Many students showed off collaborative projects supported by the likes of Toyota, Nio and Mini
The urgency of the Ume river that flows beside the Umeå Institute of Design (UID) feels like a metaphor for how its students approach design. Without getting too philosophical, there is a clear intent and destination. Speaking at the school’s 2023 graduate show this week, one senior lecturer went as far to say that the role of a designer is not about endless learning but prototyping and ‘doing’.
Nestled toward the tip of Northern Sweden and in many ways isolated from surrounding areas (the local airport generally flies only to Stockholm), Umeå seems an unlikely spot for one of the world’s top design schools. That’s clearly done nothing to hinder its reputation and today it boasts the luxury of being highly selective with who gets in; this year’s Transportation Design course counts just eight members. That’s not for lack of applications, with hundreds coming in from around the world. “Those that do get on the course receive a lot of attention,” says Demian Horst, head of the UID and long-time servant to the school.
CDN was invited along to this year’s graduate show to learn more about the school, this year’s course and what the organisers expect from the next generation of design talent. In many cases, students were…
This content is available to subscribers only | Sign in
Unlock exclusive design knowledge, inspiration & connection.
Knowledge
Inspiration
Billed as $194 annually
Other currencies: £149 / €179 annually
Available to new subscribers only
Knowledge
Inspiration
Connection
Billed as $259 annually
Other currencies: £199 / €239 annually
Knowledge
Inspiration
Connection
Billed as $389 annually
Other currencies: £299 / €359 annually
Explore more subscription options.
For help with individual user subscriptions please contact:
Eric Ng
Eric.Ng@ultimamedia.com
For help with multi user subscriptions please contact:
Angela Yang
Angela.Yang@cardesignnews.com
This year’s EyesOn Design show was a continuation of a theme: great cars, great designers and good times – all for a good cause.
After just over three years at the helm, Ford’s chief design officer Anthony Lo is leaving the company
The Autodesk Innovation Forum brought together experts from Kia, Rivian and Porsche to explore the roles of AI and VR in design. Freddie Holmes reports
