mission statement
We educate Bachelors aimed to hold a holistic way of thinking when working in the design field. They are trained to applied this attitude to all design work besides the knowledge they gain in a specific design area. We train students to cooperate with different professional from those areas design is interacting: technology, economy, education, etc. The Bachelor can apply to further Master level in both national ans international schools (Konstfack, HDK, Leeds UK, DDS in Danemark)
international role
We are promoting the holistic way of thinking to cope with sustainability. We have collaborated with the University of Naples, Italy, the North West University (Potchefstroom), South Africa, Mechelen University College, University of the Arts, Central Saint Martins. We had had exchange with students and staff.
national role
We are involved in develop sustainable strategies focused in the national research in wood, its industry and products, to (re)connect consumers to this basic material. In connection to SVID (Swedish association of industrial design)we try to connect the traditional small enterprises (often related to wood furniture and product design) in the region of Småland. Moving the focus from design as product development to design as meaning and content for sustainability, we are putting product development in a life cycle including the whole life time of every product, thus a product has to be seen from raw material, through industrialization, manufacturing, marketing, consuming, and recycling or energy extraction when necessary. In the region we cooperate with Möbel-, Aluminium- and Glasriket ((furniture, Aluminum and Glas "realms"),
main focus
Bachelor Design program focused to general studies. Hereby the description of our courses and the design issues taken i every step Design and Communication: form and content, visual thinking, typography and layout Design and Human Being: ergonomics, identity, human needs Design and Production: form and material, form and production, form and context Design and Design Process: Process and production, process and enterprising, process and society Design and Sustainability:theory, project 1 and 2 Design and Design professions: assignments, professional attitude (bachelor exam), professional market and portfolio
faculties and departments
The Design Department (DP) is part of the Institution of Technology and Design (TD) in Växjö university (VXU). TD belongs to the Faculty of Mathematics, Nature Science and Technology. The Department of Design offers two programs: the Bachelor Program in Design and a two year program in visual merchandising (in cooperation with the School of Economics in VXU)
bachelor level programs
Bachelor program in design 180 Etcs. Year 1 0-30 Ects= Design and Communication 30-60 Ects= Design and Human Being year 2 60-90 Ects= Design and Production 90-120 Ects= Design and Design Process year 3 120-150 Ects= Design and Sustainability 150-180 Ects= Design and Design professions
master level programs
There is not master yet.
research activity and main areas
Design pedagogy in cooperation with the pedagogical institute in VXU Studies in form and content meaning in cooperation with the technical staff in our institution
doctorate level programs
We do not have doctoral level yet but we are affiliated member to the Swedish National School of Design Research. We have started design reseach in cooperation with other institutions in VXU.
subject areas for exchange students
2nd year Design and production (autumn) 2dn year Design and design process (spring) 3rd year Design and sustainability (autumn) All courses include 2D, 3D and environmental design, the student chooses focus by him/herself Design theory and history (only in Swedish) Scandinavian design (in , English special for foreign students) Material workshops (practical work, elective for all students once per semester)
application deadlines
15th December to Autumn semester 15th March to Spring semester (deadlines applied by VXU)
teaching languages
Swedish and English Most of teachers speak several languages: Spanish, French and German) Papers are usually written in Swedish, though course literature includes often English literature)
semester dates
Autumn semester 1st September, week 36 ends week 3 in January Spring semester 21st January, week 4 ends week 23 in June
cost of living per month (studying and living)
Studying: free Living: rent about 340 (warm), living 200 Euro. All students have to consider expenses in different material for about 300 Euro/year.