A major feature of the design programmes is the close
cooperation with industry and research. The students' project work
is carried out in collaboration with industrial partners or
research institutions including major companies such as Volvo
Group, Volkswagen, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, Telia Research,
Electrolux and IKEA. Since the establishment of Umeå Institute of
Design in 1989 we have cooperated with more than eighty companies;
small and medium-size companies as well as major corporations.
Amongst 30 to 40 projects are carried out each year either as term
projects or as individual examination work. Project collaboration
also takes place with our own research projects strengthening the
relationship between our educational programmes and applied
research work.
Collaboration with industries gives
students:
- the opportunity of working with important problems in a
realistic context
- insight into the industrial product development process
- to get acquainted with people in the industry
- to get up-to-date technical and marketing information
integrated into the education
- to spread information about Umeå Institute of Design among
companies
The problems we are dealing with in these projects are not the
same as a professional industrial designer usually addresses. We
are working with dilemmas that are outside of what the company's
product development teams have on their daily agenda. We often work
with problems they would like to work with but do not have the time
for. Our projects have a future horizon of three to five years
depending on the branch. They are purely conceptual projects, only
covering the early stages of product development. It should be
noted that this kind of project does not restrict the students'
artistic freedom, the extent of innovation, creative ambition or
disposition for experiments. On the contrary - the students often
enjoy working with urgent and timely problems in a realistic
context with representatives from the company's development
staff.
Work Practice
On two occasions during the bachelor programme students gain
practical experience by working at a design consultancy or in the
industry. The first period of work practice is organized and
arranged by the school. The individual student arranges the second
period based on a list of available consultancies and
companies.
Additional Types of Cooperation
Additional types of cooperation between the Institute and
external companies include conference participation, prizes and
scholarships, student placements and workshops and courses.
