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Illustrasjonsserie inspirert av San Francisco, bestående av Golden Gate Bridge, de ikoniske cable car-vognene og Fisherman’s Wharf. Motivene representerer byens særpreg, historie og energi – fra bratte gater og havneområder til teknologikultur, turisme og innovasjon. Den enkle mørkeblå stilen gir illustrasjonene et tidløst og grafisk uttrykk som knytter San Francisco-serien visuelt sammen

San Francisco Seminars

The San Francisco seminars shaped how I understand technology, innovation, and people. Here I have gathered all the years, modules, and experiences in one place.

Minimalist illustration of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, designed in warm orange tones against a light background. The icon shows the iconic prison with watchtower, buildings and the characteristic silhouette that has made Alcatraz one of San Francisco's most famous landmarks. The illustration is used as a visual symbol for the 2004 San Francisco Seminar and represents the meeting of history, technology, innovation and reflection in the Silicon Valley environment. Alcatraz functions here both as a geographical feature and as a symbol of contrasts: between old and new, limitations and opportunities, control and creativity. The simple graphic expression fits into the website's overall visual style with a focus on knowledge, travel, digitalization and professional development.

San Francisco

Seminar 2004

The first year was about understanding what the Internet was really becoming. Lecturers and company visits gave you insight into early e-commerce, user behavior, and the first signs that digitalization would change everything. This year lit the spark.

San Francisco

Seminar 2005

I gained insight into how Silicon Valley built technology, structure, and culture for growth. The focus was on business models, strategy, and why innovation requires interdisciplinary work. This was the year where I really started to see the connections.

Minimalist illustration of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, drawn in a dark blue style against a light background. The iconic suspension bridge with its characteristic towers and cables symbolizes connections, innovation, faith in the future and the journey into the technology environment of Silicon Valley. The illustration is used as a visual characteristic for the San Francisco Seminar 2005 and represents the meeting of technology, digitalization, entrepreneurship and international knowledge sharing. The Golden Gate Bridge functions here both as a geographical symbol for San Francisco and as a metaphor for building bridges between people, ideas, business and academia. The simple and clear graphic style fits into the website's overall visual identity with a focus on learning, reflection, innovation and professional development.
Stylized icon inspired by Fisherman's Wharf with classic cable car and the iconic sign from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The icon combines maritime symbols, cable car and harbor atmosphere in a minimalist line style and represents one of the most characteristic things about the city. Fisherman’s Wharf has been a meeting point for tourism, seafood, city life and historic harbor culture for many years - while the area is close to the environments that later became the center of technology, entrepreneurship and digital innovation. For Magne Bjella, the motif also symbolizes the many professional trips to San Francisco and the inspiration from American trade, customer experience, tourism and omnichannel development.

San Francisco

Seminar 2006

This year was about how consumer expectations were changing the entire market. I gained insight into early personalization, online user behavior, and why companies needed to start building digital services around people – not technology.

San Francisco

Seminar 2008

In 2008, I gained a unique insight into how Google, Apple, and the new platform players were defining the next era. The focus was on search, mobile, data-driven decisions, and culture. This year, I understood how quickly the future could change – and how important pace, learning, and experimentation are in digital development.

Stylized icon of the classic Victorian wooden houses in San Francisco – inspired by the iconic row houses that characterize the cityscape of San Francisco. The icon shows the characteristic narrow facades, stairs and high gables in a minimalist dark blue line style on a light blue background. The houses symbolize both the history, architecture and the unique atmosphere of the city where tradition meets innovation. For Magne Bjella, the motif also represents the many professional trips to San Francisco and the inspiration from the city's combination of technology, entrepreneurship, culture and human diversity.
Stylized icon of a classic cable car in San Francisco – the historic cable cars that have become one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. The icon shows the cable car in a minimalist line style with hills, the city skyline and the characteristic uphill slope that characterizes the streets of San Francisco. The illustration symbolizes travel, technology, history and the connection between tradition and innovation in the city that has inspired generations in entrepreneurship, digitalization and Silicon Valley culture. For Magne Bjella, the cable car motif also represents the many professional trips to San Francisco through innovation studies and seminars on technology, e-commerce and customer experience.

San Francisco

Seminar 2009

This seminar was heavily data-driven and focused on how users move online, why “the funnel” is too small, and how digital channels create new opportunities. This is also the year I presented my Navico case – one of my most important professional milestones.

San Francisco

Seminar 2010

In 2010, I saw how the most forward-thinking companies in San Francisco were already working holistically with customer journeys. Visits to Apple, eBay, Gap and Williams-Sonoma showed how technology, retail and logistics could be connected in a way that we in Norway were not yet close to. This year, I understood how important it is to see the whole picture – and how far we can go when culture, data and customers are at the center.

Stylized icon inspired by Union Square – the historic urban space in the heart of San Francisco known for commerce, hotels, cable cars and vibrant city life. The icon shows the characteristic column with the Victory statue on top surrounded by stairs, palm trees, trees and the city skyline in a minimalist dark blue line style on a light blue background. Union Square has been an important meeting place for culture, shopping, technology enthusiasts and visitors from all over the world for many years. For Magne Bjella, the motif also represents the many professional trips to San Francisco and the inspiration from American retail, customer experience, innovation and metropolitan culture.
Stylized illustration inspired by the characteristic steep streets of San Francisco, with buildings placed on sloping terrain and a car driving up a hill. The illustration symbolizes the city's unique topography, urban life and iconic streetscape, known from areas such as Powell Street and the city's historic cable car routes. The simple shapes and warm colors create a modern and playful expression that represents movement, urban development, technology and innovation in San Francisco.

San Francisco

Seminar 2011

A mature, strategic and personal seminar. Focus: venture, entrepreneurship, teams, learning culture, and why companies succeed over time. I ended my San Francisco period with a solid professional boost – and with the feeling of having come “full circle”.

San Francisco

Seminars Summarised

The San Francisco seminars were not technology courses, but meetings with a mindset. Over time, they became a reference point for understanding why some succeed with digitalization and innovation – and why others don’t.

Stylized illustration inspired by Lombard Street in San Francisco – the world-famous, winding street with steep terrain, green surroundings and dense urban development. The characteristic hairpin turns symbolize San Francisco's unique cityscape, architecture and urban identity. The illustration conveys movement, creativity and the distinctive atmosphere that has made Lombard Street an iconic California landmark.
Akvarellillustrasjon av historisk skolebygning ved Oslofjorden brukt som symbol på eMarketing, læring og digital utvikling

Also learn more from the eMarketing study 2000 - 2001

Akvarellillustrasjon av innovasjon, teknologi og idéutvikling knyttet til Innovasjon- og kommersialiseringsstudiet ved BI

Learn more from Innovation and Commercialization
study at BI 2005 - 2006

Akvarellillustrasjon av historisk skolebygning ved Oslofjorden brukt som symbol på eMarketing, læring og digital utvikling

Also learn from
San Francisco seminars 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011

Akvarellillustrasjon av ugle i klassisk Oxford-miljø brukt som symbol på kunnskap, læring og akademiske seminarer

Also learn from Oxford
the seminars 2003, 2005,
2006 and 2011

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