Home country, Lithuania
"I got intrigued by Roskilde University, its teaching methods, history, even the location, as I am often keen to escape the city"
After graduating a bachelor degree in Socio-economics at Vilnius University, Lithuania, I have taken four out-of-academy years. That period has included things as traveling, working shortterm jobs, learning carpentry, living in squats, a kibbutz, urban conversion projects and rural institutions of alternative education. During those years I have often observed the spatial designs, architecture, places and cities through the lens of philosophy, sociology and anthropology. I got intrigued by Roskilde University, its teaching methods, history, even the location, as I am often keen to escape the city. All that reduced my skepticism towards universities, and when the new Master's programme Spatial Designs and Society was announced I immediately saw myself there. Now I know, that the first hand experiences were a relevant addition to the scientific theories we got to study.
We, the first generation of SDS, happened to be a very small group: we were seven students, almost the same amount of students as the teachers. Thus we got a lot of personal attention and qualitative feedback from professors. The possibility to supplement the assignments complemented with visual representations, such as sketches, plans, maps, photographs and films, compensated my weak points in English and in academic writing skills. Eventually, my writing and speaking skills have also significantly improved.
"I created a vivacious map for my hometown, which got famously blown throughout social networks and media"
During the first years of studies, inspired by readings, colleagues and projects, I created a vivacious map for my hometown, which got famously blown throughout social networks and media. As well as together with a team of artists, I proposed a bench for Copenhagen, which was, amongst other winners of that competition, materialized and exposed in one of the central squares of Copenhagen. As we had an option to spend the whole third semester doing an internship, I made a decision to do that in my native country, Lithuania, in a small and young, yet first-running urbanism company.
"To keep on moving while studying was one more merit of the Spatial Designs and Society studies"
The upcoming master thesis I am considering to write on designing pedestrianism: walking and hiking paths. For doing that proper, I might need to challenge one of the long hiking trails myself. To keep on moving while studying was one more merit of the Spatial Designs and Society studies. Many topics do fit in our subject: me and comrade students have done the projects on anything starting from a vase, e-cigarette or dress, to a whole buildings, parks or neighborhoods. I have realized that design and architecture are the precious topics to talk about with Danes and so to get to know a Danish culture. I can feel now, that these studies have encouraged me to keep going the way of independent creator, focusing on socio-spatial issues, yet as well made me able to work as design consultant, ethnographer or anthropologist.