Design for Berlin

To this end, the Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge is collaborating with the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026.

Founded in 1946 in northeast Berlin within the Soviet occupation zone, the university embodies the history of Berlin after World War II—with all its upheavals and transformations.

As a college of applied arts, Weißensee saw itself at the time as a counterpart to an art academy. The “applied arts” took their cue from everyday life: this is where the need was greatest in the war-torn city. All the arts—painting, sculpture, graphic design, stage design, fashion and textiles, ceramics, and industrial design—related to architecture and the living environment.

The university’s orientation was shaped by modernist designers such as Herbert Hirche, Mart Stam, and Selman Selmanagić. Their approaches to teaching—a common foundational curriculum, a strong practical focus, and interdisciplinary work—remain relevant to this day. “Designing for Berlin” explores artistic fundamentals, design, and practice, bringing together historical and contemporary works from the fields of form design and graphic design. The exhibition also explores current perspectives: What does it mean to study design today? Whether it’s a Berlinale poster or the lettering for Kino International, the subway or bicycles, a world clock or climate-protective facades, firewalls or stage posters: Generations of students, faculty, and alumni from Weißensee have shaped Berlin’s urban spaces, culture, and mobility—in short:

everyday life in Berlin.

The exhibition is a sketch and makes no claim to completeness. It cannot capture the work of all people and departments from the past eight

nor the impact beyond Berlin. Against the backdrop of social and ecological challenges as well as extensive cuts in the fields of science and culture, “Designing for Berlin” highlights the innovative and creative power of design, culture, and teaching and their significance for a sustainable and livable city.

Opening on April 15, 2026, at 7 p.m.

(Free admission)

Opening remarks: Cerstin Richter-Kotowski, State Secretary for Culture, Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion

Opening remarks: Dr. Angelika Richter, President of the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin

Introduction to the exhibition: Silke Ihden-Rothkirch, Florentine Nadolni (curators)

On the scenography: Elizaveta Parfenova, Jonas Leue, students at weißensee art university berlin

Music: DJ Royal Radiator

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive program of events and educational activities:

Discussions, Lectures & Readings

Thu, May 21, 2026, 6:00 PM

Works for Berlin

Conversation with aufsiemitgebrüll, Claudia Schramke, Various&Gould

Thu, June 18, 2026, 6:00 PM

Upheavals: From the GDR to the FRG

Conversation with Matthias Gubig, Joachim Hamster Damm, Nanne Meyer, Henning

Wagenbreth

Thu, July 2, 2026, 6:00 PM

Hirdina Lecture I

“Let’s hope it doesn’t get too heavy in the end!”

Reading and discussion with Dominik Harborth and Thomas Schmiedgen

Thu, Sept. 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m.

“On Vagabonds, Dogmatists, and Marxists”

Lecture by Jörg Petruschat

Release of the conference proceedings “Shaping Futures” by the Society for Design History

Thu, Oct 15, 2026, 6:00 PM

greenlab: New Material Justice

Conversation with Mareen Baumeister, Sofia Fernández, Joana Schmitz

Mon, Nov 2, 2026, 6:00 PM

Berlin Visual Stories

Conversation with Mawil, Ulli Lust, Bea Davies, Lias Sinram

Thu, Jan. 21, 2027, 6:00 PM

Hirdina Lecture II

Utopian Constructions. Avant-garde Project

Reading and discussion with Silke Ihden-Rothkirch

Thu, Feb 18, 2027, 6:00 PM

The Future of Visual Work

Discussion with Wim Westerveld, Quang Nguyen, Jan-Henning Raff