The project “Common Ground” between The Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD) and Makerere University started in 2022. During the last four years, the project has had a range of activities, such as subjects and workshops in Uganda and Norway, and exchanges of master students and researchers.  

In May a delegation with students and researchers from Makerere University visited KMD in Bergen for the joint subject "Site Lab" with Norwegian students. The purpose was to explore how to use artistic tools as a critical investigation of design. 

“They have looked at locations in the city with a critical eye, to find locations where the design is hostile, and do not work so well. The aim was to discover where materials, ergonomy and user friendliness are not meeting its intentions, either by chance or as a result of bad decisions or influences,” professor Mikkel Wettre explains.  

Mitigated hostile design

One of the master students who attended the workshop, was Mwesiga Obadia from Makerere University. Together with his group of three other Norwegian students, he examined the Bergen bus station and ground tunnel. 

“We looked at spaces in Bergen which are not fulfilling its function, through using our senses, how it looked, felt, and smelled. Our task was to mitigate hostile design in different urban spaces. I learned about how to approach some design challenges, and link design to people and the environment. One cannot live without the other,” he explains. 

The master student thinks the approach to design is different in Norway and Uganda. 

“In our culture people use communal values, symbols and tradition in urban planning. In Norway the design is for individuals, through order, minimalism and sustainability. The climate also shapes the design. In Uganda we have intense heat, dust and heavy rain, with natural ventilation and shades in the courtyard for the rain. In Norway you have to design for the darkness and winter, with materials such as glass and wood,” says Obadia. 

Exhibition in spring of 2026

Since the cooperation between the faculties started in 2022, over 70 students are involved in exchanges and activities between the universities. Four students are on full scholarships, 17 students are on semester exchange and 50 students are doing two-week workshops.

“Our cooperation has offered many different and rich experiences, both cultural, social and practical learnings. It has also offered new friendships between our students, researchers and staff. For Makerere it has provided new competences and an increased number of applicants for their arts and design programme”, says professor Mikkel Wettre. 

The cooperation has ensured that KMD also has a representation of students outside of Europe. One of the aims has been to give access to education for students in other countries, especially women and minorities. 

The project will be finalized in the spring of 2026 with an exhibition at Makerere University, where the partners will display their activities and experiences.