In　this　paper,　a　method　to　accelerate　population　transfer　by　designing　nonadiabatic　evolution　paths　is　proposed.　We　apply　the　method　to　realize　robust　and　accelerated　population　transfer　with　a　transmon　qutrit.　By　numerical　simulation,　we　show　that　this　method　allows　a　robust　population　transfer　between　the　ground　states　in　a　Λ　system.　Moreover,　the　total　pulse　area　for　the　population　transfer　is　low　as　1.9π　that　verifies　the　evolution　is　accelerated　without　increasing　the　pulse　intensity.　Therefore,　the　method　is　easily　implementable　based　on　the　modern　pulse　shaper　technology　and　it　provides　selectable　schemes　with　interesting　applications　in　quantum　information　processing.　©　2018　by　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim