Open Call: Tools of Democracy. Designer in Residence 2027

Open Call: Tools for Democracy
Designer in Residence 2027

Designer/Artist-in-Residence Program 2027
sponsored by the HfG Archiv / Museum Ulm and the HfG Ulm Foundation

Call for Applications 2027
The Designer-in-Residence 2027 fellowship is offered by the HfG Ulm Foundation and the HfG Archiv / Museum Ulm under the theme “Tools for Democracy.” In 2027, the HfG Archiv will open an exhibition project titled “Otl Aicher: Shaping Democracy—Design Shapes the Future,” which is dedicated to the work of Otl Aicher and its political impact.

We welcome submissions from all design disciplines, particularly those taught at the HfG Ulm School of Design (Product Design, Visual Communication, Information, Architecture, Film), as well as from related fields. The outcome of the residency should be conceived in such a way that it fits seamlessly into the two-year exhibition project.

In terms of content, the fellow may address topics such as democracy, civic engagement, elections, manipulation and information, fake news, or Otl Aicher’s commitment to democracy and his political thought directly.

The HfG Archiv / Museum Ulm is announcing a scholarship for the year 2027—the fifth such opportunity as part of its “Designer or Artist in Residence” program. Through this series, the HfG Archiv aims to combine its dual role as a museum and archive within the premises of the former educational institution with contemporary design research and outreach.

Submit your application materials as a PDF (max. 15 MB) by October 15, 2026, exclusively via email to m.maentele@ulm.de

All information regarding the fellowship and the application process can be found in the call for applications (Download PDF): 2027_en_Ausschreibung HfG-Archiv Designer in Residence_final_260731