CIRRUS is a Nordic-Baltic network of Art and Design higher education. There are 20 excellent art and design schools from the Nordics and the Baltics in the circle of this cooperation. The central activities of the partner institutions are art and design, including innovative activities, technical development and artistic practices.

CIRRUS Network Meeting: Making… Umeå Institute of Design, Umeå University

CIRRUS Network Meeting: Making…
October 8 – 10, 2025
Umeå Institute of Design, Umeå University

Umeå Institute of Design welcomes teachers, workshop responsibles, leaders, coordinators and other supporting roles within the Cirrus Nordic-Baltic Network of Art and Design Education.

At the heart of design lies the transformative power of making. Design is not just about understanding and analysing the world, but about actively shaping it. This activity of making, fundamental in all kinds of design, serves as our theme for this the Cirrus network meeting.

Making… change – Design is inherently about making change, both in a broad, overarching sense and in tangible, concrete ways. It’s about moving beyond analysis to create real-world interventions that have a meaningful impact. At UID, this philosophy is deeply embedded in our approach, emphasising hands-on engagement with materials, people, and contexts to bring ideas to life.

Making… materiality – The material aspect of design is central to our practice. Whether working with traditional materials or exploring new possibilities with emerging technologies such as AI, the act of making remains a concrete process. It’s about crafting propositions that can be put out into the world to effect change, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of our creative efforts.

Making… for whom? – As design educators and practitioners, we must question what kinds of making are needed in today’s complex world. Which materials should we embrace or reconsider? What purposes should guide our creative processes? Most importantly, who gets to make change in our society, and in service of whom? These critical inquiries challenge us to examine power structures and ensure our making contributes to more sustainable futures.

Join us at the coming Cirrus Network Meeting to listen to inspirational keynotes from our professors Cindy Kohtala and Johan Redström, and to explore the dynamic process of making in design. Discover how we can collectively shape a better future through the power of hands-on creation and innovative thinking.

Event details:

We have reserved 5-10 tickets per member institution for this event, which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

NOTE: Response to questions may be slow during the month of July and early August.

Preliminary programme

Final version will be published by the end of August, along with the opportunity to sign up to specific sessions and cultural activities during the event.

(Click for full page version here)

Staying & exploring Umeå:

Umeå is a fairly small city, so most hotels are quite central and at a walking distance to the Umeå Arts Campus, the venue for the CIRRUS Network Meeting.

Here are the hotels offering deals connected to our event:

 

  • Clarion Hotel Umeå is the most practical address since it will host the main event dinner. The hotel is quite new and has a high capacity, with several types of rooms available at discounted prices. Use the booking code Cirrus2025 when visiting their booking page.
  • U&Me is located on the same street, just one block away from the previous hotel. Use the booking code Cirrus2025 when visiting their booking page.
  • Elite Hotel Mimer is also centrally located and slightly closer to the Umeå Arts Campus. The link to their booking page already includes the reference to discounted prices.

We look forward to welcoming you to an inspiring and transformative event!

Photo:  Jens Persson