Kunst und Design

Prof. Dr. Annette Geiger

Theorie und Geschichte des Designs

Study programme Freie Kunst, Integriertes Design
Email a.geiger@hfk-bremen.de
Phone +49 421 9595-1226

Vita

Annette Geiger is Professor of Theory and History of Design. She studied art, cultural studies and communication in Berlin, Grenoble and Paris. She completed her doctorate on "Urbild und fotografischer Blick" at the Institute of Art History (IKG) of the University of Stuttgart. She then taught at universities in Paris, Berlin and Darmstadt. Today she researches the cultures of the aesthetic between art, design and everyday life (signs/things, images/media, spaces/places, bodies/clothes). The question of the scope of design, the ambivalent and diverse in design, is just as central as the interest in discourse and criticism.

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Current courses

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Creating Cultural Dialogues with Indonesia: Art and Design in Transcultural Contexts
In June 2026, we will welcome 10 artists and designers from Indonesia to HfK. They are teachers and researchers from the art school “Institut Seni Indonesia” (ISI) in Yogyakarta, the city is the cultural center of the island of Java. The exchange program is funded by the DAAD, we are expected to create a cultural dialogue through the joint teaching of art and design: How can we actually work with people from the other side of the world? What do their and our concepts of art and design have in common? How can different cultures even meet? The course will address these questions using different theoretical and practical approaches: Following two introductory meetings with me (including lectures on artdesign from Indonesia, April 22 29, 10-12 am), you will be in 3 meetings with our guests from “Studio Mess”, the designers Lucas Schmidt and Malte Sonnenschein, for a workshop on cultural mapping and perception of borders and diversities which you will put into practice in our neighboring “Überseestadt” (May 13/20/27, 10-12 am). Following these introductory sessions, the course will take place as a three-day block seminar (half-day sessions) from June 2 to 4, 2026: The artists and designers from Yogyakarta will provide you with diverse inspiration and prepare a workshop that combines arts and craftsmanship, theory, and practice from their country. Although it's an "AWi seminar," the goal is to create transcultural and experimental art and design works, which we plan to present in a small exhibition at our partner venue, Güterbahnhof (TOR 26, Saturday, June 13). The course is primarily a vibrant experiment in fostering encounters and collaboration in art and design. It is open to students from all study programs FK, ID, DM and semesters. The course language is English. --- In June 2026, we will welcome 10 artists and designers from Indonesia to HfK. They are teachers and researchers from the art school “Institut Seni Indonesia” (ISI) in Yogyakarta, the city is the cultural center of the island of Java. The exchange program is funded by the DAAD, we are expected to create a cultural dialogue through the joint teaching of art and design: How can we actually work with people from the other side of the world? What do their and our concepts of art and design have in common? How can different cultures even meet? The course will address these questions using different theoretical and practical approaches: Following two introductory meetings with me (including lectures on artdesign from Indonesia, April 22 29, 10-12 am), you will be in 3 meetings with our guests from “Studio Mess”, the designers Lucas Schmidt and Malte Sonnenschein, for a workshop on cultural mapping and perception of borders and diversities which you will put into practice in our neighboring “Überseestadt” (May 13/20/27, 10-12 am). Following these introductory sessions, the course will take place as a three-day block seminar (half-day sessions) from June 2 to 4, 2026: The artists and designers from Yogyakarta will provide you with diverse inspiration and prepare a workshop that combines arts and craftsmanship, theory, and practice from their country. Although it's an "AWi seminar," the goal is to create transcultural and experimental art and design works, which we plan to present in a small exhibition at our partner venue, Güterbahnhof (TOR 26, Saturday, June 13). The course is primarily a vibrant experiment in fostering encounters and collaboration in art and design. It is open to students from all study programs FK, ID, DM and semesters. The course language is English.
Vertiefungs Workshop Theorie BA.VWT/ BA.BG1/ MA.SP1 (PO 2015 + 2023)
Ganz gleich welche Schwerpunkte ihr habt (Grafik, Typografie, Illustration, Mode, Produkt, Foto, Film, Raum, Performance oder gänzlich „integriert“) – ihr könnt diesen Kurs besuchen, um die Texte, Dokus und Reflexionen (mündlich wie schriftlich) zu eurer BA- und MA-Abschlussarbeit vorzubereiten und zu vertiefen. Die Kursinhalte richten sich nach euren Fragen, Wünschen und Bedürfnissen. Es geht z.B. um: Was ist mein Thema? Wir starten mit einer Beratung zur genauen Eingrenzung und Formulierung des BA/MA-Themas (Titel und Text für die Anmeldung). Was ist ein Text? Wir erörtern nochmals die wichtigsten Techniken des Recherchierens und Schreibens – mit Schwerpunkt auf dem essayistischen Arbeiten. Was ist mein Text? In der zweiten Hälfte des Semesters gehen wir verstärkt auf die individuellen Themen ein (z. B. auch in Einzelgesprächen). Erste Textproben können vorgelesen werden und/oder wir diskutieren die Rhetorik und Strategie eurer Präsentation. --- Regardless of your area of ??focus (graphic design, typography, illustration, fashion, product design, photography, film, spatial design, performance art, or a completely integrated approach), you can attend this course to prepare and deepen your understanding of the texts, documentation, and reflections (both oral and written) for your BA and MA theses. The course content is tailored to your questions, wishes, and needs. For example, we will cover: What is my topic? We will begin with a consultation to precisely define and formulate your BA/MA topic (title and text for exam registration). What is a text? We will revisit the most important research and writing techniques, with a focus on essay writing. What is my text? In the second half of the semester, we will delve deeper into individual topics (e.g., also in one-on-one consultations). First text samples can be read and discussed durgin the class, and/or we can discuss the rhetoric and strategy of your presentation.