Per‑Olof Hedvall – new professor of design

Per-Olof will hold his inaugural lecture on October 3 at Campus Sundsvall:
10.05–10.20  Professor Per-Olof Hedvall - "Everyone is different – about human diversity and design"

Design has become an increasingly important factor in the development of society. From being seen as something that was mostly about "decoration", design now plays a much larger and more important role in the development of new products, services and environments. Per-Olof Hedvall has a strong belief in design's potential to solve societal challenges and promote sustainability, and sees a clear change in how design is perceived and used.
"Previously, the focus has been on the finished design, 'a design', but we are now seeing a transition towards a process perspective, 'to design', where design becomes an integral part of societal development," he says.

Interaction between people and technology

What first sparked Per-Olof Hedvall's interest in design was the meeting between people and technology and how people's daily lives are affected by various design decisions. To gain a deeper understanding, he therefore also studied pedagogy and psychology and then focused on design. In 2009, he received his doctorate at Lund University and now he is inaugurated as a professor at Mid Sweden University's academic ceremony.

Design and accessibility

The fact that Per-Olof Hedvall himself has been using a wheelchair for 35 years also gives him a perspective that goes beyond the norm, which is beneficial for his work, he says.
"Design should enable accessibility for the entire population, and everyone is different. For example, when I move through cities, I often see design openings that many others may not notice, such as the texture of surfaces and the availability of stairs and elevators. It has also led me to my own special interest in design, so-called Universal Design. Universal design is about design that has all people as a target group, and thus challenges prevailing norms about who can be where, do what and contribute to what. As I see it, design is crucial to what lives are possible for a person to live at all. That's why my inaugural lecture is called "Everyone is different – about human diversity and design".

Exciting subject combinations

Per-Olof Hedvall sees an exciting future for design education at Mid Sweden University, where the combination of art and science and education and research creates unique opportunities for students.
"There are two specific reasons why I applied to Mid Sweden University. Firstly, that there are these three exciting subject combinations with photography, graphic design and industrial design, and secondly, that there is an ambition to combine art and science," he says. This means that we can address societal challenges in new ways and gain new knowledge. Guess if I'm filled with excited anticipation!