German Design GRaduates
German Design Graduates documents and showcases final-year projects from design degree programmes across Germany and connects universities with partners from the professional world and the public sector. In 2025, 25 universities took part in the initiative, including, amongst others:
Technische Universität Dresden
Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg
Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe
Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart
Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal
Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Ravensburg
Kunsthochschule Kassel
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden
Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Hochschule Hannover
Hochschule Düsseldorf
Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach
Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar
Fachhochschule Potsdam
Folkwang Universität der Künste Essen
Hochschule Anhalt
Hochschule Pforzheim
Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd
Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle
Hochschule Darmstadt
Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
Hochschule Trier
Universität der Künste Berlin
Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin
Platform for dialogue and cooperation
A selection of the projects is exhibited annually at a renowned German museum. The format is aimed at a specialist audience from the fields of design, culture and business, and allows visitors to experience recent final-year projects in person. In addition, exhibitions are organised for other occasions and in collaboration with companies and institutions, each of which sets different thematic priorities each year.
As part of the annual exhibition, German Design Graduates organises workshops and networking events. These promote professional exchange between universities on course content, teaching approaches and findings from design research. At the same time, they foster contacts with companies, institutions and graduates, offering concrete opportunities for collaboration and long-term networking.
ProgrammE
The German Design Graduates programme brings together digital infrastructure, public presentation and engagement with the design profession within a single framework.
Graduates Platform
The central element is the Graduates Platform. It permanently archives all submitted final projects and links them to the profiles of the participating universities. This creates a continuously expanding overview of current trends in German design education, which is interdisciplinary in nature and enhances international visibility.
Exhibition
This digital foundation is complemented by the annual exhibition. Around 70 selected projects from some 30 universities are presented in a curated exhibition. The selection highlights both the creative quality and the thematic breadth of the work, placing the projects within a broader professional and social context.
Framework programme
An accompanying programme of workshops, panel discussions and networking events enhances the exhibition by facilitating direct dialogue. It brings graduates together with representatives from industry, research and the cultural sector, creating concrete opportunities for collaboration and career guidance. This year, the programme is taking place alongside the exhibition at the Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum in the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.
GERman Design Award – Newcomer of the Year
Another key element is the link to the German Design Award. The title ‘Newcomer of the Year’ is awarded from among the graduates. Graduates submit their portfolios, and the selection is made by an international jury.
Funding Partner
In recent years, German Design Graduates has been exhibited at venues including the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, the Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt, the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin and the MAKK in Cologne. The changing exhibition venues reflect the aim of showcasing design in a variety of institutional contexts.
FUNDING PARTNER 2026
Exhibition and programme
Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum
From 16 October to 29 November 2026, around 70 selected final-year projects from some 30 German universities will be on display. The exhibition will feature projects in product and industrial design, communication and digital design, as well as textile and fashion design. The selection offers an insight into the breadth of current design approaches and demonstrates how a new generation of designers is engaging with social and technological developments.
The exhibition is accompanied by a programme specifically designed to foster dialogue. The opening will take place on 15 October 2026. This will be followed by full-day workshops in which graduates will work directly with companies and institutions in small groups. The programme will be complemented by discussion forums and a round-table discussion for representatives of higher education institutions.
ProgrammE partner
A programme of workshops brings graduates together with companies and organisations active in the design sector. Working in small groups, they explore topics such as design implementation, circular design, branding and design research.
Guided tours for school pupils and prospective students will be held throughout the duration of the exhibition. They provide an insight into current final-year projects and offer guidance on various design degree programmes.
Programme partner 2026
Benefits for universities
Taking part in German Design Graduates enhances teaching, visibility and networking.
- Raising the profile of individual degree programmes through specific projects
- Centralised publication of all final dissertations on a publicly accessible platform
- Nationwide presentation enables comparison between degree programmes
- Use of the platform as a reference for prospective students and applicants
- Content for the institution’s own communications (website, social media, publications)
- Strengthening collaboration with other universities
- Direct exchange with companies, agencies and institutions through workshops and events
- Documentation of graduates as a high-quality portfolio for the university
- Access to current topics from design practice and research
Benefits FOR Graduates
German Design Graduates provides graduates with concrete pathways into the professional world. The initiative showcases final-year projects, situates them within a professional context and facilitates dialogue with companies, institutions and the design community. Its various formats help graduates to present their projects, make contacts and shape their transition into the profession.
- Publication of final projects on a central 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 the projects as references for job applications and collaborations
- Direct contact with potential employers
Benefits for companies
German Design Graduates offers companies and institutions the opportunity to meet selected young design talents and engage with them directly. As a partner, you gain visibility in the initiative’s presentations and across its channels. At the same time, you gain access to the next generation of designers and to current issues in design practice and research. The partnership is supported by communication activities, highlighting your commitment to supporting the next generation of designers.
- Publication of projects and workshop outcomes on a central platform
- Visibility within the academic community, among graduates and within the German Design Council’s international network
- Direct access to qualified emerging talent from various design disciplines
- Building a sustainable network of talent and partners
- Participation in workshops and joint initiatives with graduates
- Involvement in current topics from design practice and research
- Exchange with stakeholders from industry, culture and research
- Positioning within the context of promoting young talent and design discourse
- Utilising the partnership for communication and employer branding
- Presence at international exhibitions and partner events
