Ten designers have been selected for the Summer eXpression programme. Starting on 5 June, the participants will spend seven weeks working with local and national manufacturers to go from idea to prototype. At the end of the summer, the prototypes will be presented to an experienced advisory board. They then have the chance to develop the prototype further into a finished product and sales.
New for this year is that the programme is divided into two parts; the first part takes place during seven summer weeks where the designers focus on developing prototypes, strengthening their entrepreneurial skills and building their networks. The second part begins in the autumn after an experienced advisory board has considered which designers will have the chance to take their prototypes to finished products together with local and national manufacturers.
There is a strong creativity and drive among the designers who have applied to the programme this year, which is very exciting. It feels good that this year we have chosen to work with an experienced Advisory Board that is involved in developing us as an incubator. The collaboration will lift the programme further and they will be of great benefit by helping to identify opportunities for the designers to develop, says Barbro Renkel, CEO of eXpression Umeå and continues:
Through their networks and knowledge, participants can also gain more exposure and attention for their activities, which can lead to new business opportunities.
Here are the designers selected for Summer eXpression 2023:
Emmilie Haglund Umeå School of Architecture
Vera Bensch Chalmers Architecture
Axel Gillblad Umeå School of Architecture
Cornelia Kalle Umeå School of Architecture
Lina Degerth Umeå School of Architecture
Anna Levander Umeå School of Architecture
Linda Lindkvist Umeå School of Architecture
Thea Lundahl Umeå School of Architecture
Lova Bodin Umeå Institute of Design
Nelly Axelsson Chalmers Architecture
This year's Advisory Board consists of:
Malin Wåhlström, purchasing manager Designtorget
Peter Jiseborn, Interior cluster Sweden
Jon Eliason, interior designer
Ola Rune, Architect and designer, Claesson Koivisto Rune
Linn Backman Hallberg, Designer and Researcher, RELINN Design
Read more about Summer eXpression here
See previous products developed during Summer eXpression here.
Summer eXpression is eXpression Umeå's summer programme aimed at young designers who want to take their ideas and entrepreneurship to the next level. The programme is run in collaboration with Umeå University Holding AB, the VFT programme and the Innovation Office at Umeå University.
