International Workshop Week of the Faculty of Design in Germany

This year's International Workshop Week took place in the picturesque town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, with a delegation of faculty members from the Institute's Design Faculty. 

In the heart of Baden-Württemberg, the charming town of Schwäbisch Gmünd hosted an extraordinary gathering of creative minds. The event unfolded at the prestigious HfG - Hochschule für Gestaltung, a design university that has long-standing collaboration ties with our Design Faculty.

Despite its small-town location, HfG stands tall as one of Germany's leading academic institutions for design. Each year, during the second semester, the university transforms into a melting pot of ideas and cultures with its International Workshop Week. This unique event brings together undergraduate students from all four of the Institute's design tracks: Product Design, Interaction Design, Communication Design, and Digital Product Design.

The Workshop Week has become a stage for global talent, regularly featuring lecturers from HIT. This year, two distinguished instructors from the Department of Industrial Design, Luka Or and Galina Arbely, joined an impressive roster of international educators from Spain, Italy, Brazil, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, France, and Finland. The diversity in interests approaches to design education and the cultural backgrounds of the lecturers, created a rich tapestry of learning experiences throughout the week.

Schwäbisch Gmünd's workshops are a testament to creativity and innovation, with themes set by guest lecturers. 

Luka Or led an intriguing workshop titled "Drawing Machines," challenging students to conceptualize and construct machines capable of creating art. Meanwhile, Galina Arbely’s workshop, "Mementos - Crafting Memories," delved into the poignant realm of designing remembrance and commemoration objects for departed loved ones.

The workshops spanned five intensive days - four days of hands-on activities culminating in a final day dedicated to showcasing the fruits of their labor in a compact exhibition.

The week included several enriching events for the lecturers. A highlight was an international seminar led by Michael Braungart, a renowned researcher, consultant, and lecturer in design and sustainability.

Beyond the structured activities, the Workshop Week served as a crucible for forging connections. Many of the relationships formed with lecturers from various international institutions are already blossoming into exciting ideas and academic collaborations between HIT and overseas institutions.

Internationalization stands as a cornerstone of HIT - Holon Institute of Technology. The Institute boasts collaborative agreements with approximately 140 academic institutions across 35 countries. These partnerships facilitate staff and student exchanges, joint submissions for competitive international research grants, and the organization of collaborative international conferences.

This annual event not only showcases the global nature of design education but also reinforces HIT's commitment to fostering a truly international academic environment, preparing students for an interconnected world of design and innovation.