NEBA Design Workshops 2026
Cherry trees along the river. A loop that connects a town. A train station that welcomes with all senses. On 23 April, sixteen designers, artists and students presented four concepts for how Vännäs and Robertsfors can become more vibrant places. Here are the results.
A loop through Robertsfors
Participants: Elena Rozarenova, Anna-Karin Gustafsson, Amanda Rova and Isabell Wikman
A loop that connects Robertsfors and serves as both a physical route and a common identity, where local materials and links to industry characterise the design. Places are highlighted through information points and digital elements that tell the story of the town. The idea is to create a clear, inviting and vibrant environment that encourages movement, meetings and stay. The concept is based on great participation from residents, associations and businesses - a place for everyone that strengthens community, identity and attractiveness in Robertsfors.
- If you have helped create something, you also want to cherish it," says Amanda Rova, architecture student.
Text and photo: Ida Carlberg
Arrival as an experience
Participants: Johanna Forsberg, Astrid Hainzl, Elin Niss and Susanne Fahlén Hörnberg
How is a place experienced from the first meeting? The concept focuses on the arrival in Robertsfors - especially around the future railway station. The core is to create coherent, welcoming paths and environments that connect the different parts of the town. The concept emphasises the existing identity and reinforces it by activating all the senses in all seasons. Along the roads, meeting places are created that make the journey through the town pleasant, social and vibrant - with residents and local actors as co-creators.
- It is difficult to build an identity for someone. It has to be done together," says Susanne Fahlén Hörnberg.
Text and photo: Ida Carlberg
A knowledge trail in Vännäs
Participants: Tove Jakobsson, Sybil Sundling, Gabriel Larsson, Stina Wallin and Jenny Opheim Johansson
A place designed to promote lifelong learning through experiences in nature, where visitors actively participate, create and explore. Through activities such as crafts, games and joint projects, learning becomes a natural part of the stay. All the senses are activated - sight, sound, smell and touch. The focus is on participation where both children and adults can influence the place and learn from each other across generations, with elements that also favour biodiversity.
- It's in the small that the big things are," says Jenny Opheim Johansson.
Text and photo: Ida Carlberg
A pink thread along the river
Participants: Stina Nilsson, Eva Juneblad, Harriet Edeholt Öberg and Julia Norén
A concept for a living path between Vännäs and Vännäsby, where the vegetation acts as a pink thread throughout the experience. The cherry blossom will be a recurring attraction, and simple meeting places will be created along the way to encourage activity and community. The concept makes nature a destination - a place you want to visit, return to and build a relationship with.
- We wanted to make nature the destination. You need something to draw you there - a why, says Stina Nilsson.
Text and photo: Ida Carlberg
Want to read more? You can find the full report here.
Watch the film of the presentation below.
Reportage and film: Ida Carlberg
Kreativa Norrland is run by eXpression Umeå and RISE and funded by the European Union, Umeå Municipality, Piteå Municipality, Luleå Municipality, Gällivare Municipality, Region Västerbotten and Region Norrbotten.
Prototype Week
Prototype Week 2025 brought together students and entrepreneurs for an intensive week of developing and testing public prototypes in Umeå city centre. The mission was to explore safety and movement patterns in the city centre, with a focus on enhancing the qualities that already work well, while testing new ideas for how the urban environment can be developed. The work has resulted in prototypes that in different ways highlight the relationship between people, movement flows and the experience of the place - and which open up for dialogue about the future of Umeå.
Prototype Week was organised in close collaboration with our three partners, Baltic Groups, UPAB and Ultra, who have contributed knowledge, perspectives and resources to the work in various ways.
The project has received funding from the European Regional Development Fund.