FAQ
What is German Design Graduates (GDG)?
German Design Graduates, supported by the German Design Council Foundation, is the only nationwide initiative dedicated to promoting young talent among graduates in product and industrial design, textile and fashion design, and communication and digital design, as well as showcasing renowned German universities, art colleges and universities of applied sciences.
The German Design Council is the leading authority on design in Germany. Since 1953. As a thought leader, it bears a special responsibility to unlock the potential of design for a sustainable future. To this end, it brings business and design together – for circular design, transformation and economic success.
German Design Graduates is supported by the German Design Council Foundation, which has been the project sponsor since 2022 and is strategically developing the initiative further.
ProgrammE
What does the German Design Graduates programme involve?
- Graduates Platform: The Graduates Platform forms the digital foundation of the initiative. All submitted final projects are permanently documented here and linked to the profiles of the participating universities. This creates a growing repository of current work from German design education, showcasing the diversity of the disciplines on an international stage.
- Exhibition: The group exhibition “Dare to Design” will take place in 2026 at Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum in Munich. Around 70 works will be selected for the exhibition by experts.
Make It Make Sense - Accompanying events: The supporting programme for the museum exhibition at the Neue Sammlung in Munich promotes dialogue between universities, graduates, businesses and institutions. Workshops, panel discussions and networking events bring young designers together with key figures from industry, research and the cultural sector, creating opportunities for discussion, collaboration and career guidance.
Partner - German Design Award “Newcomer of the Year”: All German Design Graduates submitting in 2026 are automatically considered for the German Design Awards – Newcomer of the Year 2027. An international expert jury nominates five finalists. From this shortlist, one is selected and honoured as Newcomer of the Year 2027 at the official Awards Show, receiving both the title and the accompanying prize.
BENEFits
What are the benefits of submitting my final project to German Design Graduates?
- Publication of final projects on a dedicated platform
- Visibility among companies, the media and institutions
- Presentation of selected projects in exhibitions with an international reach
- Building a professional network
- Participation in workshops and events with industry partners
- Use of projects as references for job applications and collaborations
- Direct contact with potential employers and clients
Call for entries & submissions
Where can I find the Call for Entries?
Information about the German Design Graduates initiative can be downloaded here (PDF).
You can find an overview of the questions on the submission form here (PDF).
When can I submit a project?
The submission period runs from 15 May to 15 June 2026.
What kind of projects can be submitted?
The annual call for entries is open to graduates of participating state-recognised art colleges, universities and universities of applied sciences who have studied product or industrial design, textile and fashion design, or communication and digital design in the last two semesters (April 2025 – May 2026).
How do I submit a project?
In order to submit a project, your university must first register. The registration deadline for universities is 30 April 2026. You can check whether your university is participating one section further down.
The registration link will be distributed by the participating universities. Once your registration has been confirmed, you will be granted access to the submission portal, where projects can be submitted between 15 May and 15 June 2026.
Which universities are taking part?
Only graduates (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Diplom and PhD) from participating universities may submit their projects.
The following universities are already taking part:
- Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
- Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle
- Fachhochschule Potsdam – FHP
- Folkwang Universität der Künste
- HBKsaar
- HfG Karlsruhe
- Hochschule der Medien
- Hochschule Düsseldorf
- Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach
- Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd
- Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Berlin
- Hochschule Hof
- Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal
- Hochschule München, Fakultät für Design
- Hochschule Pforzheim
- Hochschule Trier – Campus Gestaltung
- Hochschule Wismar – Fakultät Gestaltung
- Kunsthochschule Kassel
- Münster School of Design (MSD) | FH Münster
- OTH Regensburg
- Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart
- Technische Universität Dresden
- TUM (Technische Universität München)
- Universität der Künste – Berlin
- weißensee kunsthochschule berlin
Are there any costs involved for me?
Can I also submit a collaborative project?
Yes. Collaborative projects with companies, institutions or other stakeholders may be submitted.
Can we submit group projects as well?
Yes. Group projects involving a maximum of six designers may be submitted. At least one person must have graduated with the project. It must be clear who graduated with this project. Only these graduates are eligible to participate in the funding programmes.
When will I find out if I have been selected for the exhibition at the Neue Sammlung?
The selection is expected to be finalised by the end of August. We will get back to all applicants.
How are the exhibits selected for the exhibition?
The assessment of the entries will be based on the text and image materials you submit.
The initial selection of entries will be made by a team of experts and will be based on the individual weighting of general and specific criteria. They are free to determine the weighting and interpretation of these criteria. The criteria serve as guidelines and are not legally binding.
Curators at the Pinakothek der Moderne will then select specific projects from among all the exhibits.
General criteria
- Innovation & Impact
- Design & Construction
- Presentation & Communication
Specific criteria
- Society & Culture
- Sustainability & Circular Economy
- Research & Knowledge Transfer
How can I register for a workshop?
All graduates who have submitted their projects can apply for the workshops. Applications will open in August. We will contact all applicants by email at the end of August.
How are places allocated for the workshop sessions?
Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Can I submit my portfolio specifically for the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer?
No, separate submissions are no longer possible. Only graduates participating in GDG 2026 are eligible to apply for the German Design Award 2027 – Newcomer.
Contact for enquiries
German Design Council
German Design Graduates Team
katrin.krupka(at)gdc.de