NEWS Alex Liebert, CEO of Changeworks and guest lecturer at Umeå Institute of Design, has been appointed honorary doctor for 2026 at the Faculty of Science and Technology at 91传媒在线. He is recognised for his long-standing commitment to design education and for building bridges between academia and professional practice.
Alex Liebert is appointed honorary doctor at Umeå University.
ImageSara-Lena Brännström“I'm incredibly happy and pleasantly surprised. Being awarded an honorary doctorate is a great honour,” he says.
Alex Liebert is trained as an industrial designer and has held leading positions in industry, consultancy and the public sector. Today, he is CEO, change leader and design strategist at his own company, Changeworks.
He is awarded the title of honorary doctor for his significant contributions to design education, strategic design practice and academic development at Umeå Institute of Design.
In 2012, through his then role at Atlas Copco, Alex Liebert initiated his first collaborations with Umeå Institute of Design. Since then, he has served as a guest lecturer in the strategic design course, which he has also helped to develop and shape in terms of content.
Strategic design is about using design in a long-term perspective, not only to shape products but to influence how companies and organisations develop their business models and operations.
“As a designer, you can create almost anything – so why not a business strategy? I see strategic design as a leadership discipline and want to help students develop into leaders who can improve our world through design,” says Alex Liebert, who is keen to highlight the designer's role in organisational development.
Each year, Thomas Degn, programme director for the master's programme, invites a company with exciting products to take part in the course. Students explore future design opportunities, develop concepts aligned with the company's brand and create a well-considered design language. At the same time, they are trained in addressing complex future-oriented and technological challenges.
“I am very grateful for the appreciation shown by Umeå Institute of Design and especially for the close and long-term collaboration with Thomas Degn. Without his commitment, this would not have been possible,” says Alex Liebert.
As a guest lecturer at Umeå Institute of Design, Alex Liebert has made a significant contribution to the programme.
ImageSara-Lena BrännströmThrough his work, Alex Liebert has contributed to strengthening both the academic quality and the international relevance of the programme.
Now in his fourteenth year as a guest lecturer, he has no plans to stop. He praises the collaborative culture and positive spirit at Umeå Institute of Design.
“I love teaching and I feel genuinely happy every time I come here. It's a unique school with a spirit and level of engagement that I haven't seen anywhere else,” says Alex, who is based in Örebro and also teaches industrial design to mechanical engineering students at Örebro University.
He finds it particularly rewarding when former students describe the concrete benefits they have gained from the course tools in their collaborations with companies, especially their ability to measure the value of design and to develop a clear design language.
“I see how they gain confidence and dare to take greater initiative. That feels really wonderful,” he says.
Alex Liebert will be formally conferred as honorary doctor at Umeå University's annual celebration in October.
For more information, please contact:
Alex Liebert, CEO of Changeworks and guest lecturer at Umeå Institute of Design
Phone: +46 70 607 46 55
E-mail: alex@changeworks.se