GRANT HOLDER 2018

The motivation from the jury:
”Alejandro Mandrion Moreno is this year’s holder of the Michael Treschow scholarship. He was selected for his passion and drive, his willingness to dive deep and his capability to combine different areas of expertise to reach goals and concepts that are credible, sustainable and inclusive. He displays a fearlessness to throw himself into areas such as industrial tools, food storage and aids for people with vision impairment. With design thinking methodologies as a back bone, Alejandro manages to combine different disciplines and competences in his projects. He shows a big empathy for the end users, a high level of technical feasibility and a strong sense for aesthetics that shine through all of his projects. 

Furthermore, Alejandro shows an ambitious yet humble attitude in his research work and process. In the spring of 2019, his master thesis work at Umeå Institute of Design explored, by using design thinking, how the accessibility of pedagogics and education can empower young children (0-3 years). The Michael Treschow jury is looking forward to following Alejandro’s journey and the coming challenges he will take on with undoubtable success.”

GRANT HOLDER 2017

What has the grant meant to you and your career?
Receiving the scholarship was a big boost to my confidence still today, the award helps me remember what I want my work to stand for. The grant also gave me the opportunity to pivot to a different masters programme when the first one I enrolled on turned out not to be the right fit. Today, being part of the MTS jury helps me stay in touch with the latest ideas in the industry and seeing the enthusiasm and vision around sustainable design the applicants bring forward makes me feel both hopeful and excited.

What are you up to today?
I’m now based in Glasgow where I’m a Senior User Researcher for a digital consultancy. Prior to this, I worked in a scaling, world-leading femtech startup, working on connected hardware products. I typically describe myself as a t-shaped design researcher who applies service design and industrial design skills to create products and services with people at their centre.

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?
Design has always been a shapeshifter - adapting to the ever-evolving needs of the world we live in. But no matter the different ways we apply its principles, what remains as a constant for me is design’s duality in spirit: its humility in wanting to understand the why’s of today and its boldness in proposing the how’s of tomorrow.

More information and the jury’s motivation here

GRANT HOLDER 2016

What has the grant meant to you and your career?
I got the scholarship during my first year at my Masters at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. I had just started to explore the field of speculative design and moved to a new city which was scary, exciting and stressful. The scholarship helped me, not only to be able to afford living and studying in London, but also to trust that I was doing the right thing, and to dare to venture into a new world and field. It softened some of the doubt I experienced in choosing a less commercial and more experimental path.  

What are you up to today?
I graduated last summer and now live in Berlin. I’ve started a studio practise called Nonhuman Nonsense together with Leo Fidjeland. We are exhibiting around the world, we’ve spoken at the United Nations, and are currently working on several new works creating narratives and experiments around themes such as biodiversity, space (de)colonisation, stones, the Anthropocene, deep time and mosquito kinship!

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?
We live in urgent times, my hope is that design can be used as an opportunity to stay with the trouble - to remain critical and to create other stories, worlds, and modes of being. Working in the embryonic stages of system transformation, I believe speculative methods in particular can be key to open the public imaginary to pathways of redefined relationships to animals, objects, ecology, technology, and the uncanny specters of in-between and beyond. Design as one piece of the puzzle to break the death grip of the sixth extinction.

More information and the jury’s motivation here

GRANT HOLDERS 2015

Annie Hjälmefjord:

What has receiving the Grant meant to you and your career?

The design world is a tough industry to get around in and, as a student, you often ask yourself if your choice of profession was the right one. The Grand was, to me, a acknowledgement that I had made the right choice and also gave a boost of self-confidence! The scholarship money provided me with financial security that made me dare to invest in design. The scholarship is a great merit and has been a substantial addition to my CV which has been significant when looking for new opportunities.

What are you up to today?

Today I work as a Graphic designer at Burde Publishing and also doing freelance work with in illustration and animation.

What are your two cents on design - today and tomorrow?

In recent years I’ve noticed how design thinking and design methods play an increasingly important role in different work areas and disciplines. The concept of design will continue to broaden in the future and play an important role in addressing every big issues we are facing. I hope that design, both in traditional and new areas, will facilitate for a more inclusive and sustainable world. Because that’s still the goal, right?

Lina Trulsson:

What has receiving the grant meant to you and your career?

The scholarship had a great impact on me while I was planning and executing my master thesis project. Not being limited financially during this time and traveling to the necessary places for research, co-creation and validation was key to a successful project. The scholarship also allowed me to meet new people that are passionate about design and working with design from many different angles.

What are you up to today?

I am today working as an industrial designer at McKinsey Design, formerly known as Veryday, where I am mainly focusing on med-tech product design. The strive to improve and make lives better for patients and HCP's is something that motivates me every day.  

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?

Designers have always known that design brings value, but now with the study "The business value of Design" published by McKinsey 2018 we can quantify the business value of design, designers and design thinking. This shows that designers will in the near future be a big player making important decisions on a global scale.

For more information and the motivation from the jury go to SVID

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GRANT HOLDER 2014

What has the grant meant to you and your career?

Receiving the Michael Treschow scholarship was both an honour and real acknowledgement for many years hard work and dedication. The jury’s reaction was a great motivation and made me further believe in my holistic view of design and that you as a designer have leverage over everything from the grandest vision to the smallest component and can balance both perspectives within your design. It has also brought a weight and legitimacy to my work and as a result my portfolio.

What are you up to today?

Today I am working as a UX and Product designer, designing digital products for big industrial companies and also guiding them in their digital transformations.

What are your two cents about design, today and tomorrow?

I think that we, with the new age of data sharing, will see a transformation in a designers role and way of working. Working cross functional in diverse teams will play an important part in creating good design with well thought out ethical solutions, thus allowing designers to govern and balance their creativity with socially ethical values.

More information and the jury’s motivation here

GRANT HOLDER 2013

What has the scholarship meant for you and your career?
During my studies I could widen my knowledge in every project. I had as a goal to introduce a new skill for every project and the scholarship made that happen. I think that I have a better understanding what I can do and it also inspires me to continue with learning a new skill in every project.

What are you up to today?
Currently I’m working at Nokia Design in San Francisco. Were I get to experience how a product is made from the start to out on the shelf.

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?
As Industrial designers need to be responsible for what we produce. The products will be in mass production and should be thought trough, be long-lasting and making sure the products end of life is recyclable. We should design for people using the products, but also the people making the final assembly and think about the products end of life

These things are hard to fight for later in the process, when price is always what’s gonna make the decisions. So as an Industrial designer we need to make sure we introduce it early in the process, and see it as our responsibility.

GRANT HOLDER 2012

What has the scholarship meant to you and your career?

As a student I was sometimes insecure about my choices, where I was heading, if what I did was significant to anyone except for myself etc. To receive this amazing award gave both confidence and a energy boost as it was a proof that others also appreciated what I did. It also gave me fundings to be able to fully concentrate on my studies for a while without having to bother to much about money. That is a luxury as a student. And not at least, through the award I also became part of the jury and the chance to get to know all the great people within that group. 

What are you up to today?

I work as a teacher at HDK in Gothenburg. I am involved in a variety of courses, but quite often with a focus on participation, play and explorative artistic processes. At the moment Im running a course about outdoor play and agroforestry for example. When I have time I also work on some projects outside the academy, commissioned or self initiated. Right now I work with a public art commission for a new library and also trying to find fundings for a project with teenagers and  young adults regarding identity in a time where everything around us sometimes seems to fall apart. Who is aloud to have dreams about a bright future when the polar ice is melting, the forests are on fire and the fishes die with their bodies full of plastics?

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?

The only thing I can say for sure about the future of design is that whatever I say the future will prove me wrong. Design are in the beginning of an identity crisis. We are facing another reality with new rules. We have to look at consumption, economy, ownership, hierarchies etc from a new perspective. I think their will be a need for designers in many new and interesting fields and contexts, compared to where we are mainly active today. And I believe designers will be seen as important team members rather than individual creators and l also think the designers mind will be more asked for than the designers products. I also hope that designers, more than today, starts to work with a less anthropocentric perspective to also include other species, nature and other realities in our work and duty.

More information and the motivation from the jury here

GRANT HOLDERS 2011

Gabriella Rubin:

What has the grant meant to you and your career?

It has been a great encouragement to invest in what I am passionate about and what I believe in. It is also a lot of fun to be part of the jury, partly for the jury work itself with all that it entails but also meeting the other jury members and former grant holders!

What are you doing today?

I work as a service designer at a Design and Research agency, InUse.

What are your two cents on design, today and tomorrow?

I believe that the concept of design will continue to be broadened and applied to new types of challenges and in new contexts, perhaps at a more systematic level. Above all, I hope, and believe, that design will play an important role in transitioning to a more sustainable society.

NIklas Kull:

What has the grant ment to you and your career?

When I first received the scholarship it gave me a lot of confidence that I was on the right track with my design work and financially it made it possible for me to take my projects during my Masters degree at Konstfack one step further in terms of prototypes, prints etc. Both very important after just finishing my bachelor degree at Lund University. My continuing involvement in the jury has given me a network within the industry and a better understanding of what is happening in other design fields in which I am not active.

 What are you up to today?

Today I am working within the outdoor insdustry as a hardware designer at Fjällräven, meaning I design backpacks, bags, tents and sleeping bags.

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?

With our overconsumption and overexploitation of our natural recourses in mind I believe we as designers need to focus more on quality, material efficiency, waste and chemical use. We have to become even more involved in the production process and what consequences the decisions we take really have. We need to appreciate the materials we are working with and take full advantage of them, and hopefully we can create objects that will have a strong connection with its user.

More information and the jury’s motivation here

GRANT HOLDER 2010

What has the grant meant for you and your career?

To be awarded the Michael Treschow scholarship was above all a great recognition. It not only provided me with financial support to continue develop as a designer but above all it was a confirmation that I was heading in the right direction. It strengthened my self-confidence which I have benefited from throughout my career.

What are you up to today?

I work as an industrial designer at Zound industries

What are your two cents about design - today and tomorrow?

To keep on pushing the boundaries within form, technology and user experience with sustainability as a starting point

More information and the motivation from the jury here

GRANT HOLDER 2009

What has the grant meant to you and your career?

Treshow Scholarship meant a huge amount, not only financially to support my studies at Royal College of Art, also it was a privilege to become a part of the Treschow scholarship family. A true professional honor which I share proudly within the global design community.

What are you up to today?

Exploring, experimenting and creating meaningful color and material stories that bring purpose as much as joy. Currently based in Silicon Valley California, working in a design-tech innovation lab. Continuously pushing the boundaries of next generation materials, colors and finishes, and how they can be ingeniously applied to future electric vehicle brand and lifestyle products.

What are your two cents on design - today and tomorrow?

Designing for genuine good is key, which includes taking responsible action for our design decisions. Purpose without performance isn’t possible and performance without purpose is meaningless. Don’t just create another object, instead design for positive outcomes.

More information and the jury’s motivation visit SVID

GRANT HOLDER 2008

What has the grant ment to you and your career?

The scholarship have ment a lot for me, especially during my studies. I did not learned what I expected, but I learned something more valuable for the future. I learned how to fail and I learned how to overcome huge disappointments. The scholarship was one of the few things that kept me going, knowing that such a renowned jury believed in my capacity.  

What are you up to today?

I´m currently working at Umeå Energi as a service designer, creating new sustainable services for the future.

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?

In recent years I´m glad to see how traditional non-design organisations are adapting designerly tools and methods. How they are realising how the designer’s toolkit can create value in making organisations more customer centric.

What I hope to see is design taking a much more active role in creating positive climate action. I strongly believe that design could have a much more active role in creating new solutions and enhancing behavioural change.

More information and the jury’s motivation here

GRANT HOLDER 2006

What has the grant meant for you and your career?
The scholarship became a springboard for an international education and career as a car designer. I did my MA in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art in London and then worked at the Kia Design Center in Germany and at Land Rover Design in England.

What are you up to today?
Right now I am working as Chief Exterior Designer for the new Swedish-Chinese car brand Lynk & Co, which is based in Gothenburg.

What are your two cents about design, today and tomorrow?
I believe that the classic car companies risk becoming suppliers of hardware to new, more innovative and service-based companies with a focus on mobility. The role of car designer will thus be changed, so it will be very exciting to see what happens next

More information and the jury’s motivation here

GRANT HOLDER 2005

What has the scholarship ment to you and your career?
First of all it was great fun! The attention and recognition meant a lot to me and gave me confidence and energy to continue do what I believe in. And it really helped me during studies abroad and made it possible to take courses outside my design education. So it has led to knowledge and experiences but also contacts with fantastic people within a growing network of designers.

What are you up to today?
I work as service designer and strategist at Daresay. I help organisations develop their innovation culture and their future customer experiences through design methods. I love to inspire people to see new business opportunities through a more holistic and nuanced view of their customers' needs. And then translate that into attractive and sustainable products and services. 

What are your two cents on design today and tomorrow?
The ability to observe behaviours and adapt solutions to peoples' every day life is vital when creating appealing customer and user experiences. And obviously any innovation team needs to challenge todays business and include mother Earth as one of the users. I think designers will inspire people to see and create value in new kinds of relations and progress, different from the visible and usually measured signs of growth for a business. Maybe "less is more" is more relevant than ever!

GRANT HOLDER 2004

What has the grant meant to you and your career?

The scholarship helped me, as a student, to believe in myself and my future as an industrial designer. It also made my foreign studies possible and I was able to finance my master's thesis without having to compromise. The scholarship was also crucial when I applied for a job as it could viewed upon as a guarantee for who I am and what I can perform. The attention and agnolishment I received also brought me several new important contacts.

What are you up to today?

I’ve been running a design agency, The Makery, together with my partner, Martin Birath for the last 5 years. We have both previously worked at Ergonomidesign and at Veryday which was a fun and educational but after have been spending just under a decade there and had gained wide and good insight into several design areas, we decided to break free and specialise / deepen ourselves in product design. The Makery aim to work as a creative studio that gives us maximum flexibility and enables us to seamlessly switch between working digitally and physically within product design. The business model is based on being able to, our external network and partners, tailor teams with disciplines that can work closely together in The Makery Studio.

What are your two cents on design, today and tomorrow?

Sustainability becomes natural integrated in every process and the customers are beginning to understand that it is a fundamental necessity to minimise the ecological footprint.

Also, cooperation between companies is getting more and more common - sharing and collaborating creates synergies such as knowledge maximisation, new business opportunities and time efficiency.

Other trends that we have noticed are that, after an intensive broadening of the design possibilities after the intensive digitalisation of society, a demand for ergonomics and user-friendly solutions are returning, but in a new outlet with integrated digital smartness.