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Mona Larsen

Department: Head of Department

E-mail: Mona.Larsen.design@uib.no

 

Mona Larsen is head of department at the Department of Design. She has been Dean of the Department of Design at the Bergen University College of Art and Design since March 2012. Larsen is a trained fashion designer from Milan, and also has a practical pedagogy education from iBergen University College. She has her professional background as a clothing designer, both as an independent freelancer and in positions within a design agency. In addition, she has approx. Ten years of experience from teaching and subject area management at upper secondary school level within textile / design / design and three years of teaching experience from the Oslo University Academy of the Arts.

Dear all,

Being creative and thinking outside the box is the designer's privilege and is often the biggest motivation to become a designer. By creating through doing and highlighting a sustainable society that is future-oriented, is essential for a designer. Where the designer's unconventional approach in uncovering problem areas is no longer just a privilege but a shear necessity.

 

This year there are 26 graduates from Visual Communication and Furniture and Spatial Design/Interior Architecture. Master's programmes demand a lot, -perhaps the most demanding type of education. It is individual, but students are not left to themselves. The students have interacted across their disciplines, there is user involvement and the sharing of knowledge. The works range from the primary needs of humans to the technical, but holistic thinking is a common trait throughout, the balance between humans and technology. It concerns working with internal and external space. How we move and how we interact. It is about creating value in our society where not everything should be about commercialization and economic growth, or a further increase of living standards, but rather questioning what quality of life actually is? Large parts of our society show signs that we have forgotten that we are intricate beings, where materiality and nature are important partners. We forget the bonds between our heads and our hands, we forget to use our senses, we simply forget to be human. So, thank you to the students, who once again remind us to do and to be, remind us that we are part of a world and that we have a responsibility. A responsibility to ask critical questions about the things that we surround ourselves with and how everything is connected.

I am honoured and proud to have students who will now enter into our society and work as independent, critical, brave and reflective designers. I am confident that design will reach its full potential. Be it as a furniture designer, spatial designer, architect, visual communicator, or within new directions that are evolving where design is naturally involved.

 

It is with pride that we present this year's Master’s exhibition and look forward to an exciting future for these newly qualified students!

 

Mona Larsen

Head of Department for Design