Winners of the Bevica Fonden Scholarship grant

Those are the statements from three of our master’s students: Marco Sidoli, Marek Kuźmiński and Mariagiulia Sardu. They gave answers to Universal Design research questions for their admissions to the Bevica Fonden Scholarship Programme. And with those answers, Design School Kolding is proud to tell you that all three of them were shortlisted to pitch their designs in front of a jury on October 4th.

What were those designs all about? Here is a short recap of what they presented past Wednesday:

Marco pitched the modular kitchen: “The modular kitchen I envision revolves around us. It changes along with our ever-evolving needs. My ambition is to create a kitchen that blends technology and traditional methods while keeping it affordable for a wider audience. This is not just about a kitchen, it's a space where everyone can experience a sense of independence.”

Marek pitched for fostering Empathy and Inclusivity through Universal Design: “My project is aiming to empower children with congenital upper limbs differences (amputations) and reshape societal perceptions through inclusive design and education. Through participatory design I am engaging children, their parents and society in this transformative journey, I am aiming to enhance self-esteem, self-confidence, and psychological well-being in these remarkable young individuals. The journey begins with a focus on research through design, utilizing methods like art therapy and child-centered design principles. My goal is not just to create change, but to have a global impact and break stigma around disabilities, promoting inclusivity within universal design and social empathy across borders.”

Mariagiulia pitched for play and education for all children: “Play is a powerful tool to foster a positive mindset towards diversity in new generations and to support engaging learning. Through play, children learn lifelong skills while building meaningful bonds with peers. These social connections are essential for their development and to shape their understanding of diversity. This project aims to investigate how play can address inclusivity issues in the Danish school system, fostering a more inclusive educational and social environment where all children, regardless of abilities, can be included.”

As a result of these great pitches, Marco, Marek and Mariagiulia each won the Bevica Scholarship Travel grant of 30.000 DKK. Congratulations to all three of you!
The grant shall be used for conducting a universal design project, traveling abroad and more.