Kick off your entrepreneurial journey with our Design Thinking: Save the Free Press workshop. In a time of misinformation, platform dominance, and declining trust, this hands-on session challenges you to rethink the future of journalism and design solutions that support press freedom, trust, and independent media. Working in interdisciplinary teams, you’ll apply Design Thinking methods, tackle real challenges in the media landscape, and take your first steps toward the Design Thinking Hackathon and summer scholarships.
This Design Thinking workshop is a part of Co-creates Spring Programme (uio.no). We have three other workshops to choose from, explore the other themes in our events! All students connected to BI, UiO, OsloMet and Kristiania is welcome to join our programme.
Workshop format: The workshop runs in two parts, so make sure to join both sessions:
Tuesday 27 January (12:00–16:00) and Thursday (12:00–16:00).
Save the Free Press
Free and independent journalism is a cornerstone of democratic societies, yet it is under increasing pressure from economic instability, platform dominance, misinformation, political influence, and changing audience behaviors. Journalists today operate in a complex landscape where trust, safety, sustainability, and editorial independence are constantly challenged.
An ideal future for journalism is often portrayed as one where strong institutions, professional ethics, and public trust coexist with technological innovation. At the same time, dystopian visions show media environments dominated by misinformation, weakened local newsrooms, and reduced press freedom. The question is how we can help shape a future where journalism continues to serve the public interest.
Design Thinking
In this project, students will use Design Thinking to explore challenges related to press freedom and journalistic practice. Participants will empathize with journalists, editors, and media organizations, define meaningful problem statements, and develop early concepts that address real needs in the media ecosystem.
Through expert interviews, observation, ideation, and testing, the workshops may become the first steps toward developing new initiatives or startups that contribute to a resilient and independent press.
Lecturer: Magnus Svendsen
Magnus Svendsen is an entrepreneur and innovation leader with real startup experience. As Innovation Manager at Gründergarasjen, he supports early‑stage founders and student teams in turning ideas into real ventures.
His journey from student founder to innovation mentor gives him a grounded, hands‑on perspective that he brings into the classroom. Magnus is all about learning by doing, embracing experimentation, and using real entrepreneurial challenges to grow. Perfect for helping you apply design thinking in creative ways.
Venue: Gründergarasjen
The workshop will be held at Gründergarasjen, startup incubator and innovation hub in the heart of Oslo. Gründergarasjen supports early‑stage founders and student innovators with coaching, resources, community, and real entrepreneurial energy. Giving the students a feel of being an early stage entrepreneur, giving insights into the enviroment of being an early stage entreprenour.