Designing for Berlin

Design from the Academy of Art Berlin-Weißensee

The exhibition “Designing for Berlin” explores a central aspect of design: the training of designers.

• 

  – Student der Kunsthochschule, zeichnend vor der Baustelle Alexanderplatz mit Haus des Lehrers und Kongresshalle, um 1965 (Foto: unbekannt)

• 

  Fotografie „Kino International“, Karl-Marx-Allee, Berlin, 2022 – Schriftzug: Klaus Wittkugel (1910– 85), 1961 Berlinale-Plakat: Claudia Schramke (*1985), 2022

• 

  Klinker-Formsteinsortiment „Profil 87“, VEB Steinzeugwerke Crinitz – Freiflächengestaltung mit Brunnenanlage, Wohngebiet Jan Petersen-Straße, Berlin-Marzahn, 1987 Gestaltung: Gertraude Pohl (*1940) ; Foto: Peter Garbe, 1987

It is presented in collaboration with the Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge and the weißensee academy of art berlin, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1946 in north-east Berlin, within the Soviet occupation zone, the academy reflects the city’s post-war history with all its ruptures and transformations.

The institution’s profile has been shaped by modernist designers such as Herbert Hirche, Mart Stam and Selman Selmanagić. Their pedagogical approaches, including a shared foundation course, a close connection to professional practice and interdisciplinary work, continue to define design education at Weißensee today.From the Berlinale poster to the lettering for Kino International, from the U-Bahn to the bicycle, from the World Clock at Alexanderplatz to climate-protective façades, firewalls or theatre posters: generations of students, teachers and graduates from Weißensee have had a profound influence on Berlin’s urban spaces, culture and mobility, in short: the everyday life in the city.“Designing for Berlin” brings together historical and contemporary works from the fields of product design and graphic design.

It touches on artistic foundations, design processes and professional practice, while also examining current student perspectives. What does it mean to study design today?The exhibition makes no claim to completeness. It neither encompasses the work of all individuals and disciplines over eight decades nor traces activities beyond Berlin. Given the absence of a systematic university archive, such a survey would in any case be impossible.Against the backdrop of pressing social and ecological challenges, “Designing for Berlin” highlights the innovative and formative power of design, culture and teaching, and their importance for a sustainable and liveable city.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Capital Cultural Fund and is a collaboration with the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin.

Runtime: Thu, 16/04/2026 to Mon, 22/02/2027

Takes place here:

• Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge