Michaela Smeds
Industrial Design BA
University of Gävle
Specialisms: Industrial Design
Location: Gävle, Sweden
Michaela Smeds
First Name: Michaela
Last Name: Smeds
Specialisms: Industrial Design
Sectors:
My Location: Gävle, Sweden
University / College: University of Gävle
Course / Program Title: Industrial Design BA
About
Hi, I'm Michaela, a recently graduated Industrial Designer from the University of Gävle, Sweden.
My journey into design has been shaped by a curiosity about people, the environments we live in, and how thoughtful design can create positive change. I am particularly drawn to projects where human needs, sustainability, and real-world challenges intersect. For me, design is not only about creating products or solutions, it is about understanding experiences, asking questions, and finding meaningful ways to improve the world around us.
Much of my inspiration comes from outside the design studio. As an aerial hoop athlete and instructor, I have spent years exploring the relationship between strength, movement, discipline, and artistic expression. These experiences have influenced how I approach design: with patience, creativity, and an appreciation for both function and emotion.
A lifelong fascination with the ocean has also played an important role in shaping my work. As a certified diver, I have been fortunate enough to explore coral reefs around the world and witness both their incredible beauty and their vulnerability. In 2025, I volunteered in Bali, working with coral reef restoration projects and gaining first-hand insight into the challenges faced by the people dedicated to protecting and rebuilding these ecosystems. Seeing this work up close sparked a question that stayed with me: how could design contribute to making restoration efforts more effective, accessible, and sustainable?
That experience became the foundation of my Bachelor's thesis, where I explored how industrial design can support coral reef restoration through human-centred solutions and sustainable material development. The project focused on the people carrying out the restoration work, investigating how design could bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application while supporting both environmental and social sustainability.
I am motivated by the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and contribute to projects that make a difference. Whether exploring new materials, understanding user needs, or addressing environmental challenges, I believe design has the power to create thoughtful solutions that leave a positive impact on both people and the planet.
How design can help a coral reef- Designing for people, restoring for nature.
Inspired by my volunteer work in coral reef restoration in Bali, this project explores how industrial design can contribute to restoring damaged marine ecosystems while supporting the people working to protect them. Using a human-centred design process (including observation, interviews, literature studies, material experimentation, prototyping, and testing) I investigated how restoration structures could be designed around the practical challenges faced by coral restoration teams. The result is a modular reef structure developed to simplify manufacturing, transportation, underwater handling, and assembly in remote restoration sites. Its form was shaped by the needs of divers, aiming to reduce physical strain and make restoration work safer and more efficient. Alongside the structural design, the project explores a more sustainable material solution using locally available marine-based resources such as seashells, salt water and volcanic ash. Building on emerging research, the material also shows potential to support coral resilience to environmental stress and bleaching. With my work I want to demonstrate how design can connect scientific knowledge, environmental sustainability, and the realities of hands-on conservation work. To me, this project demonstrates how awareness and thoughtful design can help us shape a more sustainable future.
Competitions
