Photo credit: Vesa Tyni / Ornamo

hey there,

my name is Linda Vanni and I am a service designer based in Helsinki.

My mission is to create positive change through human-centered services and environments that improve the lives and wellbeing of both people and the planet.

The foundation of my practice is formed by the combination of design thinking, co-design and research-driven insights. I thrive when working with complex systems, at different levels of society and organizations.

My superpowers include versatility and holistic approach, along with a curious and empathic mindset. I am also passionate about teaching design, and advancing the role of design in a strategic manner.

Let’s collaborate!

@
linda.vanni@gmail.com

#
+358 (0) 40 760 5398

Areas of Expertise

Service Design
Concept Design
CX
Co-Design
Spatial Design
Design Learning

Areas of interest

Sustainability
Social Design
Placemaking
Urban Design
Systemic Change
Futures Thinking

Skills include

Qualitative Research
Design Thinking
Facilitation
Visual Design
Teaching & Training
Content Creation

Recent Work Experience

City of Vantaa
Civic Designer
(11/2025 - present)

Leading, planning and managing co-design processes from research to design to implementation, to co-create user-centered solutions and tackle wicked challenges as part of the new Innovation Team.

  • Applying design thinking and agile methods to co-create user-centered solutions

  • Contributing to building the city’s innovation portfolio to tackle the most crucial strategic challenges

  • Building organizational capabilities in innovation and design thinking

  • Conducting user research activities, i.e. interviews and observation

  • Analyzing data to identify the most impactful points for intervention

  • Crystallizing, visualizing and presenting insights

  • Supporting teams in the successful application of design thinking and methods to develop more user-centered and sustainable strategies, solutions and processes

Ornamo Art & Design Finland
Vice Chair (01/2026 - present)
Board member (01/2025 - present)

Participating in helping Ornamo implement the recently updated strategy, that highlights sustainability as designers’ key competence as well as the importance of creating a wider societal impact.

  • Co-defining and co-developing the strategic indicators that help measure and implement the new strategy

  • Ensuring customer-centric and data-driven value creation to members and relevant stakeholders

  • Contributing to the revision of organization policies to be more inclusive

  • Participating in board meetings

  • Contributing to facilitation and communication activities

Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland
Service Designer
08/2022 - 10/2025

Developing customer-centered public digital services, customer experience & organizational design capabilities in the CX & Digital Services unit of Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland.

  • Working in a design team renewing the Nationalparks.fi service (Luontoon.fi)

  • Ensuring the user-centered development of digital and physical services

  • Managing complex co-design processes involving internal and external stakeholders

  • Developing design-driven tools and processes, incl. design system and service blueprints

  • Conducting qualitative & quantitative customer research

  • Managing the customer community (customer research platform)

  • Training & developing design capabilities within the organization

  • Supporting teams in the application of design in internal projects

Pentagon Design
Designer, Services, Concepts & Interiors
09/2016 - 06/2022

Participating in and leading service and concept design projects of various scales, with focus on creating sustainable and memorable public services, urban environments and visitor experiences

  • Designing service & environmental concepts for clients including the Cities of Helsinki and Tampere, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, Oulu University Hospital OYS, Aalto University and GE Healthcare.

  • Conducting qualitative & quantitative research

  • Facilitating co-creation workshops (digital and f2f)

  • Analyzing & crystallizing insight

  • Producing visual & communication material

  • Project management & participating in sales

Teaching Experience

LAB University of Applied Sciences
Teacher, Urban Design & Strategic Design (part time)
09/2021 - 08/2022

Co-teaching two courses (10 ECTS credits each) on Urban Design and Strategic Design to 2nd year Service Design students at LAB University of Applied Sciences, with focus on sustainable suburban development.

  • Teaching & lecturing on themes related to service design and urban design

  • Planning & designing the course content, schedule and materials

  • Guiding & assessing student work

  • Assisting in the planning & facilitation of workshops

  • Contributing to research activities, incl. conducting & analyzing qualitative research

  • Co-authoring an academic article for a publication on the research process and findings

Ornamo Art & Design Finland
Teacher, Design (part time)
09/2020 - 12/2020

Working as a design ambassador and teaching a design course to kids. The course focused on co-creating a better school environment by means of design, and nurturing agency within children to create positive change.

  • Teaching design at an elementary school

  • Organizing co-creation workshops for kids

  • Planning & designing course content and material together with class teachers

  • Creating Design Challenge material targeted for all schools in Finland

STUDY Experience

Aalto University, School of Art, Design & Architecture
Master of Art
2015 - 2019

  • Major degree: Product & Spatial Design

  • Minor degree: Urban Academy (urban studies)

  • Internship completed at Sebastian ErraZuriz Studio in NYC (03-08/2016)

Lahti University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Design & Culture
2011 - 2015

  • Degree programme in Design

  • Exchange semester completed in Environmental design programme at OCAD University, Canada (01-05/2014)