He set the global standard for digital experiences – now he’s turning his focus to education
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
He started out as a middle school teacher, and went on to become a pioneer in digital experiences for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Disney, Google, Adidas, and Lego. His driving force has always been the same: using technology to explain and simplify. Now, as a business developer at SUA, David Eriksson wants to take learning into its next era.
"We were the first to use video on the web. We always wanted to use the newest technology to create better learning experiences. The driving force has always been: How can something be made better?"
Back in the 1990s, David worked as a French teacher at a middle school. But he soon realized that the school system didn’t work for everyone.
– I saw so many talented and creative people who just didn’t fit the mold. We all have different ways of learning. Some prefer reading, others want to discuss, and some learn best by doing. There are countless ways to tailor information to different learning styles.
His next step was a multimedia development program at Campus Skellefteå. There were two specializations: Internet or CD-ROM. David chose the Internet. A decision that says a lot about his instinct for the future.
– I learned an incredible amount. That’s where my interest in human learning and new technology really began to grow.
Soon rose to global prominence in their field
Since then, David has built a long career at the intersection of people and digital tools. He’s one of the founders of the creative agency North Kingdom, regarded as a global leader in digital experiences.
North Kingdom’s very first client was Vodafone, which at the time had 400 million users worldwide. The assignment was to show how mobile communication would evolve and become integral to everyday life in the next 10-15 years. It may sound obvious today, but in 2004 most people still saw mobile phones as just a way to make calls.
– It was a way of working with learning. Teaching these ideas to different audiences and crafting the story so that everyone could relate to it.
The project earned two Gold Lions at Cannes and became the most awarded digital project in the world that year.
He set the global standard for digital experiences – now he’s turning his focus to education
He started out as a middle school teacher, and went on to become a pioneer in digital experiences for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Disney, Google, Adidas, and Lego. His driving force has always been the same: using technology to explain and simplify. Now, as a business developer at SUA, David Eriksson wants to take learning into its next era.
Back in the 1990s, David worked as a French teacher at a middle school. But he soon realized that the school system didn’t work for everyone.
– I saw so many talented and creative people who just didn’t fit the mold. We all have different ways of learning. Some prefer reading, others want to discuss, and some learn best by doing. There are countless ways to tailor information to different learning styles.
His next step was a multimedia development program at Campus Skellefteå. There were two specializations: Internet or CD-ROM. David chose the Internet. A decision that says a lot about his instinct for the future.
– I learned an incredible amount. That’s where my interest in human learning and new technology really began to grow.
Soon rose to global prominence in their field
Since then, David has built a long career at the intersection of people and digital tools. He’s one of the founders of the creative agency North Kingdom, regarded as a global leader in digital experiences.
North Kingdom’s very first client was Vodafone, which at the time had 400 million users worldwide. The assignment was to show how mobile communication would evolve and become integral to everyday life in the next 10-15 years. It may sound obvious today, but in 2004 most people still saw mobile phones as just a way to make calls.
– It was a way of working with learning. Teaching these ideas to different audiences and crafting the story so that everyone could relate to it.
The project earned two Gold Lions at Cannes and became the most awarded digital project in the world that year.
"We were the first to use video on the web. We always wanted to use the newest technology to create better learning experiences. The driving force has always been: How can something be made better?"
"We were the first to use video on the web. We always wanted to use the newest technology to create better learning experiences. The driving force has always been: How can something be made better?"
From there came collaborations with some of the biggest brands on the planet: Lego, Disney, Meta, Adidas, Google. The client list reflects not only North Kingdom’s technical edge, but also the team’s ability to make technology resonate with people.
– We were the first to use video on the web. We always wanted to use the newest technology to create better learning experiences. The question driving us was always: How can something be made better?
The next chapter: a testbed for learning
In the past year, David has worked with Google, focusing on the gamification of its global cloud products. Now, at SUA, he’s building a testbed for the future of learning.
– Technology is available to everyone, but if people don’t know how to use it, it becomes inaccessible. We need to tailor learning to the individual. I’ve worked with gamification to make learning more engaging. With new educational models, we can combine the best of academia and technology to nurture the skills people need for the future.
He points to creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, so-called meta skills, as essential abilities that must play a larger role in education. Meanwhile, the job market is changing faster than ever.
– Three years ago, no one had heard of a “prompt engineer.” The knowledge cycle is now so short that what you learn can be outdated within a year. That’s why the ability to learn how to learn is absolutely crucial.
From there came collaborations with some of the biggest brands on the planet: Lego, Disney, Meta, Adidas, Google. The client list reflects not only North Kingdom’s technical edge, but also the team’s ability to make technology resonate with people.
– We were the first to use video on the web. We always wanted to use the newest technology to create better learning experiences. The question driving us was always: How can something be made better?
The next chapter: a testbed for learning
In the past year, David has worked with Google, focusing on the gamification of its global cloud products. Now, at SUA, he’s building a testbed for the future of learning.
– Technology is available to everyone, but if people don’t know how to use it, it becomes inaccessible. We need to tailor learning to the individual. I’ve worked with gamification to make learning more engaging. With new educational models, we can combine the best of academia and technology to nurture the skills people need for the future.
He points to creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, so-called meta skills, as essential abilities that must play a larger role in education. Meanwhile, the job market is changing faster than ever.
– Three years ago, no one had heard of a “prompt engineer.” The knowledge cycle is now so short that what you learn can be outdated within a year. That’s why the ability to learn how to learn is absolutely crucial.
For David, the vision is clear. Skellefteå can become a place where people from all over the world come together to learn in new ways. A model that others can be inspired by.
– If we combine all the world’s knowledge available through online distance education with practical application on-site, we can create a different way of learning. Where students apply their knowledge directly using the latest technology and with personal guidance. You’ll learn in a safe environment, gain self-understanding, learn how to communicate with others, and perhaps most importantly, develop critical thinking – the key skill for the future.
When he talks about what attracted him to SUA, he returns to the same drive that has guided him throughout his career: the desire to improve things.
– SUA feels like a blank slate. Here, in Skellefteå, there’s a chance to build something completely new. In education, there’s so much that can be improved – you just have to tackle it.
For David, the vision is clear. Skellefteå can become a place where people from all over the world come together to learn in new ways. A model that others can be inspired by.
– If we combine all the world’s knowledge available through online distance education with practical application on-site, we can create a different way of learning. Where students apply their knowledge directly using the latest technology and with personal guidance. You’ll learn in a safe environment, gain self-understanding, learn how to communicate with others, and perhaps most importantly, develop critical thinking – the key skill for the future.
When he talks about what attracted him to SUA, he returns to the same drive that has guided him throughout his career: the desire to improve things.
– SUA feels like a blank slate. Here, in Skellefteå, there’s a chance to build something completely new. In education, there’s so much that can be improved – you just have to tackle it.
For David, the vision is clear. Skellefteå can become a place where people from all over the world come together to learn in new ways. A model that others can be inspired by.
– If we combine all the world’s knowledge available through online distance education with practical application on-site, we can create a different way of learning. Where students apply their knowledge directly using the latest technology and with personal guidance. You’ll learn in a safe environment, gain self-understanding, learn how to communicate with others, and perhaps most importantly, develop critical thinking – the key skill for the future.
When he talks about what attracted him to SUA, he returns to the same drive that has guided him throughout his career: the desire to improve things.
– SUA feels like a blank slate. Here, in Skellefteå, there’s a chance to build something completely new. In education, there’s so much that can be improved – you just have to tackle it.
For David, the vision is clear. Skellefteå can become a place where people from all over the world come together to learn in new ways. A model that others can be inspired by.
– If we combine all the world’s knowledge available through online distance education with practical application on-site, we can create a different way of learning. Where students apply their knowledge directly using the latest technology and with personal guidance. You’ll learn in a safe environment, gain self-understanding, learn how to communicate with others, and perhaps most importantly, develop critical thinking – the key skill for the future.
When he talks about what attracted him to SUA, he returns to the same drive that has guided him throughout his career: the desire to improve things.
– SUA feels like a blank slate. Here, in Skellefteå, there’s a chance to build something completely new. In education, there’s so much that can be improved – you just have to tackle it.
For David, the vision is clear. Skellefteå can become a place where people from all over the world come together to learn in new ways. A model that others can be inspired by.
– If we combine all the world’s knowledge available through online distance education with practical application on-site, we can create a different way of learning. Where students apply their knowledge directly using the latest technology and with personal guidance. You’ll learn in a safe environment, gain self-understanding, learn how to communicate with others, and perhaps most importantly, develop critical thinking – the key skill for the future.
When he talks about what attracted him to SUA, he returns to the same drive that has guided him throughout his career: the desire to improve things.
– SUA feels like a blank slate. Here, in Skellefteå, there’s a chance to build something completely new. In education, there’s so much that can be improved – you just have to tackle it.
