Weimar, Germany

Things, Things, Things

blended course
when 15 August 2022 - 3 September 2022
language English
duration 3 weeks
credits 3 EC
fee EUR 700

+++ Due to the current pandemic, please bear in mind that the provided information may change depending on COVID regulations . For more information don't heistate to contact us+++

Our world is full of things: they are used, consumed, and thrown away, they are collected, arranged, presented and photographed. It’s safe to say: They influence our lives in many ways. Things are woven into social and cultural practices, they create relationships and play an important role in shaping our daily activities. More and more often things do not appear as passive objects but as actors: they change everyday processes, behaviour, habits and entire environments.

How powerful are everyday things? How do they affect our lives? And how can we be owned by material things? To answer these and more exciting questions, we will take a closer look at the things that surround us. You will get to know different, innovative methods to discover new aspects of familiar things – with the aim of developing an original and creative view on everyday things.

Especially for the design process it is important to know as many facets and effects of everyday things as possible. Accordingly, we will examine real things and their design, analyse their relevance and take a closer look at how they work. In doing so, we will also question the supposed passivity of objects and explore the role of design. You will discover exciting, unforeseen perspectives – which will help us to (re-)design things and develop original products.

During the workshop, we will read and write texts, explore objects of our everyday life in practical terms, discuss and try out different research and design methods. At the end of the course, you will have developed a flexible "design toolkit" that you can use at any time if you want to innovatively expand a design process or change and improve the design of everyday objects.

In addition to the class programme, we have prepared a varied social programme for you: Meet participants from all over the world during our gaming night, the international food evening, at a joint free visit to the cinema, on a trip to Berlin or Leipzig or when diving into the vast cultural options that Weimar has to offer.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Course leader

Vanessa Farfán

Target group

This course is open to undergraduate students in the fields of design, art, and cultural studies, as well as anyone else interested in gaining an initial insight into the subject.

Course aim

The participants get an overview of the topic material culture. They get to know methods of analysis and design and test them in practical exercises.

Fee info

EUR 700: 2 weeks (90 hrs)

The course fee is 700 EUR.

The course fee includes:

• Orientation & Support
• Programme according to description
• Teaching materials
• Bauhaus Summer School ID card
• Free use of buses in Weimar and local trains in Thuringia
• Certificate
• Internet access at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Free use of library
• Accompanying programme (except excursions)
• Free entrance to museums belonging to Klassik Stiftung Weimar
EUR 500: 2 weeks (90 hrs)

The course fee for students & alumni is 500 EUR.
The course fee for BUW students is 300 EUR.

The course fee includes:

• Orientation & Support
• Programme according to description
• Teaching materials
• Bauhaus Summer School ID card
• Free use of buses in Weimar and local trains in Thuringia
• Certificate
• Internet access at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Free use of library
• Accompanying programme (except excursions)
• Free entrance to museums belonging to Klassik Stiftung Weimar