MoD 2009 - 18 ideas presented

GOOD PRESENTATIONS. Promising ideas and presentations by student groups on last Friday, 23 Jan, 2009. 18 mixed business and design student groups presented, each and all focusing on one core idea, as well as presenting their project organization, budget and plans around their idea. Thanks for your good work, so far!

Ideas vary from lighting up the riverside of Akerselva to creating access of water for all! Many projects were triggered by a blend of social, cultural, environmental and/or health concerns for a variety of people. Most projects related to target groups in Oslo region but visions for further expansions of concepts were also suggested. Design for all thinking was an explicit or implicit part of several projects. Art were proposed as part of many projects in ways so as to allow work for younger artists. All student groups had worked on improving the projects' viability in terms of a sound financial and business foundation, yet most had met some difficulties in obtaining access to for example the right entities and persons in Oslo municipality. Few were actually for-profit projects, but some did work on sorting out how much their idea might be worth.

BLOGGING. Some groups have presented their group and idea here on the blog, some have not. Could the ones who have not yet presented here, do a brief one, at least? I agree that it is better late than never.
(Also, I guess your idea may have some protection if it is published, cf. Åndsverksloven, but this is not my field, I must admit).

DIPLOMA CEREMONY. This year´s BI+KHIO joint learning program was formally finalized as always on the third MOD week´s Friday late afternoon, with a MOD diploma ceremony after a full day´s rich group presentations. Each student got a MOD diploma signed by the four course responsible (this year: Reidar Holtskog, Kristin Danielsen, Halldor Gislason and myself.) Even if the joint lecturing, seminars and supervisions now are over, we hope the contact and networking among the students continue after the intensive shared ideations, project work and learning efforts.

PROJECT REPORTS. BI students are however not finished yet, they are now continuing their group work writing their around 20 pages project reports. Deadline is 10 February as already announced.

MOD is not only about ideations, it is also about collaborating in mixed groups, and contributing to creative work in Oslo and maybe to students´future careers. So I would encourage you to think about how you worked your way (or not) through various challenges. All groups have no doubt experienced a variety of challenges and tensions. Rather than expecting only positive vibs, one may regard tensions as potentially productive and even a source for creativity and for learning. This can be difficult to sort out when in the midst of hard working. Now, after the most intensive period, you have a chance to reflect.
In this respect, I encourage you to also think about nuances in your experiences and discuss with others, e.g. in the groups: How did the group deal with emergent problems and various efforts towards ideas or solutions? Even breakdowns can become positive. It is possible to explore and reflect on these challenges as a chance to learn from this complex collaborating. Failures and temporary misunderstandings are more often than not a recurrent part of innovating.
Birgit