Nadia Tamerji

From: Ireland
Studying: Fine Art at IT Sligo, Ireland
Project: Design for social change

Why did you decide to participate in the summer university?
 Learning with international students sounded attractive to me as well as studies abroad, I wanted to observe an alternative thought process and learn from this. I had read various peer-reviewed articles on the topic of design for social change and found it very engaging. I wanted to learn how I could apply design in the real world, knowing that Sweden is known for its use of sustainability. I also wished to gain the perspective from the international lectures.

What did you like the best about the summer university?
 The excursion to Skuleskogen national park. The dinners at the end of the project work in the first week helped me mix with all the students and gave the atmosphere a great sense of community also. I especially liked the architecture of the university, open plan, plenty of light and space; I felt emotion from the architectural structure that I have not experienced before.

What was it like working with the project?
 Super engaging, opened my mind to new ways of thinking and how we can conjure solutions to some of the world’s problems.

What have you learned during the summer university?
I learned a lot of skills in design through applications such as photoshop and adobe illustrator, and I got one on one tutorials with product design lecturer. Personal learning on what I can do to preserve the environment that can be shared by mouth to friends and family. I found the lectures on presentation helpful, as my creative background lets the work speak itself. I learned how to convey ideas and concepts to groups which I can apply to my studies and skills set.

Did the summer university meet your expectations?
 I did not know what to expect, as this is my first time in a summer school. I have gained new skills that I did not expect while also learning about local and international culture. The university exceeded my expectations in the sustainability aspect and will have a positive impact on how I value nature and our environment.

Would you participate again if you had the opportunity?
Yes, I would love to participate again. I want to apply the skills and learning outcomes from this program to the next, and so on. I look forward to future projects from Mittuniversitet!