Per-Olof Hedvall

Per-Olof Hedvall works as Professor of Design at Mid Sweden University, Sweden. His research deals with accessibility, participation, and universal design, with a particular interest in the interplay between people and technology. Working closely with the disability movement, he focuses on people’s lived perspectives and how human and artefactual aspects of products, services, and environments can be designed to support people in fulfilling their needs, wishes, and dreams. Hedvall has a background in computer engineering and has a particular interest in people's empowerment and opportunities for participation in their lives.

Per-Olof Hedvall often bases his work on Cultural-Historical Activity Theory. In 2009, Hedvall defended his doctoral dissertation in Rehabilitation Engineering and Design, "The Activity Diamond – Modelling an Enhanced Accessibility", where he developed a model for planned, lived, and long-term aspects of accessibility, as a prerequisite for participation.

Research

Current research focus: Universal Design, Equity and Categorisation
For the past 10 years, I have mainly concentrated on trying to contribute to the development and emergence of universal design in Sweden and internationally. I am interested in how it is possible to create designs that do not discriminate against people and that do not lead to inequality and stigma.

My current research is about categorisation and how categorisation creates similarities and differences between people. The design of products and environments often places people in compartments such as "man", "woman", "person with a disability", "person without a disability", "children", "elderly", and so on. I think it is interesting how categorisation takes place and what stories it creates/enables.

There is a strong force in design, which can be used to open up opportunities, but also to close them. Sometimes exclusionary design takes place completely intentionally, as in the introduction of reclining benches on which it is impossible to sleep, but in most cases, exclusion takes place unintentionally. Therefore, it is important to actively work with knowledge and awareness of socially sustainable design that brings people together and enriches society.

On a more general level, I am interested in who may and may not exist in today's society and how it is possible to create conditions so that all people can participate in and contribute to society. The stories we tell about each other when designing influence the stories about a person you can be and become.

Teaching and tutoring

I teach at Mid Sweden University's programs in Industrial Design and Graphic Design. My teaching often deals with three themes:

* Design research, theory and methodology
* Design, norms, categorisation and human diversity
* Disability, disability, models, participation, assistive technology.

Other information

Supervision (doctoral students)

Fagerholm, Anna-Sara. (2024). Avfall för alla?: ett universell utformningsperspektiv på återvinningsmiljöer i Sverige. 2024 juni 19, LUND: Lunds Universitet/Lunds Tekniska Högskola. 60 p. (Main supervisor, licentiate thesis, compilation)

Erdtman, Emil. (2024). Universell utformning i praktiken: förståelse, genomförande och samskapande. 2024 feb. 20, Lund: Certec, Lund University. 150 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).

Müller, Lilian. (2023). Bridging the Gaps: Realising Human Diversity in the Built Environment through Universal Design. 2023 sep. 26, Lund: Certec, Lund University. 103 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).

Szymczak, Delphine. (2023).Tools in and out of sight: an analysis informed by Cultural-Historical Activity Theory of audio-haptic activities involving people with visual impairments supported by technology. 2023 mars 24, Lund, Sweden: Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University. 183 p. (Deputy supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).

Müller, Lilian. (2021). Vem bygger vi för? Om tillgänglighet och universell utformning i stadens rum. 2021 juni 4, Lund: Lund University. 78 p. (Main supervisor, licentiate thesis, compilation).

Erdtman, Emil. (2021). Mellan princip och praktik: Samtal om hur universell utformning förstås och praktiseras i Sverige. 2021, Lund: Lund University (Media-Tryck). 105 p. (Main supervisor, licentiate thesis, compilation).

Frennert, Susanne. (2016). Older People Meet Robots: Three Case Studies on the Domestication of Robots in Everyday Life. 2016 aug. 8, Lund: Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University. 220 p. (Deputy supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).

Larsen, Henrik Svarrer. (2015). Tangible participation - Engaging designs and design engagements in pedagogical praxes. 2015, Lund University (Media-Tryck). 235 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, monography).

Szymczak, Delphine. (2011). Designing guidance along audio-haptically augmented paths in a city environment. 2011, Lund, Sweden: MediaTryck Lund. 133 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).

Interview on Mid Sweden University's website

Whwn I was installed as a professor at Mittuniverisitetet in the fall of 2024, a short interview with me was published: Per‑Olof Hedvall – new professor of design.

Personal website

I also have a personal website where I write about things that are on my mind and share photos, images and other material. Read more at: https://www.peohedvall.com/.

Extra contact information

My Staff Profile on Lund University's Research Portal
My Profile on Google Scholar
My Research Profile on ORCID
My channel on YouTube
My Profile on LinkedIn
@peohedvall on Instagram