May 12, 2026; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kunsthochschule Kassel, Atrium Seminarroom, Menzelstraße 13-15, Kassel
A collaboration between the University of Art and Design Linz, Kunsthochschule Kassel, and the German Society for Design Theory and Research e.V. (dgtf)
Workshop with short input talks, a walk, and collective writing
What role can design play in the sustainable transformation of society? Sustainability and transformation competences are central themes in design education, but many teaching formats remain stuck in established structures that tend to restrict rather than promote sustainable innovation. The concept of unlearning opens up a critical perspective: Which assumptions, methods, and practices in design education need to be questioned and overcome in order to enable sustainable design approaches?
“Unlearning Design” is an interdisciplinary workshop series that invites experts, practitioners, and students to discuss education and learning in times of multi-crisis. The aim is to leverage the potential of unlearning (for design, but also architecture and art) and make it accessible to interested parties. Among other things, there will be a talk by Elena Spatz (TU Berlin), co-initiator of the Chair of Unlearning (TUM), in which she will give us an insight into this student teaching intervention and report on how the framing of unlearning was also reflected upon theoretically. In addition, the joint exchange will provide insight into the status quo of teaching and learning about sustainability in creative and artistic fields.
If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please register at the following link by March 30, 2026
veranstaltungen.uni-kassel.de/en/event/unlearning-design