Utstillingen viser arbeider innen visuell kommunikasjon, møbeldesign og interiørarkitektur – samt prosjekter som beveger seg på tvers av disse. Gjennom et spenn av ulike metoder, uttrykk og perspektiver tilnærmer prosjektene seg morgendagens samfunn med nysgjerrighet og visjoner. Noen prosjekter tar utgangspunkt i demokrati, makt og bærekraft; andre utforsker kropp, sanselighet og hverdagsliv, eller stiller spørsmål ved designens rolle i møte med sårbarhet, fellesskap og forandring. Sammen uttrykkes et sammensatt bilde som speiler kompleksiteten i samfunnet vi lever i, og mulighetene design gir for å påvirke det.
The exhibition features works within visual communication, furniture design, and interior architecture — as well as projects that move across these fields. Through a range of different methods, expressions, and perspectives, the projects approach tomorrow’s society with curiosity and visions. Some address themes like democracy, power, and sustainability; others explore the body, sensuality, and everyday life, or question the role of design in relation to vulnerability, community, and change. Together, they express a complex picture that reflects the intricacies of the society we live in and the opportunities design offers to influence it.
Konstituert instituttleder/Acting Head of Department
On behalf of the Department of Design, it is a pleasure to present this year’s master exhibition! This exhibition is the result of two years of hard work, exploration, and indepth study, and marks the culmination of a five year design education. In the master’s programme, students develop a project based on a topic of their own choosing, supported by regular guidance and feedback.
The students have been part of an international and interdisciplinary environment. Their diverse back grounds and perspectives have enriched our depart ment and played an essential part in shaping their individual projects. The exhibition showcases work within visual communication, furniture design, and inte rior architecture – as well as projects that move across these fields.
Design shapes our societies and our daily lives. From brushing our teeth in the morning, checking the weather forecast on our phones, sitting at the break fast table, or commuting to work – we are constantly surrounded by systems and objects shaped by design processes. Some make life easier, others cause frustration, and many go unnoticed. This is precisely what makes design so important – it influences how we experience, understand, and interact with the world. In light of this, seeing how our students have approached their topics with curiosity, posed critical questions, and challenged established conventions is a joy. The results demonstrate a remarkable ability to consider different perspectives, engage with complexity, and develop meaningful and thoughtprovoking solutions.
Warm congratulations to all our graduating students. We wish you every success in the future, wherever your path may lead, and we are proud that you chose to study at KMD. Many thanks also to our supervisors for their dedication and support throughout the students’ educational journey. Finally, to you – our audience – it is a great pleasure to welcome you to this year’s exhibition!
Emneansvarlig og utstillingskoordinator / Course Leader and Exhibition Coordinator
Looking in, Looking out offers a glimpse into the individual and collective journeys of 21 students: from the initial idea to the final presentation, from entering as students to graduating as designers, from developing a personal voice to engaging in dialogue with the world around them. The exhibition reveals this range of processes and perspectives – from introspection within one’s own practice to interaction with society and the environment.
This year’s graduates form a diverse group, with backgrounds from four continents. They bring various thematics – from collective and political concerns to personal and everyday experiences. Some examine care and accessibility for vulnerable groups, others focus on power, democracy and sustainability, or explore sensory qualities and the interplay between body, space and surroundings. The projects explore the tools, roles and relevance of the designer in today’s complex world – and demonstrate how design can be a means for reflection, everyday improvement and visionary exploration.
As coordinator, I have had the pleasure of following this group through their final semester at KMD. Getting to know their curiosity, conversations and aspirations has given me fresh perspectives on the future – a future that will be shaped and designed by this new generation of designers. That is a reason for hope and optimism.
This year’s design graduation show is presented at Lysverket, Kode, in the centre of Bergen – a significant first step into the world. As one of Norway’s leading art museums, Kode offers the students a unique oppor tunity to present their work in a professional setting, where it can reach a wide audience. Here, the stu dents’ ideas are given the space to be experienced and discussed. I am incredibly proud they have this oppor tunity and look forward to seeing how their visions will continue to shape both the design field and the society around them.