Creativity through collaboration Proton and Vandalorum ignite the spark for design
For a few months now, the Proton Group has been the proud main sponsor of the Vandalorum Design School. This programme is aimed at all children and young people who are curious about how things are made, want to work with their hands, and like to try out various exciting materials and techniques. The participants have also been on a study visit to Proton Lighting in Värnamo, where they got to take waste from the business to use in their creations and learn how lighting design looks and works.
It was a happy and expectant group of children and young people who visited Proton on a Wednesday in October.
Katarina, Ann, Robert and Agan from Proton Lighting led them through an illuminating show-and-tell in which they explained how a luminaire is manufactured, from start to finished and installed. The pupils learned about various types of lighting,how different lights are used for different contexts, and how to use a 3D tool to draw lighting in its appropriate environment. They also got to see how the design department sketches out the luminaire itself and how a blackout lab then measures the brightness and ensures that the light is disseminated correctly. Then it was time for the highlight of the tour – when the programme’s participants got to visit the production line and see first-hand how a luminaire is actually manufactured.
Our region has an incredibly strong and varied manufacturing industry in design is becoming increasingly important. That’s why it’s essential to show young people from an early age how fun and stimulating design is, and how designers can influence and inspire.
Energy from several directions
There were lots of questions, lots of “wows”, and lots of energy as the pupils tested how lighting control works in real life – how the light is only turned on where it’s needed, where we are. There was lots of energy at Proton that day – from the sugar in the pastries the company offered its guests, the running around, and of course from the lighting.
The pupils and teachers got to take home waste from the business that they will use in their future creations at the school. We can’t wait to see the results.
“For the Vandalorum Design School, it’s extremely gratifying to have the Proton Group as our main sponsor. It allows us to offer this creative programme to kids, the only one of its kind in Sweden. It’s also crucial to our ability to engage leading designers to hold workshops with the children. Our region has an incredibly strong and varied manufacturing industry in which design is becoming increasingly important. That’s why it’s essential to show young people from an early age how fun and stimulating design is, and how designers can influence and inspire. Our collaboration with the Proton Group also gives the kids a unique insight into the company’s exciting and innovative manufacturing,” says Elna Svenle, Museum Director at Vandalorum.
Committed to cultivating creativity
The Proton Group has been involved in Vandalorum’s educational programmes before, and with this investment, they have chosen to support the Design School for the autumn semester of 2023 and the spring semester of 2024. The commitment aims to give more children and young people rich and stimulating leisure time, as well as access to a professional culture.
“We’re impressed by Vandalorum’s commitment and work to foster children and young people’s interest in culture, creativity, and design. For the Proton Group, it’s right in line with our ambitions to give local youth the opportunity for active leisure time, while showing them all the different job opportunities in the manufacturing industry. We also hope our sponsorship will spur other companies in the area to support Vandalorum, both to increase insight into the industry and to cultivate a rich cultural life,” says Emma Ohliw, Marketing and Communications Director at the Proton Group.
Commitment
