Design exhibition focused on change and complex societal issues
With the theme “RE-”, graduating design students invite you to a thought-provoking and inspiring exhibition at the House of Emigrants in Växjö. The exhibition opens on 4 June and runs until 9 June. Visitors will encounter design projects that aim to amplify voices, highlight complexity, and inspire change.
“The exhibition marks the end of our studies and is a way to showcase our degree projects, both the individual work and the collective processes behind them,” says Sima, one of the students behind the exhibition.
She also explains that this is not only a closing exhibition, but also a celebration of the Design + Change and Visual Communication + Change programmes, which have now been offered at Linnaeus University for 10 years.
The exhibition’s theme, “RE-”, invites reflection and reinterpretation. Under four overarching concepts – Re-value, Re-generate, Re-connect, and Re-frame – the students explore how design can contribute to transformation across ecological, social, cultural, and economic systems.
“The projects move freely between themes and forms of expression, from material exploration and UX design to systems design and speculative future scenarios. What unites us is our use of design as a tool to address complex societal issues.”
Behind the final works lies an intense process of both individual and collective effort.
“Since each student has had their own process, the path to the opening has looked different for everyone. I, for instance, have worked with participatory design based on stories from the Syrian diaspora in Sweden. The final result is a bilingual magazine in which I have combined graphic and social design in a way that truly matters to me.”
The students have taken on different responsibilities related to the exhibition – from graphic design and construction to communications – and Sima emphasises that the collaborative work has been crucial to holding the exhibition together.
“We’ve collaborated across the three Design + Change programmes – both bachelor’s and master’s levels – as well as the master’s programme in Innovation through Business, Engineering and Design, which has required a great deal of coordination. It’s been important to ensure that each student’s project gets enough space in the exhibition, without compromising the coherence of the whole.”
For Sima, the process has been both meaningful and joyful. What she has enjoyed the most, she says, is seeing the project come to life – from idea to finished exhibition. The students stress that design is not only about creating solutions, but also about creating space for reflection and transformation.
“Design can amplify voices, highlight complexity, and suggest alternative ways of being in the world. We want visitors to experience curiosity, contemplation, and a sense of hope for the future when they take part of the exhibition.”
Learn more about Linnaeus University's programmes in design and humanities.
