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Frode Thorsen

Department: Dean KMD

E-mail: Frode.Thorsen@uib.no

 

Frode Thorsen is Faculty Dean and Professor of Early Music (historically informed performance) and, until recently, was Head of the Grieg Academy, the University of Bergen’s Department of Music. He has also worked as a composer (primarily music for dance and theatre) and as a musician in experimental and multi-artistic projects. With the ensemble Bergen Barokk, he has held national and international concerts and produced numerous CDs. Frode Thorsen was the department head for the Grieg Academy during 1999–2005 and then again 2007–2017. He participated in the committee that carried out background research for the creation of KMD at the University of Bergen, and was a steering committee member for the establishment of the new faculty.

I press the button and stare at my laptop. Layer upon layer of digital design opens up. Some of  my commands trigger sounds. Instinctively, I notice that some of the sounds are confirming that I have done everything correctly, while others are warning me that something is wrong. Even a crashing computer has audiovisual design. The keyboard and the shape and colour of the laptop are also design products. When I get momentarily stuck while writing and glance around my desk in distraction looking for something to fix my gaze on, I see yet more design: far too much in the way of colourful chocolate wrappers and lots of lovely printed matter (such as last year’s exam catalogue and the faculty’s new strategy Move), as well as a really tall lamp and a modest cup. Furniture designers have designed the office furniture and others have put work into designing my clothes, shoes and my beloved bike. Others are working on combining language and visual design. Some of them realised that Vy is a good name for a Norwegian transportation company. 

Our existence is filled with products. If we add to this that our surr­ound­ings heavily influence us, we come to realise that good design is vital to our society. 

 

The Department of Design uses this acknowledgement as its foundation and therefore emphasises social, critical and empathic practice. The academic community is focused on global, sustainable development and human- and environmentally-friendly structures and materials. These values are expressed through teaching, dissemination and research. We believe that this year’s batch of master’s students will help to create movements in society - in line with the high ambitions of the faculty. 

 

There is a unique and future-oriented power in the faculty of art, music and design. Together, we will challenge the established and traditional divisions and contribute to new, expanded expressions arising. Borders are there to be crossed!

 

I wish all our candidates the best of luck!

 

 

Frode Thorsen

Dean KMD