with installation or performance projects to explore new materials, or new ways to use my more traditional crafting interests. Fusion baby!
I also like a good board game or movie night, and I’ll be looking forward to hear your suggestions and ideas and facilitating events that bring us together to share interests, learn new things and have fun.
Gabriel Moise, Student Advocate/Events
Hei! My name is Gabriel Moise. I am an artist from Romania working on games and animation, currently doing a master’s in Game Design at Aalto. I am interested in all aspects of the art pipeline, from pre-production to post-work. Some of my passions are coffee (a lot), role-playing games, and ice skating.
As part of DADA, I am organising events and doing advocacy work, especially for my fellow games student community.
Yujie Zhou, Student Advocate
Moi, I’m Yujie! I am a visual artist from China, studying MA Photography. Working with photography as my primary medium, as well as employing a variety of interdisciplinary frames, my practice is seeking to interrogate dominant historical narratives and individuality through the lens of a self-reflective critical voice.
As a student advocate of DADA, I want to understand students’ needs and try to influence on the decision making to support students.
Lulo Romero, Official DADA Creature
Woof woof, wooooooo, woooof *licking feet noises*.