Umeå Institute of Design

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Umeå
Umeå Institute of Design

UID is located in northernmost Sweden, and is ranked as one of the top industrial design educations in the world. European students pay no tuition fees.

UID offers highly competitive, professional and international industrial design educational programmes supported by exceptional research, technical facilities and resources. Nearly all projects are carried out in collaboration with external partners and the school successfully cooperates with both the local community and international companies such as Volvo, Toyota and Sony Ericsson. Students come from over 30 different countries, and education is run in English on most of our educations.

21/08/2026

In the first hours after an earthquake, access can save lives.

For Mission: Coordinated Mobility, MFA Transportation Design students explored how Volvo Construction Equipment could contribute to future disaster-response and crisis-logistics systems in 2036.

Team Earthquakes, with Christopher Nõmmann and Kaloyan Petrov, focused on one urgent challenge: helping rescue teams reach affected areas faster when roads are blocked, infrastructure is damaged and conditions are unpredictable.

Their proposal, VOLVO TERRA, imagines a dedicated humanitarian and disaster-relief direction within Volvo. The system includes two complementary concepts:

Image 1: Terra Wayfinder by Christopher Nõmmann
Image 2: Terra Mover by Kaloyan Petrov

Together, the concepts explore how mobility, logistics and coordination can support emergency response when time matters most.

Developed in collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment.

19/08/2026

Wildfires do not begin and end with the flames.

For Mission: Coordinated Mobility, MFA Transportation Design students explored how future vehicle concepts could support crisis logistics in a changing world.

Team Wildfires, with Milena Kuhlmann, Joona Pussinen and Alexander Borisch, looked at wildfires as an ongoing system, where preparation, response, evacuation and recovery overlap. Rather than designing to fight fires directly, the team focused on the spaces around the fire: coordination, safety, decision-making and long-term restoration.

Their three concepts explore different moments in the wildfire cycle:

Image 1: Volvo Lookout by Milena Kuhlmann
Image 2: Volvo Base by Joona Pussinen
Image 3: Volvo Treader by Alexander Borisch

Developed in collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment.

17/08/2026

How can mobility support communities before, during and after a storm?

In Mission: Coordinated Mobility, MFA Transportation Design students explored how Volvo Construction Equipment could contribute to future crisis-logistics systems in 2036.

For Team Storms, Patipol Khempimook and Ronggang Bao focused on typhoon-driven disasters in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines as a key context. Their proposal, VOLVO AGIS, connects everyday operations with emergency response through two vehicle concepts designed for disrupted urban environments, evacuation support, logistics, mapping and communication.

Image 1: AGIS_01 by Patipol Khempimook
Image 2: AGIS_02 by Ronggang Bao

Developed in collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment.

13/08/2026

For his grad project, Hugo Nordberg (BFA Industrial Design) created tim. (Tools in Motion), a purpose-built electric cargo bike designed to support the everyday needs of urban tradespeople.

“I’m exploring whether a cargo bike can fully meet the demands of the trade, not just functionally, but also in how it’s perceived. tim. is designed to feel like a professional tool that tradespeople can trust and identify with,” says Hugo Nordberg.

Developed in collaboration with Cyklande Rörmokaren, the project addresses the practical and cultural barriers of moving away from vans in city environments. Through dedicated storage solutions, adaptable load handling and a familiar visual language, tim. proposes a more efficient and sustainable way of working. It reduces emissions and congestion while supporting the realities of professional trade in urban contexts.

11/08/2026

For her grad project, Josephine Samuelsson Wahl (MFA Transportation Design) created Land Rover 365, a rescue vehicle concept designed to deliver pre-hospital care in remote mountain environments.

“I’m exploring how emergency response can reach patients in conditions where both helicopters and road ambulances fall short. Land Rover 365 is designed to provide continuous care from hospital to remote terrain, without interruption,” says Josephine Samuelsson Wahl.

Developed in collaboration with Land Rover and Region Västerbotten, the project bridges a critical gap in mountain rescue. Combining road capability with advanced off-road performance, it allows medical teams to reach patients and begin treatment on site. Through a carefully designed interior and adaptable systems, Land Rover 365 supports both clinical needs and patient wellbeing in some of the most demanding environments.

06/08/2026

For her grad project, Lin Wang (MFA Interaction Design) created Traces of Interaction, a project that reimagines how interaction design can connect people across time, place and everyday experience.

“I’m exploring how design can move beyond direct encounters, creating connections between people who may never meet, through traces left in the fabric of daily life,” says Lin Wang.

The project proposes a shift in how interaction is understood and designed, from fixed outcomes to open-ended conditions shaped by participants themselves. Through a teacher-led activity cycle, one learner’s trace becomes another’s entry point, supporting adult migrants as they navigate language learning through real-world situations. By positioning everyday life as the primary material, the project highlights how meaningful interaction often extends beyond words.

04/08/2026

For her grad project, Xiaoyu Yu (MFA Advanced Product Design) created Boxboom, a portable, rental-based drumming experience designed to lower the threshold for beginners.

“I’m exploring how we can make drumming more accessible and less intimidating to start. Boxboom offers a flexible, low-commitment way to learn, designed around the needs and realities of first-time players,” says Xiaoyu Yu.

The project rethinks the drum kit as a compact and approachable learning tool, responding to the constraints of space, cost and confidence that often hold people back. By focusing on portability and gradual engagement, Boxboom invites more people to explore rhythm, creativity and musical expression on their own terms.

30/07/2026

For his grad project, Love Björklund (MFA Transportation Design) created ANURA, a vehicle concept for rural Scandinavia designed around trust, repairability and user capability.

“I’m exploring what mobility could look like if vehicles were built to support people’s knowledge and independence, rather than override it. ANURA is designed to be understood, adapted and repaired by the people who rely on it,” says Love Björklund.

Rooted in insights from rural communities, the project challenges the increasing complexity and control of modern vehicles. Through modular components, visible construction and multi-purpose elements, ANURA invites curiosity and hands-on engagement. It proposes a shift towards vehicles that strengthen local resilience and support everyday life beyond standardised systems.

28/07/2026

For his grad project, Hanxiong Zhang (MFA Interaction Design) created From Novelty to Normality, a concept that explores how AI can support clinicians by integrating seamlessly into their existing ways of working.

“I’m exploring how AI can become a natural part of clinical practice, not by replacing familiar tools, but by augmenting them in a calm and adaptive way,” says Hanxiong Zhang.

The project introduces a tangible-digital toolkit where everyday paper annotations are interpreted as computational input, bridging the gap between physical workflows and electronic health records. By aligning with established behaviours, the proposal reframes AI as a quiet, supportive presence, helping medical environments evolve without disruption.

21/07/2026

For his grad project, Yash Saboo (MFA Advanced Product Design) created Peeko, a smart public health concept that brings early screening for digestive conditions into everyday environments.

“I’m exploring how we can break the stigma around gut health and make early detection more accessible. By integrating screening into public restrooms, Peeko helps people recognise critical signs early and take action before symptoms progress,” says Yash Saboo.

The project introduces a toilet seat equipped with hyperspectral imaging that can detect microscopic traces of blood in stool, offering discreet feedback through a companion app. By turning a routine moment into an opportunity for preventive care, Peeko reframes waste as valuable health data and supports more inclusive, proactive healthcare systems.

Adress

Östra Strandgatan 30
Umeå
90187

Telefon

+46907866996

Webbplats

http://www.umu.se/en/umea-institute-of-design/

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