Weimar, Germany

Design Tools for Play

Design Tools for Play: Playful Intervention – Embracing Homo Ludens

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" – Discover the importance of having the right tools for play like a good chess set or a good deck of cards and go on designing one!

Design can communicate the consequences of human intervention as well as make meaning out of human intent. The porous boundaries of the creative disciplines have already made a stew of interdisciplinary collaborative activity in our society.

What do we play and why?

Games are with us from the day we are born. We learn through games and play to understand the world and make sense of it. During this workshop, the individual students will learn to formulate their own design concept within the broader topic of homo ludens: playful intervention. The group of international students, both online and in Weimar, will design their own games. In the first few days, we will introduce you to the history of games and show you examples and varieties of popular and iconic games followed by a design thinking workshop to get the ideas flowing. We will understand the importance of having the right tools like a good chess set, a good deck of cards, or even a handmade soccer ball and/or better yet, a "One World Futbol"... Then you will have time to develop your game and build it. The students will learn methods for changing human behaviour and social interaction through playful intervention and game strategies.

Course leader

Prof. Matthew Burger

- Designer & Educator
- Working the department of Architecture at OTH University

Sven Brandelius

- Architect
- Broad work experience in the fields of Social Design and Architecture in Germany, the US and Br

Target group

This course is open for students and professionals. You should:

be able to draw
- have knowledge about materials and their processing
- sharpen your senses and approach the subject with an open mind
- question and surpass what is known
- be willing to work hard

Eventhough, the application deadline has passed, please contact us in order to inquire whether we have further openings for you!

Credits info

3 EC
After successful completion of the language course, you will receive a certificate of participation issued by the Bauhaus Summer School.

Participants earn 3 credit points (ECTS) after completion of the two-week course. In order to receive credit points, t is necessary to attend at least 80% of the course lessons and to fulfil the required tasks. It is possible to receive 2 extra credit points (ECTS) for the course if you book an additional module.

Prior to your participation, it is essential that you clarify whether your home university will recognise the foreign credits you intend to earn.

If you would like to receive a grade, you must discuss this with the teacher at the beginning of the course! The fulfilment of additional tasks may be necessary.

Fee info

EUR 890: 2 weeks (90 hrs)

The course fee is 890 EUR.
EUR 690: 690 EURO for students & alumni.
350 EURO for BUW students.

The course fee includes:

- Orientation & Support
- Programme according to description
- Teaching materials
- Bauhaus Summer School ID card
- Daily Lunch at the University Cafeteria (Monday - Friday)
- Certificate
- Internet access at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
- Free use of library
- Accompanying programme including excursions
- Free entrance to museums belonging to Klassik Stiftung Weimar

The course fee does NOT include:

- Travel costs
- Accommodation
- Insurance
- Additional module(s) (190 €)