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Oliver Weglinski from Umeå University has been awarded this year’s Michael Treschow Scholarship

Oliver Weglinski is awarded the 2020 Michael Treschow Scholarship for his sensitive and highly engaged attitude to design, which he demonstrates in both his process and project outcomes. He is an MFA in Interaction Design student at Umeå University.

The jury’s motivation highlights Weglinski’s willingness to explore and address complex societal, technological and human questions, as well as his ability to understand their intersections. This proves a high degree of maturity and desire to innovate.

The jury said: “Weglinski continuously addresses the human condition, choosing to embrace complexity rather than hiding it behind a polished facade. Going beyond the human-centered design approach, his concepts are life-centered, reminding us of what it means to be human in a world that is about more than just us. The scholarship is awarded to a student who shows great potential and an ability to address the big questions that we face as a society through interventions that feel natural, measured and considered. Dismantling normative societal concepts through an approach that embraces a diversity of realities, Weglinski’s work speaks of a poetic refinement of both form and thought”.

Weglinski will receive the award during a digital conference organized by SSE House of Innovation, Dialogues at the Garden, taking place on 3 December 2020. The scholarship, worth SEK 100 000 is sponsored by Michael Treschow.

 “Knowing that a jury of design experts selected me out of all the amazing candidates is a great acknowledgement for my design practice and encourages me to further explore different ways on how we can move beyond the traditional human-centered design approach towards more life-centered philosophies. Furthermore, it ensures financial stability for planning and executing my Master thesis which will help me to conduct necessary research trips or workshops”, said Weglinski. “I would like to thank Michael Treschow and everyone else who is part of the committee for this singular honor. I have never felt so grateful, honored, and appreciated. This is definitely a life-changing event”, he concluded.

The scholarship’s ambition is to help and motivate creative design students to pursue higher education beyond Bachelor-level studies. It is awarded through a collaboration with The Garden – Center for Design and Leadership at the SSE House of Innovation. The scholarship was introduced in 2003, and has been awarded 16 times to brilliant designers, who continued their studies at Master’s level.

Oliver’s portfolio: https://www.oliverweglinski.com/

Michael Treschow Scholarship: https://ssehoi.com/mts

Conference where the award will be given – digital and open to everyone: https://ssehoi.com/gad20

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