NEWS
DARE TO DESIGN – SPaces of Care
The annual exhibition Dare to Design – Spaces of Care by the German Design Council showcases the most innovative work by design graduates from German universities. Despite their diversity, the projects are united by a collective consciousness and a determination to bring about change in response to urgent questions and ongoing crises. They all understand design as a collective practice and an act of care.

PLATFORM ONLINE
Over 370 inspiring design theses from 25 universities across Germany are now available to explore on our platform. Since German Design Graduates was launched in 2018, our online archive has grown to include over 1,500 projects.

Extended categories and new opportunities
In order to do justice to the growing interdisciplinary design practice, we are expanding our content focus: In addition to product and industrial design, work from the fields of textile and fashion design, communication and digital design can also be submitted from 2025. In addition, all submitting graduates are automatically qualified to participate in the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer. The four finalists of the German Design Award – Newcomer will each receive €2,500 in prize money, while the winner will be awarded €15,000.
ProgrammE
German Design Graduates, funded by the German Design Council Foundation, is the only nationwide initiative with the purpose of promoting young graduates in product and industrial design, textile and fashion design, communication and digital design as well as the presentation of renowned German universities, art colleges and universities of applied sciences.
About German Design GRaduates
Timeline
March 3 – April 3
Registration
Schools
APRIL 14 – MAY 12
Call for Entries
German Design Graduates
JUNE 10 – AUGUST 15
Submissions
German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer
AUGUST
Publication
Graduates Platform
September 04
– OCtober 12
Museum Exhibition
Museum für Angewandte Kunst
Köln
OCTOBER 18 – 26
Festival Exhibition
Dutch Design Week
Eindhoven
NOVEMBER – December
Trainings
Workshops on professionalization
February 2026
German Design Award – Newcomer
Award Ceremony
Design studieren!
The most renowned universities for design in Germany
GDG SOCIAL
Follow us on Instagram and stay up to date!