Then and now
How it started
Beckmans was founded in 1939 by Anders Beckman, Göta Trägårdh, Carl Axel Virin and Bibi Lindström. Together they formed the school's first team of teachers with Anders Beckman as principal.
Anders Beckman (1907-1967) was educated at Tekniska Skolan (now Konstfack) in Stockholm. After graduating in 1930, he started an advertising agency and was very interested in innovative exhibition techniques and product presentations. He is probably best known for his graphic profile for the H55 exhibition in Helsingborg. In addition to creating now iconic posters, Anders Beckman worked on exhibitions. For the 1939 World's Fair in New York, he created a three-meter-high Dala horse as the entrance to the image of Sweden.
Göta Trägårdh (1904-1984), the school's main fashion teacher, was educated at the Technical School and the Academy of Fine Arts. She worked as a fashion illustrator and textile pattern designer. Her designs were colorful and graphic and had a great impact on the Swedish market. Göta Trägårdh also designed shop interiors and created exhibitions and signage for Swedish fashion companies such as Märthaskolan and Sidenhuset. For a period she was the fashion editor of Bonnier's monthly magazine.
Collaboration with the outside world
Right from the start, the program was characterized by collaboration with companies and institutions. The teachers at Beckmans were professionals with large contact areas, which gave the students important networks in the industries already during the education. The goal was to build bridges between art and industry, industry and the public, innovative ideas and the general public. Anders and Göta believed that the art of design was a key factor in the development of society. We are still of the same opinion!
After Anders Beckman's death in 1967, the school was continued by his wife Nunnie Beckman. In the mid-1980s, Anders Beckmans Skola AB was formed. The main owners were a number of Swedish companies with a focus on design, including H&M, IKEA and the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation (owner of Svenskt Tenn).
State-supported university and a foundation
In 2003, the school was granted the right to award degrees and received state support under the name Beckmans College of Design. The education became free of charge. In August 2022, the school moved to new premises at Agavägen 54 on Lidingö. Since fall 2015, Beckmans Skola AB is owned by the Beckmans Design College Foundation, whose founders are: Susanne Beckman, Agnès-Rosa Beckman, IKEA of Sweden, Marc O'Polo, Kjell and Märta Beijer's Foundation, IDR Scandinavia, Lowe Brindfors, H&M AB, Föreningen Beckmans Designhögskola, Familjen Robert Weil's Foundation, Daniel Sachs Foundation, KING and Forsman & Bodenfors.
On an artistic basis
Beckmans College of Design has three Bachelor of Arts programs (180 credits) product design, Fashion, Visual Communication. Artistic and theoretical basis, high creative pace, proximity to society, professional teaching staff, guest teachers with different specialist knowledge and experience and collaboration across disciplines are in focus. Important social issues related to sustainability, diversity, economy and culture permeate the education.
Beckmans College of Design has 123 students and 30 employees. Throughout the year, a large number of guest teachers are hired and Beckmans collaborates often and closely with the education's respective industries as well as with organizations, platforms and people with whom Beckmans shares interests.