Design Learning in Basic Education in the Nordic Countries

Arts and crafts subjects are deemed responsible for the development of creativity in education. The purpose of this research is to consider creativity and innovation in basic education in the frame of design learning in arts and crafts subjects in the Nordic countries. The design learning analysis is presented on the basis of curriculum texts and information on number of hours of lessons. Creativity as a concept is explicitly used in all the Nordic curricula. Innovation is used explicitly only in the curricular texts on crafts. It seems obvious that design learning in arts and crafts gives answers on how to respond to the future challenges of society.