FAQ
What is German Design Graduates (GDG)?
With the German Design Graduates initiative, we want to make your ideas, products and concepts visible and actively network you with players from design, business and culture. Our aim is to make the diverse topics and positions of young graduates from the fields of product or industrial design, textile and fashion design as well as communication and digital design visible.
Your projects will be presented in exhibitions, at trade fairs, via our large partner network and a permanently visible online platform. We also support you with our training programmes and our network to launch your design career.
German Design Graduates is supported by the German Design Council Foundation, which has been the project sponsor of the initiative since 2022. The German Design Council Foundation has been operating as the world’s leading centre of excellence for communication and knowledge transfer in the fields of design, brand and innovation since 1953. With international programmes, support for young talent and memberships, it is part of the global design community and has always contributed to establishing exchange and networks worldwide. Through events, congresses, awards, jury meetings and expert circles, the German Design Council Foundation connects its members and numerous other international design and brand experts, promotes discourse and provides important impetus for the global economy. Its membership currently includes more than 350 companies.
Call for entries & submission
Where can I find the call for entries?
The Call for Entries can be downloaded here (PDF).
When can I submit a project?
The submission phase runs from 14 April to 12 May 2025.
Which projects can be submitted?
The annual call for entries is aimed at graduates of participating state-recognised art colleges, universities and universities of applied sciences studying product or industrial design, textile and fashion design as well as communication and digital design from the last two semesters (April 2024 to May 2025).
How is a project submitted?
In order for you to take part, your university must first register. The registration deadline for universities is 3 April 2025.
If your university has registered, you can submit your projects from 14 April to 12 May 2025 via our submission portal. Here you have the opportunity to select different funding formats.
A lot of information about your project will be requested for the submission. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the questions before submitting. You can find the questions in the call for entries. The Call for Entries can be downloaded here (PDF).
How is a project submitted?
Which universities can take part?
Only graduates (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Diploma and PhD) from registered universities can submit their projects. The following universities are taking part:
- The participating universities will be announced soon
Can I also submit a cooperation project?
Yes, cooperation projects with companies, institutions or other stakeholders may be submitted.
Can we also submit group work?
Yes, group work of max. 6 designers may be submitted. At least 1 person must have graduated with the project. It must be clear who has graduated with this work. Only these graduates can participate in the funding programmes.
Support Programme
Which funding formats are available?
- Project contribution on the GDG Platform
In addition to uploading your work to the GDG Platform, you can apply for the following formats (multiple selection is possible):
- Museum exhibition: The group exhibition ‘Dare to Design’ will take place in 2025 at the MAKK, Museum of Applied Arts Cologne (3 September – 12 October). Around 45 works will be selected for the exhibition by a team of curators.
- Festival exhibition at the Dutch Design Week: A curator selects 20 projects for an exhibition at the Dutch Design Week 2025, Eindhoven (18-26 October 2025).
- Training Programme: All participants can apply for training courses to sharpen their personal profiles. In one-day workshops with and in companies, they receive practical impulses from the professional world. They can professionalise their skills in the areas of personal branding, public relations, design research, circular design and implementation and subsequently expand their network.
- This year’s partner organisations include MAGAZIN, NDION and the Institute for Design Research and Appliance.
- Cooperations & Recommendations: German Design Graduates is in close contact with institutions such as the World Design Organisation, BEDA, as well as international festivals and trade fairs. German Design Graduates regularly makes recommendations for their young talent programmes. This year’s partners are the ‘Ambiente Talents’ and the exhibition ‘Talents – Masters of the Future’ at the International Crafts Fair in Munich.
- German Design Award 2026 – Newcome: Five finalists from this year’s German Design Graduates will be nominated for the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer, which will be presented at the German Design Awards at Ambiente. All graduates participating in German Design Graduates 2025 are eligible to enter the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer. The process will start at the end of May 2025.
Who selects participants for the support formats?
There are different selection processes for the different formats:
- GDG Platform: All works submitted by a registered university will be presented.
- Exhibition at the MAKK, Museum of Applied Arts Cologne: A team of curators selects the works.
- Festival exhibition at the Dutch Design Week: a curator selects works on a specific theme.
- Training Programme: Participants are selected by the partner companies.
- Cooperations: The cooperation partners select from the interested graduates.
- German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer: A high-calibre jury of experts will select five finalists from the submitted portfolios.
Can I submit my portfolio only for the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer?
No, a separate submission is no longer possible. Only graduates participating in GDG 2025 can apply for the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer.
Exhibitions
What benefits do I have by taking part in the museum exhibition?
- Reputation building through exhibitions in internationally renowned museums and at design festivals
- Recognition through selection by highly respected curators
- Exhibition space in curated, designed group exhibitions
- Opportunity to participate in events such as openings, panel discussions, and partner events to expand your personal network
- Accompanying communication measures on a national/international level
- Subsidies for travel expenses
- Press releases and PR activities
When will I find out if I have been selected for the exhibition at the MAKK, Museum of Applied Arts Cologne?
The selection is expected to be announced in June 2025.
What are the curators’ selection criteria?
The basis for the evaluation of your work is the text and image material and information submitted with the application form.
The selection of the curation team is based on individual weighting of general and specific criteria. You are free in the weighting and interpretation of these criteria. The criteria serve as a guide and are not legally binding.
General Criteria
- Innovation & Impact
- Design & Construction
- Presentation & Communication
Specific Criteria
- Society & Culture
- Sustainability & circular economy
- Research & Transfer
What are the benefits of participating in the Dutch Design Week?
- Reputation building through exhibitions in internationally renowned museums and at design festivals
- Recognition through selection by highly respected curators
- Exhibition space in curated, designed group exhibitions
- Opportunity to participate in events such as openings, panel discussions, and partner events to expand your personal network
- Accompanying communication measures on a national/international level
- Subsidies for travel expenses
- Press releases and PR activities
When will I find out if I have been selected for the festival exhibition at the Dutch Design Week?
The selection will probably be announced in August.
How are you selected for the festival exhibition at the Dutch Design Week?
A curator selects works on the topic of cooperation and collaboration for a themed exhibition. The submitted text and image materials also form the basis for this selection.
CONTACT
Rat für Formgebung / German Design Council
Team German Design Graduates
katrin.krupka(at)gdc.de