Explore Cutting-Edge Tech Innovations at UID25 | Design Talks & Degree Show

We are excited to invite you to the UID25 | Design Talks & Degree Show on June 3, where Umeå Institute of Design (UID) will present the latest tech innovations from our graduating students. UID has been ranked number one on the global Red Dot Design Ranking for nine consecutive years, highlighting our excellence in design education.

This year's projects include advancements in AI, virtual reality, and interactive technologies that push the boundaries of design and technology. Explore the project teasers already today in the UID25 | Project Gallery.

Tune in to the UID25 | Live Stream on June 3 (times below) to witness these cutting-edge projects. We also provide embargoed information on any project of interest before the event and can arrange interviews with students and industry partners. Below, you will find a selection of projects about to be unveiled at UID25, and you will find all of them here: https://www.umu.se/en/umea-ins...

June 3 – Student Project Presentations

🕐 13:00–17:00 (CET) in Umeå, Sweden

• 04:00–08:00 (PDT – Los Angeles)
• 07:00–11:00 (EDT – New York)
• 12:00–16:00 (BST – London)
• 13:00–17:00 (CEST – Stockholm, Berlin, Paris)
• 16:30–20:30 (IST – New Delhi)
• 19:00–23:00 (CST – Beijing)
• 20:00–00:00 (JST – Tokyo)
• 21:00–01:00 (AEST – Sydney)

We hope you can join us to explore the future of tech design.

You can also watch the show afterwards using the same link: https://www.umu.se/en/umea-ins...

Or visit the UID25 | Project Gallery for a preview already today: https://www.umu.se/en/umea-ins...

Best regards, Jens Persson Communications Officer, Umeå Institute of Design, Email: jens.persson@umu.se

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Sneak Peek: Innovative Tech Projects from UID Graduates

Future mocap tools

Democratising motion capture for indie creators through plug and play solutions - Joel Sjödin (MFA Advanced Product Design)

This project aims to democratize motion capture (mocap) technology for digital 3D creators by designing an accessible and user-friendly system. The final concept includes a smart sensor and a strap-based wearable system, making it easier for creatives to capture and animate real-life movements. The system uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for better range and mobility, and includes a controller unit and hub for a plug-and-play experience. This approach lowers technical barriers, enabling more people to explore digital animation and enhancing the overall creative process.

Unheard

Design for social accessibility of hearing challenges - Thilo Maximilian Fiebig (MFA Advanced Product Design)

This project leverages personal experience with single-sided deafness and industrial design skills to create solutions for people with hearing challenges, aiming to improve communication and accessibility. The final concept includes a system where a microphone worn by the speaker enhances clarity for hearing aid users by filtering out background noise and adjusting volume levels. This system, using ultra-wideband technology, is particularly beneficial in dynamic environments like classrooms. The goal is to make life easier for individuals with hearing loss, raise awareness about this invisible disability, and bring a positive societal impact.

Transitions

Reimagining how DJs learn to perform live with confidence and joy - Viktor Strömberg (BFA Industrial Design)

This project addresses the challenges DJs face when moving from home practice to live performances, focusing on performance anxiety and technical skills. It resulted in a hybrid solution: a DJ controller that mimics club equipment and a virtual learning tool. This setup helps DJs practice both technically and emotionally, building confidence for live shows. The project also offers insights into stress factors during DJ sets and suggests features for effective home practice equipment, aiming to improve music education tools and support future DJs in gaining stage confidence.

The art of making wishes

What should a natural prompting be like? - Lezhi Liang (MFA Interaction Design)

Lezhi Liang's project explores how to change the way we interact with AI from a simple question-and-answer process to a more thoughtful and reflective journey. How can these interactions be redesigned to support deeper, reflective thinking rather than just focusing on outcomes? The current approach, known as "prompt engineering," often misses the creative and exploratory aspects of human thought, passivizing human agency. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, there's a risk of losing our ability to think deeply and independently.

Femiphrases & Interaction

Explore ways to interact with grassroots feminist cultural fragments on social media - Xingyu Liu( MFA Interaction Design)

This project explores how interaction design can enhance emotional support and self-compassion in online feminist discourse. It identifies emotional connections, triggered by exposure to another person’s experiences on social media, as fleeting yet important experiences. The project proposes Co-Resonate, a digital toolkit that encourages self-reflective interaction through tools like pixel-based doodling and ambiguous visual feedback. These tools aim to create a more inclusive and emotionally supportive online environment by promoting slow interaction and reducing the pressure to conform to algorithmic metrics. The goal is to help users navigate their feminist identity with greater emotional awareness and support.

Event Details
What: UID25 | Design Talks & Degree Show
When: June 3–4
Where: Umeå Institute of Design, Arts Campus, Umeå University
Website: https://www.umu.se/en/umea-institute-of-design/uid25/

Media Contact:
Jens Persson, Communications Officer, Umeå Institute of Design
Email: jens.persson@umu.se
Phone: +46 736 26 35 51 (at working hours in Sweden)

Photos of the Umeå Institute of Design at Umeå University by the river Umeälven is free to use, please add "Photo: Umeå University"