German Design Graduates Show 2022: Exhibition With works From the Produktdesign (Product Design) Department of the Faculty of Art and Design
From 2 to 31 October 2022, visitors will be able to explore outstanding final projects from the Product and Industrial Design departments of the most renowned German design and art colleges at the Design Campus of the Dresden State Art Collections (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden [SKD]). Milena Huber, Maren Klamser and Antonia Ney of the Faculty of Art and Design are participating in the exhibition. Artistic staff member Almut Nowack will also be represented with her Master’s thesis from HAWK Hildesheim.
The final projects will be presented in the Water Palace at Pillnitz Palace as part of the »German Design Graduates Show 2022« of the »German Design Graduates« (GDG) initiative and of its project sponsor, the »German Design Council«, in cooperation with the Design Campus of the SKD Museum of Decorative Arts.
This year’s focus topic is »Perspectives for Graduates in Product Design«. Emphasis is being placed on the key issues of our time and the effect of the fundamental shifts and developments in the policy sphere, society and the environment. Ideas and approaches to problem-solving by young product design graduates will be on display, with some 40 young designers from more than 20 German universities illustrating many ways in which product design can go hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility.
Master’s thesis »reLoopbox« by Milena Huber: Reusable shipping packaging
The reLoopbox is an approach to reusable shipping packaging that represents an alternative to the one-way packaging system that currently dominates the parcel business. A core component of this project is the initiation of a paradigm shift – with consistent use of environmentally sensible materials such as corrugated cardboard and paper.
The new combination of familiar packaging elements – cover, sliding boxes and sleeve – enables new ease of use as well as resource-friendly handling. The sleeve implements a key function by sealing the package while also providing marketing space and protecting sensitive information. On this basis, the other components can remain neutral and also be spared damage upon opening. Thanks to the ease with which the box can be folded, it can be collapsed into a shape that saves a great deal of space during return and storage. This enables significant conservation of raw and packaging materials and reduced energy consumption.
Link to the video (redirect to Youtube): www.youtube.com/watch
The final project was supervised by Andreas Mühlenberend, Professor of Industrial Design, and artistic staff member Niklas Hamann.
Master’s thesis »5TONS« by Maren Klamser: Development of a recyclable mineral solid from construction waste using the example of a deconstructable masonry system
Construction is one of the most resource-intensive sectors of the economy. In addition to the problems associated with high extraction levels and scarcity of resources, a waste disposal crisis is now looming. This thesis focused on the question of how mineral raw materials from construction and demolition waste can be used to reduce pressure on primary raw materials and landfills.
The resulting »5TONS« material is a recyclable mineral solid made of brick dust from broken masonry (cement substitution/alternative binder production) and recycled aggregate from mineral construction waste (sand substitution). A dry stacking system for masonry blocks was developed on the basis of the material. The shape of the block makes it unnecessary to use mortar. Cut marks and predetermined breaking points enable flexible design of the masonry.
The final project was supervised by Katrin Krupka, who was then serving as Acting Professor of Material and Environment, Dr. Jan Willmann, Professor of Theory and History of Design, and Scientific Associate Michael Braun.
Bachelor’s thesis »FREI_PARK_RAUM« by Antonia Ney: Real utopia: Non-commercial recreation room
The Frei_Park_Raum (FPR) is a non-commercial, rainproof recreation room in the form of a bicycle trailer. Anyone can park the FPR in a public space both legally and without dealing with any bureaucratic red tape. The objective of the design is to create an alternative to consumer spaces such as restaurants and cafés. Through the exhibition of this realm of possibility, the FPR is meant to inspire others to build their own. The result is a translucent »safe space« in which at least two people can sit.
The final project was supervised by Katrin Krupka, then Acting Professor of Material and Environment, and Dr. Alexandra Toland, Junior Professor of Arts and Research.
Master’s thesis »Inklusion statt Konfektion« by Almut Nowack of HAWK Hildesheim: Accessibility in the fashion industry through process optimisation in production
Through its creation of images of the ideal physical body, the fashion industry denies access to significant parts of society. People with physical disabilities are particularly affected by this circumstance, with an example of this being the need for assistance with dressing and undressing. The goal of this work was therefore to facilitate access to products of the fashion industry for people who have been excluded in the past.
In the final design, garments were created that increase the elasticity in defined areas in order to improve clothing fit and make it easier to put on and take off clothes. Increased elasticity is achieved through targeted arrangement of small slits that can be made in various textiles using a variety of different processes. This work step can be easily integrated into the production sequence used up to this point without changing the workflow. The additional expenditure of time and energy is only marginally higher, making the new approach both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Professors of Product Design Andreas Schulz and Matthias Ries supervised the final project at HAWK.
German Design Graduates Show 2022
Duration of exhibition:
2 to 31 October 2022
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Exhibition venue:
Pillnitz Palace
August-Böckstiegel-Strasse 2
01326 Dresden
About German Design Graduates:
GDG is a platform that shows, discusses and supports approaches to design of graduates of German colleges and universities. Professors of design from German art colleges launched the initiative in 2019. GDG’s “Graduates Platform” brings visibility to the many forms that design can take.
Additional information on the GDG initiative and the exhibition can be found at: https://germandesigngraduates.com