Shaping the future: SCAD students in the Red Dot Design Award
FH JOANNEUM, based in Graz, has been one of the most influential design schools in the German-speaking world for many years. The students at the University of Applied Sciences regularly impress with projects that are not only creatively compelling but also focus on socially relevant topics.
Outstanding work in the competition
Students at FH JOHANNEUM have been submitting their final projects to the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design for many years. What makes the submissions from Graz so special is their complexity. In the Print & Publishing Media category in particular, FH JOANNEUM students impress with work that combines design precision with relevant content. Their print publications are characterised by conceptual clarity, typographic sensitivity and a wide range of social topics. A recurring feature is their strong connection to current discourses, whether on identity, gender issues, digitalisation or consumer behaviour.
Analogue techniques in the digital age
Austrian designer Mila Weger dedicated her book project Think Responsibly to her love of letterpress printing. Her minimalist style and expertise in typography and photography characterise her work. Weger emphasises that practical, analogue techniques are often neglected in design education. She explains: “Otl Aicher once put it beautifully: theory is better understood through practical implementation. Too often, the design process is taught exclusively digitally, which means that three of the five senses are not involved”. For her, materiality and haptics are crucial: “I see haptics and materiality like light and shadow in photography – it's what gives the image dimension”. Her bachelor's thesis, “Think Responsibly”, was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best in 2023.
» To the interview with Mila Weger
Body and identity in urban space
Another exciting project is Lieblingsmakel (Favourite Blemish) by Katharina Diem, which is based on a social media survey asking, “What flaw do you love about yourself?” The aim of the work is to initiate a change of perspective – away from self-criticism and towards self-acceptance and appreciation. The collected responses were not only shared online but also displayed on the iconic BIX media façade of the Kunsthaus Graz: combined with minimalist body images, the participants' statements ran across the curved architecture and were thus made publicly visible. An invitation to take a fresh look at one's own “flaws” – not as weaknesses, but as expressions of individuality. The project was awarded a Red Dot in 2019.
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Design that makes things visible
The bachelor's thesis Designing Women Nina Botthof examines the interplay between design and society, with a focus on the representation of women. The central question is whether and how design can contribute to the emancipation of women. The complexity of the topic is also reflected in the form: the book is designed as a reversible book that can be read from both sides. While one side begins with the chapter “Understanding gender”, the other starts with “Designing Women”. In the middle, “Historical context” and “Women Design” meet. The design concept deliberately works with the contrast between black and white – a clear formal decision that underlines the close link between content and design. The work was awarded a Red Dot in 2019 for this convincing implementation.
Animation as a cultural perspective
Graduates at FH JOANNEUM also impressed in the “Animation” category: Christian Leban's master's thesis Views of China, a hand-drawn animation, provides an artistic insight into his experiences of life in a Chinese city. Eleven hand-drawn, animated loops bring the diversity and complexity of China to life. The videos, which are designed without a beginning or end, allow viewers to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, architecture, religion and the relationship with nature. Viewers are taken on an emotional journey that is both fascinating and reveals points of conflict. The work was awarded a Red Dot in 2019.
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Design as a language for social issues
With its unique signature style, FH JOANNEUM has been shaping the Red Dot competition for many years and is an inspiring example of the potential of design-based education at an international level. The final projects of FH JOANNEUM students impress not only with their creativity and innovation, but also with their ability to reflect on social and cultural issues in a unique way. Projects such as “Think Responsibly”, “Favourite Blemish”, “Designing Women” and “Views of China” not only take a critical look at social issues but also offer new perspectives and food for thought. They reflect an understanding of design that takes responsibility, promotes diversity and sees design as part of social change.
