“The Messy Shape of Problems” – Past, Present and Future Perspectives of Design

Exhibition, Impulse lectures, Fishbowl Discussions and Workshops

Designers are facing an increasingly complex field of global challenges, which necessitate great sensitivity to relevant questions, adequate approaches, and tools for developing sustainable solutions. How can design education convey the required skills and perspectives to cope with this dramatic rise in complexity? And how do technological advances shape the future of design?

Focusing on these questions, the Campus exhibition of the Academic Design Network Austria aims to epitomize the wide range of approaches characterizing the design education landscape in Austria.

The student projects presented form the point of departure for a three-day discursive format consisting of impulse lectures, fishbowl discussions, and workshops such as a speculative design lab. This participatory format brings together interested visitors with representatives of design universities to discuss present and future developments in the field of design with reference to ongoing technological transformation. Diverse approaches, perspectives and the potential of design to address major challenges of contemporary and future societies will be discussed.

The continually expanding Academic Design Network Austria currently comprises the following partner institutions in Austria:

Die Angewandte Wien; FH Joanneum, Graz; FH Salzburg (Puch-Urstein); FH Salzburg (Kuchl); FH St. Pölten; FH Vorarlberg; Kunstuniversität Linz, New Design University, St. Pölten; Universität Mozarteum, Salzburg, Alpen Adria Universität Klagenfurt, FH Oberösterreich

Overview of projects

Chapeau

Salt Castle Studio (AT), Fachhochschule Salzburg (AT)

Chapeau is a fast-paced multiplayer platformer where you and your friends each play a quirky hat, challenging each other for objectives while engaging in mid-air combat.

DEEP FEELING – An Interactive Utopia

Dominik Einfalt, Noah von Stietencron, Class of Graphic Design, Prof. Oliver Kartak (AT), University of Applied Arts Vienna (AT)

Deep Feeling lets artificial intelligence experience human affection to enable the growth of a social, feeling and loving AI. This prototype of a computer input device is equipped with sensors that transmit human touch to the AI.

fhSPACE YouTube Palace

St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (AT), Bachelor Degree Program Media Technology and Master Program Digital Design, Masterclass Experimental Media

Selected Students of the Bachelor Degree Program, Media Technology and Master Program Digital Design / Masterclass Experimental Media at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences present a selection of current media projects in the form of experimental video works.

Experiencing a future design process

Fachhochschule Vorarlberg/Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (AT) InterMedia MA – Masters’s Degree Program Design

Experiencing a future design process addresses the possible effects of artificial intelligence on the communication design profession. Which tasks can be solved with the help of algorithms? For which requirements will human services be indispensable in the future? With the help of an interactive game, design processes can be played through and the possible role of technological support can be experienced.

Pets

New Design University Privatuniversität GesmbH (AT), BA Design, Handwerk & materielle Kultur, MA Innenarchitektur & Visuelle Kommunikation

Based on artistic and scientific research, students investigate how our material world is changing and what role design plays in it.

Spatial Turn – Interactive Portfolio

FH JOANNEUM Institute of Design & Communication (AT)

The installation Spatial Turn shows numerous projects created by students in the fields of communication design, exhibition design, interaction design, media design and sound design from recent graduates of the Institute of Design & Communication of the University of Applied Sciences Graz as an interactive media portfolio experience.

Utopie/Dystopie

Christoph Picco, Sophia Eder – Kunst Universität Linz (AT)

Project Credits:

Die Angewandte. University of Applied Arts Vienna. Oliver Kartak – https://www.dieangewandte.at
FH Joanneum. University of Applied Sciences Graz. Karl Stocker, Daniel Fabry, Orhan Kipcak, Erika Thümmel, Sigrid Bürstmayr – https://www.fh-joanneum.at
FH Salzburg Campus Urstein & Kuchl. Thomas Hitthaler, Thomas Grundnigg, Günther Grall, Wolfgang Irlinger, Matthias Tratz, Lisa Winkler – https://www.fh-salzburg.ac.at
FH St. Pölten. St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences. Markus Wintersberger, Christian Munk, Rosa von Suess – https://www.fhstp.ac.at
FH Vorarlberg. University of Applied Sciences Dornbirn. Markus Hanzer, Margarita Köhl, Roland Alton-Scheidl, Karin Bleiweiss – https://www.fhv.at
Kunst Universität Linz. Universität für künstlerische und industrielle Gestaltung Linz. Tina Frank, Mario Zeppelzauer, Marianne Pührerfellner – https://www.ufg.at
New Design University. Privatuniversität St. Pölten. Stefan Moritsch, Christine Schwaiger – https://www.ndu.ac.at
Mozarteum University Salzburg. Gertrud Fischbacher, Laura Ackermann, Marius Schebella – https://www.moz.ac.at
Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt – https://www.aau.at
FH Oberösterreich. University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria – https://www.fh-ooe.at
Danube University Krems. Florian Halm – https://www.donau-uni.ac.at
Supported by designaustria. Martin Fössleitner – http://www.designaustria.at