Suunnitteluperusteinen

Suunnitteluperusteinen is a Finnish term that translates to “design-based” or “principle-based” in English. It is often used to describe methodologies, systems, or policies that are built upon explicit design principles rather than solely on empirical data or traditional practices. In architecture and urban planning, a suunnitteluperusteinen approach emphasizes the functional, aesthetic, and contextual aspects of a project from the outset, guiding decisions through a coherent set of guidelines. In the context of software engineering, it refers to designing software components with clear architectural principles such as modularity, encapsulation, and separation of concerns, so that the resulting system is maintainable and scalable.

The concept emerged in the late 20th century as designers and planners sought to move beyond ad‑hoc or reactive solutions. By grounding projects in a defined set of principles, stakeholders can better communicate vision, evaluate trade‑offs, and measure progress against objective criteria. The approach is closely related to design thinking, yet it places greater emphasis on formal, repeatable guidelines rather than human‑centered exploration alone. In Finland, where the term originates, many public sector projects are described as suunnitteluperusteinen to highlight their compliance with national standards of sustainability, accessibility, and user experience.

Applications of suunnitteluperusteinen can be found in diverse fields such as product design, where design principles guide the creation of ergonomically sound tools, and in policy development, where legislative frameworks are drafted to embody core values like equality and transparency. Critics argue that an overreliance on rigid principles may stifle creativity or fail to adapt to contextual changes; nevertheless, proponents view the method as a valuable tool for ensuring consistency, quality, and accountability across large, multidisciplinary initiatives.