2021-05-27
Text: Jens Persson
Get a glimpse of tomorrow as the next generation of
designers showcase their visionary grad projects. On
June 1st, graduating students present their degree projects during
Umeå Institute of Design's (UID) digital graduate
exhibition, UID21 | A Design Talk Show.
From May 31st, the grad projects can be explored in the
virtual UID21 | Project Gallery. The
gallery presents a 360-degree view of all projects, including;
concept videos, images, interactive 3D-models and prototypes. This
year's event will be presented in a talk show format, gathering
special guests from across the globe.
During an unprecedented academic year at UID, students have been
made to redefine the role of the designer, as the boundaries
between the physical and the digital dissolved. More time and
effort have gone into developing holistic experiences that include
services and digital solutions. Many projects have also displayed a
stronger engagement in regards to sustainability and environmental
impact.
"Covid has largely forced students to stay away from our design
studios and workshops, as many are now spread out across the world.
However, they have demonstrated exceptional ingenuity in
reinventing the design process in multiple digital ways", says
Demian Horst, Associate Professor and incoming Head of Department
at Umeå Institute of Design.
A hotbed of creative, life-centered design
Could an eco-centric tourist experience help people reconnect
with our forests? Will accessible music-making become the next big
thing in therapy? Can the introduction of digital tokens help make
taxes visible in our immediate environment? Will the future barren
landscapes created by climate change be reforested by expert teams
in massive airships? These are some of the questions posed by grad
students as they aim to shape our common future through powerful
design ideas.
UID's standing on the global design stage continues to translate
into a culturally diverse student body. This year alone, the
graduating students represent 18 different nationalities. The
educational programmes and student projects at UID are conducted in
close collaboration with major multinational companies as well as
research institutions, municipalities and health care units. Each
year, representatives from companies, organizations and the design
community join the event to follow up collaborations with students,
to view demonstrations and portfolios, and to recruit the next
generation of industrial designers.
UID21 | A Design Talk Show, June 1st, 15.00
(CEST)
UID21 Live Broadcast
UID21 Project Gallery
For more information, please contact:
Jens Persson, Communications Officer, Umeå Institute of
Design
Phone: +46 73 626 35 51
Email: jens.persson@umu.se
