Meet our staff: Onkar Kular, professor
As a Professor in Design at HDK-Valand, Onkar Kular teaches and conducts research focused on the role and impact of design and designers in society. He also coordinates a platform to support colleagues in sharing ideas, projects and research in relation to public space and the built environment.
Why did you apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg?
I had the pleasure of being part of the International Residency programme for artists and designers at IASPIS (Swedish Arts Grants Committee) and spent a few months living and working in Stockholm which I enjoyed very much in 2012. As my partner was also from Norway, I always valued spending time there and hearing about the work/life balance in Scandinavian countries generally. When the position was announced for a Professor in Design, I applied and thankfully my application was accepted in 2015.
What might a typical workday look like?
It would be hard to say that I have a typical working day as I work across teaching, research and coordination and my day can vary a lot. Design education is usually studio based, so some days I might be tutoring and running workshops with students, or I could be organizing seminars or a symposium.
On other days I might be conducting research, writing and sketching ideas on a forthcoming project or text that I have been commissioned to write. This variety of activity is one of the privileges of working at the university.
What's the best thing about working at the University of Gothenburg?
I am fortunate to work with great colleagues and I get the opportunity to teach design, which is my passion, to brilliant and enthusiastic students. This is both rewarding and importantly a process of continuous learning not just for the students but also for myself. Again, this can be regarded as a privilege, to be able to go to work and not only engage with a subject that you enjoy but also to be able to share this and learn with others.
The university also supports my research in many ways, it is an environment that understands the value of research especially in relation to design which has only more recently opened to practiced based research. It is also an environment that allows you to form relationships and collaborations across different departments and faculties, which is valuable when working across disciplines and developing new knowledge that contributes beyond your immediate field.
As I have mentioned there are many benefits of working at a university in Sweden and teaching design. I also think it is valuable to view working at the university as a sort of public service, given that Swedish universities, in one way or another are mostly publicly funded, I see my role not just as an educator supporting students and colleagues but also to the wider public through my research and practice in relation to design. I am mindful that the work that I do in research, education and practice not only benefits the university but has a broader public relevance.