Programme

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

GDG Museumsausstellung 2025: Dare to Design

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.

The Magic Touch: Designing Togetherness GDG @ DDW 2024

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, the Institute for Design Research and Appliance and the German Design Museum Foundation.

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

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