Interdisciplinary Student Team Develops Book Fair Concept with Minimal Budget
Up until it had to be cancelled in 2020, the Leipzig Book Fair was a permanent fixture in the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar calendar. It was only last year that the university returned to the event. This tradition is set to continue in 2025. What makes this unique? In contrast to conventional booths, the concept and look of the stand, as well as its implementation, are almost entirely in the hands of students.
This year, nine students from various disciplines are developing and designing the exhibition booth concept under the leadership of artistic staff member Florian Hesselbarth. The students are from the Freie Kunst, Architecture, Urbanistik (Urbanism), and Produktdesign (Product Design) programmes. »An exciting mix«, says Hasselbarth. »We need different perspectives and skills to properly represent the university at the Book Fair.« In addition to information on the university and studying, the »LUCIA Verlag« publisher and other university products will also be presented at the stand.
The interdisciplinary team looked intensely at the topic of trade fairs in the specialist course. They also went on excursions and invited experts to give lectures. Course participants also learned and implemented new skills such as 3D rendering and model making. The main challenge was and is the low budget. Cost-saving solutions that still »look good« require that much more consideration. The students planned from the get-go to use inexpensive, readily available materials such as cardboard, bamboo, and wood. They found inspiration in the »give away« sections of various advertising apps, for example.
By the end of the winter semester, a total of seven designs had been created. These were presented for the first time at the Winterwerkschau. The next step will have the students deciding on a concept together, which will be implemented by the end of March. Because the designs each have their own »something extra«, it will be a difficult decision. »We might end up combining several designs, taking individual details and combining them into a new concept«, says Hesselbarth. The concept should be finalised in mid-March - until then, it remains to be seen.
An extensive photo gallery including all the designs can be found at: www.uni-weimar.de/bauhaus-journal
We are happy to send you photos of the models in printable resolution on request.
Leipzig Book Fair
27 to 30 March 2025
Location:
Hall 5, Stand B600
The specialist course »Ein Messestand für Leipzig« was supervised by Florian Hesselbarth at the Professorship of »Kunst und sozialer Raum« under Christine Hill.
Questions can be directed to Romy Weinhold, Press and Public Relations Officer for the Faculty of Art and Design by phone at +49 / 36 43 / 58 11 86 or by e-mail at romy.weinhold[at]uni-weimar.de