International Design Week 2025
May 9 – 16, 2025 / Graz / Austria
Institute of Design & Communication, FH JOANNEUM Graz
Including an invitation to the Grand Opening weekend of the festival
“Design Month Graz 2025” by Creative Industries Styria

We are thrilled to announce the 4th edition of the International Design Week at the Institute of Design & Communication, FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, as part of the Design Month Graz 2025 in our UNESCO City of Design Graz. Following the success of our previous themes – The Prepper, mutate or mute, and Design Science F®ictions – we now delve into the complex layers of unCOMMON underGROUND.


Call for
Workshop Proposals

We invite proposals for workshops for the 2025 International Design Week under the theme unCOMMON underGROUND. We are looking for innovative and thought-provoking sessions that explore and dissect the multiple layers of ”common ground,” ”underground,” and the ”uncommon.” Workshops should encourage students to critically engage with topics like design and politics, communication and media ethics, misinformation, cultural exchange, and the creative spaces in between.


Workshop Format and Requirements
  • Cross-Media Focus: Workshops should promote collaboration across design disciplines. Consider combinations like illustration x immersion, sound x spatial design, graphic x interactive experiences, or editorial x video storytelling…
  • Hands-on Methodologies: Emphasize active participation, prototyping, and tangible outcomes. We aim to foster an immersive learning environment where students can experiment and apply their skills.
  • Theme Integration: Your workshop should creatively interpret the unCOMMON underGROUND theme, whether exploring hidden narratives, ethical dilemmas, or the power of communication in creating or disrupting peace and understanding.
  • Inclusivity and Diversity: Workshops must cater to first-year bachelor’s students from Information Design and master’s students from programs in Exhibition, Communication, Sound, Media, and Interaction Design. In addition, workshops should be accessible to incoming students from our international partners` network. Consider adaptable approaches suitable for all levels of experience and backgrounds.
  • Workshop Duration: All workshops are 4-days, Monday – Thursday 10 am to 5 pm, final presentations take place on Friday.
  • Workshop Size: 9 – 14 students per workshop
  • Workshop Language: English.

If you are ready to challenge traditional perspectives and push the boundaries of design practice with your workshop, we welcome your proposal. Let’s dig deep and unearth the future of design together!

Submission and Conditions
Lecturers interested in applying are requested to submit a proposal for a 4-day workshop including the following until February 5, 2025, via Online Form: ->->->

Participants are expected to obtain an Erasmus+ mobility grant (STA) from their home institution to cover the travel, living and accommodation expenses related to their participation in the event. We ask participants to stay for the entire duration of the International Design Week (May 9 to 16, 2025).

We look forward to your unique and engaging workshop ideas!


About the institutions

Institute of Design & Communication (idk)
The Institute of Design & Communication, one of the largest institutes at the FH JOANNEUM, with around 300 students, contributes to the creative dynamics of the city of Graz. Competence in design, human-centered methods and research are important elements in our interdisciplinary education. Research at the institute encompasses contemporary design challenges in society in collaboration with industry and other academic institutions. The institute offers a bachelor’s program in Information Design and master’s programs in Exhibition Design and Communication, Media, Sound and Interaction Design. Our students learn to understand economic, social, cultural and technological backgrounds to effectively create design solutions for society as they shape tomorrow’s worlds.

Institute of Design & Communication
Retrospective International Design Week 2024
Publication International Design Week 2024

Creative Industries Styria (CIS)
Creative Industries Styria is one of the central institutions promoting design and culture regionally and internationally. As one of 49 UNESCO Cities of Design in the world, the city of Graz creates awareness for design, art and culture, making them visible and perceivable in our society. Every year in May, the Design Month Graz organized by CIS showcases design from local and international creatives. From May 9 to June 1, 2025, an extensive and diverse program including exhibitions, lectures and workshops will take place across the region.

Creative Industries Styria
Design Month 2025
Retrospective Design Month 2024


Preliminary Program

Fri, May 9
2 pm
International Welcome at the
Institute of Design and Communication

Evening
Opening of the festival “Design Month Graz 2025”

Sat, May 10
All day
Design Month Graz activities, walks, talk and exhibitions

Sun, May 11
11 am to 8 pm
Design Month Graz excursion to the countryside

Mon, May 12 – Thu, May 15
9 am
Lightning Lecture on different topics within the theme

10 am to 5 pm Workshop Days 1 – 4
(warm up & research, experiment, consolidate, finalize)

Fri, May 16
9 am to 1 pm
Final presentations

2 pm to 4 pm
Farewell lunch


Accommodation
We recommend Hotel Daniel, but of course guest are free to choose any accomodation they prefer. Hotel Daniel is located at the train station and near FH JOANNEUM (10 min walk). As FH JOANNEUM guest you will a receive a special rate. More information will be provided by acceptance.

Timeline
Proposal submission deadline: February 5, 2025 (23:59 CET)
Notification of acceptance: by February 28, 2025
International Design Week: May 9 – 16, 2025

Contact
For any questions, please contact
andrea.schlacher@fh-joanneum.at.

Andrea Schlacher
International Coordinator
Institute of Design and Communication (idk)
FH JOANNEUM Gesellschaft mbH
Alte Poststraße 152
8020 Graz / Austria