Håkan Olsson works as a designer at the consultancy
firm Semcon in Gothenburg since 2001. Before
that he worked at a subsidiary of White Architects as an industrial
designer. He started there in 1988 and worked with product
development, with furniture, lighting, outdoor products and smaller
buildings. He has equally long experience in the industry sphere as
in the architecture sphere. Håkan works with anything from
household appliances, to the environment on oilrigs, at the firm
Semcon. Håkan Olsson has never been to UID before.
What are you doing at Umeå Institute of
Design?
Semcon got a request from UID about tutoring the BA students and I thought it
sounded very interesting. It is great having feedback from young
people and to learn about their situation their view on the
professional role, what they dream about, you really learn a great
deal from that. In this project I have had to restructure my way of
thinking, which is very useful to do now and then.
Is there anything you find particularly positive about
UID?
The positive thing is what the students bring through their
manner, they are very open and motivated and that is a signal that
it is a well functioning school.
I recognize much from my studies at HDK, even
though plenty has happened technically, as regards to equipment,
but a great deal is similar and it is a creative environment. Being
here makes you happy.
Is there anything you would like to improve at Umeå
Institute of Design?
I have been here for a too short time to know, but I will let
you know if I discover anything in need of improvement.
What do you think are the reasons for the good reputation
of UID?
I believe it is because you have succeeded in recruiting not
only excellent tutors but also great teachers with the proper
qualifications and the ability to educate and also that you seem to
have a wide international exchange and a successful collaboration
with the industry.
What will you be doing in ten years?
I dream about working as an artist, it would be fantastic to do
that in ten years. The artistic skills are part of the design
process, but I sometimes miss the freedom in just creating freely.
I would like to work as an artist.
March 2011
