Up up and away!

Now classes are officially starting, after the first week which is traditionally a get together week here in Umeå where all the students are mixed in groups to realize some fun design project. This year's theme was Hot-air Balloons. Risks aside, it was a fantastic hands on experience, first of understanding what flies and what does not. Then, trying to make it nice and good looking.

Last friday, after a week of windy weather, we had a break and launched the 12 projects realized by the international groups. Some burned in seconds, some flew for hours... but everyone had a lot of fun and the objective was achieved, people got to know each other, cooperation was high and smiles were everywhere.

 check the more pictures in the gallery!

Back to the roots

On July 11th, I went back to my design studies roots, visiting ESDI where I could share with my former teachers and some students my experiences in this first year in Umeå Institute of Design and Interaction Design. The talk was very pleasant and many questions were shot, of course mentioning the cold temperatures. Students were particularly interested in the practical matters of how to get there, how to apply, costs of living and so on. Teachers were more interested in processes and how projects are conducted and the goals of each project. In the audience was Goebel Weyne, great mentor and one of the founders of ESDI in 1963.