UMA Talks: UMA Alumni – Transforming into Practice

On 21 March, Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University (UMA) welcomed students, staff, and the general public to an inspiring event where invited alumni, who have started their own practices after graduation, presented their work by drawing connections from their architectural education. Their presentations were followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by UMA lecturer Amalia Katopodis.
 
In front of a full theater, architects Maja Bygdén and Ella Nyström (Bon Arkitekturateljé), Kasimir Suter Winter, Karina Suter Winter (Parti Design), Erik Karlsson, Martina Karlsson (Peripheral Works), and visual artist Maja Malmcrona shared valuable inspiration, concrete tips, and ideas about entrepreneurship and the profession of architecture and art. During the event, students had the opportunity to hear about both the challenges and successes faced by the practitioners as well as to gain valuable insight into navigating the industry as self-employed entrepreneurs. Amalia says:

Welcoming back our alumni to share their accomplished works has been an amazing experience not only for us as UMA teachers and staff, but mainly for our students currently building up dreams of practice, within these walls.

Read more about the speakers:
Bon arkitekturateljé: Maja Bygdén, Ella Nyström
Bon is an architecture atelier located in Stockholm. Specializing in adaptive reuse and remodelling, Bon collaborates on projects ranging from furniture design to housing. The practice operates at the intersection of art and commerce by emphasizing craftsmanship and creative vision.
Webpage 
 
Maja Malmcrona
Maja Malmcrona is a visual artist whose work relates primarily to an examination of space and our experience of it, placing particular emphasis on the mediation between our natural and built environment. Her work takes the form of abstract landscapes, conceptual cartography, and imaginary structures, oscillating between these overlapping yet distinct subject matters.
Webpage

Parti Design: Kasimir Suter Winter, Karina Suter Winter
Party Design is an architecture and design agency developing solutions for complex living systems. From buildings to bio regions. Bringing design thinking to the citizens, and the citizens to the design process. Through regenerative placemaking, designing new systems and infrastructures, and getting hands on to build and shape places together with locals.
Webpage

Peripheral Works: Erik Karlsson, Martina Karlsson
Peripheral Works is a multidisciplinary architectural practice developing holistic concepts in architecture and graphic design in northern Sweden. In their work, they strive to strengthen the connection between the environment and the identity of the place, in relation to its physical, social and natural context.
Webpage

About UMA Talks:
The UMA Talks are a free and accessible series of events. The series is devoted to advancing architectural discourse from both an international perspective and local perspective, and strives to enable the public, students, teachers, and researchers both within architecture and from other fields to get insight to and participate in the educational activities and academic research taking place at Umeå School of Architecture. Theorist, practitioners, artists, and other relevant guests are invited to speak or to participate in roundtable conversations or similar formats.
Uma Talks