Interconnected

Making Noise: Suggestions for a Complex World
Graduates attitudes and attempts towards the transformation of the world

‘Making Noise’ presents 25 projects by recent graduates from various German Design schools. Rich in diversity of approach, they cover a range of designs from critical ideas to functional concepts, theoretical proposals to practical solutions. They all situate themselves within the current conditions of a world in transformation which they reflect upon, critique and respond to. While some projects seem to present a single solution, they all acknowledge the complexity and interrelatedness of the conditions they are surrounded with.

This exhibition understands the works on display as premises describing attitudes and attempts towards the transformation of the world. Some define the situation as a crisis demanding revision and change; others promote activism, rituals or community engagement; others redefine the relationship to the non-human world or reconsider material as matter not exploitable resource or engage in world-building. Importantly, these approaches are not opposites but overlap and complement each other. We understand these connections as valuable starting points allowing each project to expand.

To encourage ideas, discussions and hopefully even collaboration for these expansions, the exhibition makes the connections visible. An incomplete list of terms – our glossary for design conversations – provides possible contexts for understanding the impact and potential of the works on display. But the terms are not fixed to specific projects. We invite the designers and visitors to exchange, add or remove terms to a project which will allow new contexts to appear, possibly challenge its current form and motivate directions for development.

Different projects will have the same term indicating connections which might not always be obvious because of focus, ambition or approach. To test these connections, the designers have invited guests to discuss their work in the context of the 25 projects on display. You are invited to join them!

Curated by Amelie Klein and Jana Scholze

The projects were selected by the independant and international curators Jana scholze and Amelie Klein. Jana Scholze is design curator and Associate Professor at the Kingston School of Art in London heading the MA Curating Contemporary Design in partnership with the Design Museum. Amelie Klein works as an independent design curator, writer and critic. Most recently, she opened “Heimaten – An Exhibition and Survey” at Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G) and co-curated the first iteration of the Design Campus School at the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Dresden dedicated to design and democracy.

GDG Interconnected @ DDW