NEWS A vibrant delegation from Umeå Institute of Design contributed to the Nordic Design Research Society (NORDES) conference in Oslo this August, engaging in rich discussions around the theme of relational design.
UID at NORDES
ImageCindy KohtalaThe 11th edition of the NORDES conference brought together design researchers from across the Nordic region and beyond to explore the evolving role of design in a complex and interconnected world.
UID’s presence was marked by a strong showing of PhD students and faculty members who presented papers and participated in workshops, sparking thoughtful conversations around relationality in design. Their contributions reflected UID’s commitment to inclusive, forward-thinking, and sustainability-driven design research.
“The whole conference was convivial with many compelling presentations and workshops,” said Cindy Kohtala, Professor in Design for Sustainability. “What we mean by ‘relational’ can be difficult to articulate, and we saw that UID researchers provoked a lot of discussion with their work. Plus it was a great chance to meet old acquaintances from Nordic and non-Nordic universities, as well as get to know new researchers and new work.”
Associate Professor Ylva Fernaeus echoed the sentiment, highlighting the value of connecting with peers and engaging in critical dialogue that pushes the boundaries of design research.
As the design research community looks ahead to the mid-21st century, UID remains dedicated to contributing knowledge, practices, and perspectives that support sustainable and transformative futures.