27 Aug 2021 / Education and research

This time we’ve felt the consequences

Design School Kolding’s Graduation Show TRANSFORM shows the potential of design in a time of change
By Charlotte Melin

The world is changing like never before. The pandemic has accellerated a digital transformation and a stream of ideas, not least among the new designers who are graduating from Design School Kolding.

That’s why we call their graduation show TRANSFORM. Bachelor and Master graduates demonstrate how design can potentially transform a world that is already experiencing massive societal changes.

- Transformation is about restructuring, reorganizing, and creating radical change. It’s the situation that we as society are in. Affected by a global pandemic we have been given a collective reminder that there are consequences to our way of life and that we cannot always be in control. This isn’t news to us, but this time we’ve felt the consequences. Amidst a world that isn’t only struck by a pandemic but is also facing serious climate issues, global conflicts and human failure to thrive, it gives me great hope to see that our new graduates do not intend to be passive observers of these challenges. They want to make a positive difference in a world that is changing, says Lene Tanggaard, Rector of Design School Kolding.

The show will be displayed inside one of Museum Kolding’s raw stable buildings by the Koldinghus Castle. The building has up until now not been open to the public. The title TRANSFORM thus also refers to the current state of the museum and its buildings. Together, Design School Kolding and the Museum Kolding, have a joint vision to invite experiments, test exhibition formats and ways of disseminating design processes and local history.

- Kolding is a design city, and as a local museum it’s natural for us to help tell the story of the close ties between cultural history, craft and design. Working with Design School Kolding makes sense on multiple levels. At the same time it’s a milestone in itself to be able to open the historic stable buildings to the public and create engaging events for the citizens of Kolding, says Rune Lundberg, Director of Museum Kolding.

TRANSFORM opens Friday 3 September at 3 pm. At the same time Museum Kolding will open the south-wing Gestapo-celle, Zelle II. There will be free admittance to both exhibitions on the day of the opening. As part of the Kolding Culture Event opening hours are extended until 10 pm.

Enjoy TRANSFORM at Museum Kolding, Staldgården 1, 3 September - 24 October 2021. Opening hours: Every day from 10-17.