New academic year launched at Kolding School of Design
- You stand in the midst of a rapidly changing world. Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work and communicate. Sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity. And your generation has a special role: you are not only expected to adapt to the future – you are expected to help shape it.
These were the words of Acting Rector Trine Lumbye in her welcome address to both new and returning students. She also reminded them that the school’s programmes are not only about acquiring skills, but about contributing to society and to the community:
- The world should not only be understood – it should be sensed, processed and reshaped.
On its bachelor’s and master’s programmes, Kolding School of Design teaches students to combine aesthetics with functionality, to develop innovative solutions and to ask critical questions – all skills that are essential in a world placing complex demands on society, culture and business. In other words, the school’s design education is a key to both understanding and shaping the society of tomorrow.
Learning through mistakes
The new academic year will bring a wealth of projects, workshops and cross-disciplinary collaborations, offering students opportunities to work hands-on with both challenges and solutions. At the same time, the school provides space for each student to develop a personal artistic voice and to experiment with new ideas and materials.
Acting Rector Trine Lumbye also reminded students that the road ahead will not be without obstacles. Creating requires patience and courage – and mistakes are a natural part of the process:
- Mistakes are not failures – they are steps on the road to understanding.
Thus, this year’s opening was not only a welcome, but also an invitation to see the education as a laboratory for the future – a place where play and seriousness meet, and where students are given the opportunity to shape both their professional identity and the world they will become part of.
Meet some of the new faces at Kolding School of Design
Trine Lumbye reminded students that the road ahead will not be without obstacles. Creating requires patience and courage – and mistakes are a natural part of the process.
Jacob Tazerei, 24, Bachelor student, Communication Design
Maja Bank, 26, Master’s student, Communication Design / Design for People
Feline Silke, 23, Bachelor student, Fashion Design
Pin-Che Chen, 26, Master’s student, Industrial Design / Design for People
- I went to folk high school last year and thought I was going to be a furniture maker, but then I was introduced to the world of textiles – and suddenly discovered a huge passion and drive for it. I applied to Kolding School of Design last year and was offered a standby place, so now I can hardly wait to get started and unfold my creative side – and at university level, which I honestly hadn’t seen coming. I’m also really looking forward to meeting people and seeing how everything turns out.
Feline Silke, 23, Bachelor student, Fashion Design
- I’m truly passionate about Communication Design – there isn’t anything else that would make sense for me to study or work with. Communication is so exciting, and I can’t wait to explore the visual side as well as all other forms of communication. I already know Kolding School of Design a little, as many of my friends have studied here, and my first encounter with the school was actually the Christmas Bazaar. There are so many great things here – the community, the teaching, the people – and I can’t wait to become part of it.
Jacob Tazerei, 24, Bachelor student, Communication Design
- I come from Taiwan and was on exchange at Kolding School of Design last year – it was an incredibly exciting experience. The whole community in and around Kolding and the school was amazing, with such a welcoming vibe. It feels really good to be back. I’m quite sure the experience on the Master’s programme will be different from the Bachelor’s – and from what I know in Taiwan: whereas the Bachelor was very much about modelling and details, I expect the Master’s will challenge me to design in different ways and to target my design more precisely.
Pin-Che Chen, 26, Master’s student, Industrial Design / Design for People
- I did my Bachelor’s in Communication Design here at Kolding School of Design, and now I’ve chosen to continue with the Master’s because I want to prepare myself even better for the job market. Design is such an exciting field, and I feel there’s so much more to explore. I’ve chosen the Design for People specialisation because I’m fascinated by culture and the psychological aspects of how design affects people. I’m especially looking forward to being part of the international community on the Master’s, experiencing different cultures and being challenged – all within a safe and supportive study environment.
Maja Bank, 26, Master’s student, Communication Design / Design for People