This year's designers are ready

Kolding School of Design celebrated this year's Bachelor's, Master's and one PhD graduate on Friday with two graduation ceremonies, where both the speeches and the graduation projects highlighted the role designers have to play in a world shaped by constant change.

In her addresses to the graduates, Rector Carina Christensen emphasised that a design education is not about finding quick answers, but about developing an inquisitive mindset and the ability to understand before seeking to change:

- Many of the challenges we face today do not come with clear answers: Climate change. Technological transformation. Growing pressure on communities and public institutions. Questions of trust, belonging, and wellbeing. These are not challenges that can be solved by efficiency or by making things faster and cheaper. The most important questions we face are: How do we live well without consuming more? How do we develop new technologies - without losing our humanity? How do we strengthen communities in a time of increasing division? These are questions about how we live, work and shape our future. And they are questions that designers are uniquely placed to engage with. Not because designers have all the answers. But because design begins with curiosity - not certainty. With exploring before concluding. With imagining alternatives when existing solutions are no longer enough.

Diplomas and awards for outstanding graduation projects
The Master's graduates were celebrated in the morning, followed by the Bachelor's graduates in the afternoon. During the morning ceremony, Alexandra Harder Lindek also received her PhD degree.

Head of Education Eva Kappel welcomed guests at both ceremonies, while Veronica Godinho Magalhaes and Sofie Bruun Jørgensen delivered speeches on behalf of the Master's and Bachelor's graduates respectively.

Four graduates received awards in recognition of projects that demonstrate how design can create value for people and society.

Julie Fløjgaard Skerning (MA in Industrial Design / Design for Planet) received the National Bank of Denmark Award. The HK Award was presented to Thea Heering Surrow (MA in Communication Design / Design for People), while Rosa Catharina Adriana Floris (MA in Industrial Design / Design for Play) received the Universal Design Award, presented jointly by Kolding School of Design and the Bevica Foundation.

At the Bachelor's ceremony, the Universal Design Award was presented to Marie Sig Kruse, BA in Textile Design.

Karin Margrethe Vestby, Francisco Rolandi, Jiayue (Joy) Chu, Thea Heering Surrow and Emile Kirstine Hansen were also shortlisted for the award and received certificates in recognition of their nominations.

Graduation Exhibition open until 2 July
The celebrations continued in this year's Graduation Exhibition, where families, friends and guests explored the breadth of the graduates' work – from products, materials and fashion to visual communication, services and systems.

The Graduation Exhibition is open at Kolding School of Design until 2 July, daily from 12 noon to 4 pm.

Congratulations to all of this year's Bachelor's, Master's and PhD graduates, and to all the award recipients.