Mid Maymester Musings: Stockholm Part 1

Mid Maymester Musings on My Multisensory Design & Graphics Stockholm Sojourn

I'm in the middle of one of the coolest experiences of my college life: a UT Maymester course called “Computer-Aided Design & Graphics,” taught by the amazing Professor Eleanor Reynolds.

But this isn't happening on UT Austin's campus. Nope—I’ve traded my usual stomping grounds for the sleek, sustainable, design-forward capital of Sweden: Stockholm.

A Crash Course in Design—Swedish Style

Each morning, a small crew of UT Design and Graphics students and I hop on the t-bana metro from our westside Aparthotel for a 25-minute ride to the brand-new DIS Stockholm campus.

Along the way, I can't help but notice: bikes seriously outnumber cars. This is clearly a city that prioritizes sustainability—where public transportation and cycling dominate, and reducing the carbon footprint is part of daily life.

Our Building That Breathes Design

Our destination? A stunning five-story building of glass and color—the DIS Stockholm hub. Each floor glows with natural light, each corner humming with the energy of creative possibility.

My favorite spot? The cozy Scandinavian reading nooks tucked next to open studio spaces. The building also houses the Royal College of Music, so yes, spontaneous concerts are part of the rhythm of our day. And the café? A vibrant blend of students, lattes, and design talk.

Learning with All Senses

Under Professor Reynolds' guidance, we spend our days leveling up in design software—Rhino, Revit, and beyond.

But we’re doing way more than just picking up tools. We’re learning how to hear, taste, smell, feel, speak, and see like designers: to use all of our senses to imagine, sketch, draft, model, and communicate new designs with clarity and impact. the Senses

Each assignment builds on the last, taking us deeper into the language of design—whether it's pencil on paper or 3D modeling in Rhino.

This isn’t just about creating floor plans. It’s about becoming fluent in a visual language that fuels collaboration, innovation, and storytelling.

Our breaks? Fueled by fika (I wish we had such ritualistic reverence for our coffee breaks like the Swedes do) at Bullar & Bröd, spontaneous design critiques, and lively lunch convos.

I’m constantly learning from my peers—architects, engineers, and artists—whose skills in measured drawings, modeling precision, and structural thinking inspire me to level up.

Fika, Feedback, & Design Vibes

Design, I’m discovering, is a team sport. And I’m building fluency not just in technique, but in the art of collaboration—using tools not just to build things, but to tell powerful stories and imagine better futures.

Thanks to Professor Reynolds’ generous office hours and sharp instruction, I’ve grown confident in Revit, gotten the hang of NURBS-based modeling in Rhino, and taken a deep dive into Building Information Modeling (BIM). Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here—it’s the lens through which every design decision is made.

BIM, Sustainability, and Smart Design Futurities

Being in Sweden—a country that’s been leading on environmental issues since the 1972 UN Environment Conference—means I’m literally surrounded by inspiration. Eco-conscious buildings, thoughtful urban planning, and design that’s both beautiful and responsible?

Check!

Where Art Meets Architecture

For some of my classmates, this course is a steppingstone toward civil engineering or architectural careers. For me—coming from a fine arts background—it’s a huge leap toward becoming a strategic design professional: someone who understands design as a system, a language, and a force for transformation.

This Maymester is definitely sharpening my ability to imagine and communicate designs that bridge art, storytelling, sustainability, and community impact.

Beyond the Classroom: Stockholm Inspiration

After class in the late afternoons (that’s another thing, this time of year in Stockholm, the light of late afternoon is the same light of late night), I’ve wandered over to the Fotografiska museum café to sip a cafecito while soaking in gorgeous views of the Baltic Sea, Gamla Stan, and Skeppsholmen. It’s my go-to creative recharge.

Me and my awesome crew have also visited the Moderna Museet, where the intersections of drawing, photography, sculpture, and film had me rethinking what visual communication can be. Johanna Karlsson’s intricate pen drawings left me in awe—thousands of tiny marks forming huge emotional impact. And the Egon Schiele self-portraits? Raw, unsettling, and magnetic.

Final Thoughts

I’m soaking up every minute of my Maymester in Stockholm. Every sketch, model, and brainstorm here is infused with the energy of this city and the insight of shared, purpose-driven design.

Yes, I’m learning new skill sets. Yes, I’m building a portfolio of design work.

And yes, I’m also growing a way of listening, tasting, touching, and seeing the world in new wonderous ways. In ways that I hope will help me create designs that will transform our world for the better.

More soon from Stockholm!