Salolainen, Maarit: - Maarit Salolainen is Professor of Textile Design at Aalto University, Finland, and Head of the MA Major in Fashion and Textile Design. She is a textile expert and creative director with extensive international experience across the textile industry, passionate about bringing textile knowledge to interdisciplinary platforms. At Aalto University, Professor Salolainen has developed higher education studies in textile design, focusing on renewing studio pedagogy and linking textile studies to fashion education and other design disciplines. As a creative director within the global textile manufacturing industry, she has led the design and development of fabrics and interior textile collections for international textile editors and brands, from research and initial concept through technical and creative development to final quality decisions and color coordination.