2021-06-08
Demian Horst assumes the role of Head of Institute on July 1. He
is joined in the newly formed leadership team by Linda Bresäter and
Oscar Björk, both with a long history of serving in different roles
at Umeå Institute of Design. The recruitment process for the
leadership position was initiated in December 2020 and consisted of
an open call for applications. Interviews were conducted in March
and Demian Horst's appointment received unanimous support from the
recruitment committee at the Faculty of Science and Technology,
Umeå University.
"I feel very honored and extremely proud to take on this
important role during the coming 4 years, and understand the
responsibility involved in leading an institution that has real
impact in the field of design", says Demian Horst.
Demian Horst now steps down from his role as Programme Director
for the MFA Transportation Design. Demian's involvement at UID
stretches back twenty years to when he first started his master's
degree. After a stint in the automotive industry with ties to
General Motors, Opel and Saab, he returned in 2009 to direct the
Transportation Design programme. In the new role as Head of
Institute he hopes to contribute with his experience and expertise
to support a process of continuous development at UID.
"UID is well aware of the critical transformations needed to
reach the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and how
sustainable design is such an important component in that process.
My goal is to create the best possible conditions so that our
highly committed colleagues, researchers and students can
continuously explore the future foundations of industrial design to
be the drivers of such transformations", says Demian Horst.
