Programme
The most important task of German Design Graduates is to showcase the quality and diversity of these academic achievements and practice-oriented solutions. The graduates are introduced to an international audience through formats such as networking events, exhibitions, and the Graduates Platform. They are supported through training courses and the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer. This gives them a prestigious platform at the beginning of their careers.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals serve as a guiding framework for our programme development.

Museum Exhibition @ MAKK
4 September – 12 October 2025
The most exciting and best graduation projects are selected by a team of curators and presented as a group exhibition in a renowned German museum.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a discursive supporting programme. In talks, graduates and industry experts will discuss the future of design and prospects for young talent. In cooperation with the museum service of the MAKK, workshops will be organised with graduates as leaders.
Host 2025: MAKK, Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln
Benefits For selected Participating Graduates
- 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
Festival Exhibition @ Dutch Design Week
18-26 October 2025
On the topic of cooperation and collaboration, a curator will select the most exciting concepts from this year’s submissions for an exhibition at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. At our community event ‘Form Follows Friendship’ in cooperation with the Dutch Consulate General in Düsseldorf and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Berlin, exhibitors will discuss the sustainable role of design with designers from all over Europe and experts from culture and business.
Benefits For selected Participating Graduates
- 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
Trainings
All participants have the opportunity to apply for training courses to sharpen their personal profile. In one-day workshops with and in companies, they receive practical impulses from the professional world.
This year’s partner organisations include MAGAZIN, NDION and the Institute for Design Research and Appliance.
The programme is aimed at all graduates, regardless of industry or intended career field, whether as a designer, founder, consultant, researcher or management position.
Applications for the individual formats are made in the Call for Entries. Participants will be selected by the partner organisations. The training courses will take place in November – December 2025.
Tracks
- Personal Branding
- Public Relations
- Design Research
- Design Education
- Circular Design
- Implementation
Benefits
- Opportunities for professional and personal development
- Development of a professional network
- Subsidies for travel expenses
Requirements for applications
Personal Branding
Visibility in the design industry is not only achieved through good work, but also through clear positioning and targeted communication. The Personal Branding track supports graduates in sharpening their professional profile, highlighting their strengths and establishing themselves as experts in their field. Those who consciously position themselves and communicate their values, skills and visions convincingly can stand out from the crowd and make relevant contacts.
A convincing portfolio alone is not enough – potential clients, media and cooperation partners are also interested in the person behind the work. A strong personal brand creates trust, conveys expertise and increases your own visibility.
At the same time, not every platform makes sense – not every strategy is suitable for everyone. If you make a conscious decision about where and how to make your work visible, you will save time and energy and reach the desired contacts more quickly.
Applicants are asked to submit a short motivation (max. 250 words):
- What challenges do you currently see in your self-marketing?
- What goals would you like to achieve with the training?
- Do you already have initial ideas or specific questions for the training?
Public Relations
Visibility is no coincidence – it is the result of a clear communication strategy. The Public Relations track helps graduates to identify the most important channels for their own communication and use them in a targeted manner. Instead of being present on all platforms and wasting valuable time, the aim is to efficiently and strategically use the right media for your own career path.
Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, PDF portfolios – everything can be a part of self-marketing, but not everything has to be. If you make conscious decisions about where and how your work is visible, you will reach the right people more quickly and start your career with a well thought-out communication strategy.
Applicants are asked to submit a short motivation (max. 250 words):
- What challenges do you currently see with regard to your PR strategy?
- What goals/target groups do you want to reach with your communication?
- Do you already have initial ideas or specific questions for the training?
Circular Design
Sustainable design alone is not enough – products must not only have a circular design, but also be economically viable, innovative and compliant with guidelines. The Circular Design track offers a practical insight into the interface of circular economy, guidelines, innovation and market requirements. Experts from Indeed Innovation will explain how sustainable design can be successfully integrated into the economy.
A good concept does not automatically mean market success. Circular design is a balancing act between sustainability, feasibility and economic attractiveness. New EU eco-design guidelines present designers and companies with major challenges – and opportunities at the same time. Those who understand early on how circular approaches can be combined with current industry requirements can steer innovation in a targeted manner and market it successfully.
Applicants are asked to submit a short motivation (max. 250 words):
- What would you specifically like to improve in your design in the direction of circular design, what knowledge do you lack?
- Who/what do you want to reach with your product? Who could help with further development?
- Do you already have initial ideas or specific questions for the training?
Design Research
The Design Research track offers graduates a practical insight into applied design research from a corporate perspective as well as current doctoral projects. In addition to an overview of doctoral and career opportunities in design, the workshop opens up important networks – for example to “Design promoviert” (DGTF) and corporate partners who work with design researchers.
Design research is still in its infancy in Germany – even though it holds enormous innovation potential for companies. Young designers are often faced with the question: Is a doctorate worthwhile for me? How do I find a research topic and the right path into practice or academia? This workshop helps to find answers, plan strategic steps and make initial contacts.
Applicants are asked to submit a short motivation (max. 250 words):
- Would you like to do a doctorate? If yes, on which topic; what challenges do you currently see for this?
- Have you already completed your doctorate? If yes, what role does design research play in your career planning?
- Do you already have initial ideas or specific questions for the training?
Implementation
YOUR PRODUCT & YOU @MAGAZINE
From the sketch to series production
You have the product ideas – we have the stage and the right target group. MAGAZIN is looking for designs, furnishing and furniture concepts that meaningfully complement and expand the MAGAZIN product range and think into the future: Where is there a gap in the MAGAZIN product range?How is our everyday life changing, how do we want to live in the future and what new needs need to be addressed? Which manufacturing processes and materials are sustainable and how can we contribute to conscious consumption? In short: Which of your product ideas are suitable for MAGAZIN?
We offer selected designs and their designers the stage of a professionally designed exhibition – here you can showcase your ideas, use our network and make contacts – as well as a day in MAGAZIN product development with workshops on the path of a MAGAZIN product – from the initial idea to the store. With experts from the fields of product design, marketing, sales and public relations. And: If a design fits perfectly into our range, we will develop it further together with you, ideally until it is ready for series production, add it to our range and offer you a license agreement.
What do we need from you?
Your product concept or design as a presentation in PDF format (maximum 10 pages and 6 MB) and, if selected for the exhibition, a 1:1 prototype of your design. You submit the PDF with your entry to GDG.
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.
PARTNER 2025
- Ambiente Talents
- Handwerksmesse Talente
- Enter Junge Kulturregion Chemnitz & Fabmobil e.V.
Benefits
- Special presence on the website and social media channels of the German Design Council
- Special networking opportunities and cross-university, interdisciplinary discourse
- Recommendation for talent programmes of partner organisations
German Design Award – Newcomer
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, 2024 and 2023 are eligible to enter the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer. The process will start at the end of May 2025.
German Design Award – Newcomer
Benefits
- Prize money: ‘German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer’: 15,000 euros
- Prize money: ‘Finalists 2026’: 2,500 euros each
- International PR work
- Presence in the online gallery of the German Design Award
- Award show: Announcement of the ‘German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer’, stage and networking programme
Platform
All submitted projects are published on the Graduates Platform after editing, where they join projects from previous years to form a growing archive of young designers’ topics and positions.
Selected works will also be promoted via the German Design Council’s social media channels.
Archiv 2019 – 2024

DESIGN TALKS
Dare to Design: Talks 2024
GDG Talks 2023
GDG Talks 2022
GDG x THF Radio Talk
GDG x ndion Talk
UdK Design Talk x Amelie Klein
Design Reflection Talk x Sebastian Herkner
Design Talks 2019