Teaching

Embedded within the Faculty of Art and Design, the Professorship teaches fundamental theories of design and its history, putting emphasis particularly on those aspects that affect the design of our contemporary environment. Of course, essential social, philosophical and cultural positions are reflected upon and historically contextualised. Moreover, the Professorship also introduces the students to scientific research, curating and publishing on design issues. In doing so, aspiring designers gain important conceptual and communication skills to theoretically reflect and embed their work in the larger cultural context.

In selected study projects the Professorship concentrates on specific issues of design and its theory – very much at the interface of cultural history, and the history of media and information technology. Specifically, the focus lies upon research- and publication projects with certain design content (for example digital/material production, websites and installations, experimental graphic or books works), bringing forward an understanding of design as form of cultural production and exploration.

The recent shift in digital technology has substantially affected the design professions and has led to entirely new concepts, tools and processes that were still inconceivable just a few years ago. These new possibilities not only foster novel forms of design and making but also raise numerous questions regarding the challenges that await the design disciplines. On that scope, the lecture series “Digital Cultures 1“ will provide students with a profound introduction to the theory and history of digital technology in design and related fields (such as, for example, art, media and architecture) and discusses key paradigms of the digital turn. Topics covered include computational design, digital craft, algorithmic simulation and complexity, digital authorship, programmed materials, human-machine interaction, robotics and automation, digital sustainability, smart cities, etc. As such, the lecture takes an interdisciplinary approach to digital technology and is designed for a broad student audience.

Date: Starting date is October 21st, 2019, weekly rhythm (Mondays)
Time: 09.30-11.00
Location: Coudraystrasse 13 B, Hörsaal 3    

The lecture series "Fundamentals 1" focuses on a range of selected historical as well as contemporary projects, exhibitions and readings to address key important positions and methods of design and its theory, and, as a consequence, to elucidate the fundamental relationship between design and cultural practices. The main goal of the lecture series is to provide students with a comprehensive overview of essential paradigms of design, art and architecture. At the same time, the teaching module allows students to critically reflect their own work and approaches within a wider social, historical and cultural context.

Date: Starting date is October 14th, 2019, weekly rhythm (Mondays)
Time: 13.30-15.00
Location: Geschwister-Scholl-Strasse 7, Atelier 116 

The goal of the "readme.txt" is the historical and methodical exploration of fundamental texts of design theory/science and their contextualization with contemporary and cross-disciplinary discourses of design. However, these discourses of the theory of design do not exclusively involve designers or actors from related disciplines. Looking at design from a variety of perspectives has always provided substantial impulses and promoted the constant evolution and transformation of design cultures. Not only practice (e.g. architecture, engineering, art, mechanical engineering) makes a substantial contribution to these discourses, but especially the scientific disciplines, such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology or psychology. In the seminar "readme.txt", students will explore fundamental theories of design - which will not only be analyzed and discussed from a historical and hermeneutical perspective, but will also be transferred into contemporary and cross-disciplinary design discourses. Ultimately, the aim is to uncover key paradigms that fundamentally shape the (multi-layered) levels of design, its understanding and contextualization, and even beyond.

Date: Starting date is October 14th, 2019, weekly rhythm (Mondays)
Time: 16.00-18.00
Location: Geschwister-Scholl-Strasse 7, Atelier 116

The Graduate Colloquium of the PhD-programme "Art and Design" is organized by the Professorships of Alexandra Toland, Michael Lüthy, and Jan Willmann. Here, PhD-students present the status and progress of their research, bringing together faculty, supervisors and other doctoral students while fostering cross-disciplinary dialogues and discussions.

Date: Academic week for PhD-students November 2019 and January 2020
Time: TBA
Ort: Marienstraße 14, Room 221