The Beckmans College of Design was founded in 1939 by advertising executive Anders Beckman and fashion illustrator and pattern designer Göta Trägårdh. They wanted to create a small art college for advertising and fashion, as an independent, creative alternative to the large, government-operated Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design. In 2003, the College became an approved examining body with full government funding, under the name of Beckmans Designhögskola/Beckmans College of Design. In 2007, the College moved again, this time to Brahegatan 10.
In 2015, a new era started. Beckmans College of Design became a foundation. The purpose was to secure the college’s long-term operation as a non-profit organization and university college. The thirteen founders added capital of more than SEK 15 million to the foundation, thus giving the college the potential to continue to provide research and training of the highest quality within design and communications.
The founders were Susanne Beckman, Agnès Rosa Beckman, IKEA of Sweden, Marc O’Polo, Kjell and Märta Beijers stiftelse, IDR Scandinavia AB, Lowe Brindfors, H&M AB, Föreningen Beckmans Designhögskola, Familjen Robert Weils Stiftelse, Daniel Sachs Stiftelse, KING and Forsman & Bodenfors.
For the Family Robert Weil Foundation this step was the result of a more than 15-year-long collaboration with Beckmans- but more importantly, of 40 years of working in the field of design, craftsmanship, education and industry in various ways.