DATE & TIME
1 October 2025, 15:45 – 17:15
TRACKS
TRACK 4: Living Labs for Business and Emerging Technology
ROOM
BiciLab
Description
The WS is introducing empathy methods as a way to develop business. Inviting participants to try empathy methods and co-create using a future oriented method new living lab cooperation around them. Participants will gain understanding and experience on empathic methods in general and try out a future oriented method for co-creation. We are using service design approach and cocreative methods for designing a new living lab. Participants will network and start creating ides for new co-operation. The aim is to scale local experiences and operation model to European level in a participatory way. Cooperation will continue after the workshop aiming for a new joint project.
Agenda
Timeslot |
Item |
|---|---|
| 15:45 – 16:00 | Inspirational introduction to the workshop & local work |
| 16:00 – 16:20 |
Participants get to try out digital and embodied empathy methods |
| 16:20 – 17:00 |
Stepwise cocreation: Participants work together in small groups with Miro board/Post-It notes |
| 17:00 – 17:15 |
Closing – Brief reflection with paper airplanes |
Facilitators
Johanna Hautamäki
RDI-expert and Service designer at Centria University of Applied Sciences
Johanna Hautamäki
RDI-expert and Service designer at Centria University of Applied SciencesJohanna Hautamäki (MA) works as RDI expert, service designer and teacher at Centria UAS Entrepreneurship and business team and part of the Future working life research group. Developing continuous learning, entrepreneurial skills and future skills are a central part of her work. Her work as RDI expert includes doing multidisciplinary human centered development work with companies on services, strategies, continuous learning, business operations and organizational culture. Methodologically her focus is especially on empathy methods, participatory methods, development through trial and combining service design with future studies and multidisciplinary applied simulation pedagogy. She has been developing and running a service prototyping environment at Centria since 2014 and Makerspace since 2023.Hautamäki is working in both international and national projects.
Mari Mehtälä
Business Development | Marketing & Sales | Commercialization of Innovations
Mari Mehtälä
Business Development | Marketing & Sales | Commercialization of InnovationsMari Mehtälä, MBA, PhD (Econ. & Business), currently working as an RDI Expert at Centria. I spend my days supporting projects related to healthcare and remote work, helping turn innovative ideas into real business. With a long industry experience in the medical device sector, I have always worked at the interface between customers and technology, bridging needs and solutions. Building on my PhD research on the commercialization of deep tech innovations in the circular economy, I am particularly passionate about sustainability and creating meaningful impact, one tree hug at at time.