Q&A with Jolien Maaskant, Product Designer

Why did you choose to do your EVS at STPLN?
After my bachelor in product design, I was looking for a place where I could develop my skills in design in a broader field. 

To study or work in Scandinavia has been a dream during my studies. When the opportunity in interdisciplinary communication opened at STPLN, it felt exactly what I was looking for. STPLN looked like an open, creative space, with a lot of room for professional- and personal- growth.

What has been the highlight of your time so far?
The highlight of my time at STPLN is working with so many inspiring people. The environment is welcoming and there is always something going on.

How have you feel you have developed since arriving?
Professionally, I have learned a lot by working with people with different backgrounds. I have a greater general knowledge of different fields like graphic design, photography, event planning etc.

As this was the first time I have lived abroad for a longer time, personally I have developed as well. It was a great adventure to live in another country, experience a new culture and start a new life. 

How has the process been living in Sweden as opposed to the Netherlands? Has it been easy to adapt?
The culture of the Netherlands and Sweden are quite similar. By this, it wasn't too difficult to adapt. Though, starting a new life in a city and country far away from home was an extraordinary experience. Having such an amazing group of people around us definitely helped to feel home soon.

What have you learnt about working interdisciplinary? i.e. with people who have different skillsets
Working interdisciplinary was a great experience and something I'd love to do more often in the future. Within the communication team we all had our own skills that we brought to projects. By this we could learn a lot from each other, but also develop our own specific skills.

Q&A with Maximilian Bauer, Graphic Designer

Why did you choose to do an EVS at STPLN?

As I love to work within the creative fields, I wanted to something in that direction. STPLN seemed like the perfect place to do so, besides offering a position as a graphic designer it also offered a great opportunity of meeting all sorts of people and connecting with them, sharing knowledge and skills. It also seemed like a place where I could gain a lot of experience, which it proofed to be. Additionally, it helped that it was located in Sweden, because I have always been drawn to the nordic countries and wanted to live there. 

What has been the highlight of your time so far?

This is gonna sound super cheesy, but it is really difficult to choose one single highlight. This whole experience has just been beyond my expectations, making it very hard to leave Sweden. There are some specific highlights such as being able to hold my own exhibition, or doing a field trip up north, but I think what I appreciate the most are the »everyday-highlights« such as living by the beach (which gets every Austrian always super excited) and most importantly coming into work and just enjoying the work atmosphere surrounded by all these amazing people.

How have you feel you have developed since arriving?

I have gained so much experience through this project. I have become more independent, have broadened my mind, got knowledge in different fields, developed many more skills, and got more confident and secure in what I do. This happened due to the variety of people at STPLN sharing experiences, ideas and knowledge.

How has the process been living in Sweden as opposed to your home country? Has it been easy to adapt?

Since Sweden and Austria are not super different, it hasn’t been that hard to adapt. I adapted quite quickly to the »I-bike-everywhere-mentality«. It is definitely something I will take back home with me. Also Fika, because it’s just a great thing to have some coffee breaks with your friends now and then. What was hard to get used to is the laundry system, because doing laundry is a commitment and you really have to plan it, due to the fact that there’s only one washing machine in the apartment buildings that everybody has to book. 

What have you learnt about working interdisciplinary?

The whole thing is a huge learning experience. Through working with people from different fields I have learned things such as how to set up a photo studio, video editing, building things, interior design and more. Everybody has their field in which they are good at and was able to contribute. That gave me an insight in what the other fields are like, as well as knowledge in this field because every one was willing to share.

Q&A with Cristina Baro Miro, Filmmaker/Photographer

Why did you choose to do an EVS at STPLN?

When I first read about the opportunity, STPLN it seemed to me like a very unique place where I could work and learn in an open and international environment. It appeared also as the perfect opportunity to broaden my horizons while developing my skills in terms of communication and design. Plus, it was in Sweden, a country that I lived in previously and I was excited to come back to.

What has been the highlight of your time so far?

This is a very difficult question because there has been many events and situations that I will always cherish. If I were to choose one it would probably be the community that comes to STPLN, with loads of inspiring people creating and sharing. I think being part of this community is what made the whole experience so special.

How have you feel you have developed since arriving?

I feel like I’ve been in a never-ending learning curve in both personal and professional ways. As a professional, I gained a bunch of new skills and ideas that are going to be very useful in the next step of my life. Personally, I connected with people that inspired me a lot and I feel very much adapted to the culture and the living flow in Malmö.

How has the process been living in Sweden as opposed to your home country? Has it been easy to adapt?

It has been easy to adapt in pretty much every way. The most difficult part was probably going through the Swedish winter, as I’m not used to the lack of sun. Besides that, I felt part of the community since day 1 and I found Malmö to be a very welcoming city with a cool vibe.

What have you learnt about working interdisciplinary?

I learnt a lot of new skills from the rest of the people in my team. I also learnt how can we take projects to the next level thanks to the variety of knowledge and skills that was brought in from the different people who make up the interdisciplinary communication team.

At the end of the project, the participants outlined their experience into