Cities are our natural world, created by us and yet, in their constantly shifting complexity, almost beyond our grasp. Urbanization processes do not end at the city boundaries. Almost infinite networks, alienated communication, hasty consumption and conflicts of social marginalization or economic injustice determine our urban survival. Cities form contested spaces, whose present refers back to the past, whose power structures can be identified and also changed. It is important to predict the need for change well in advance but also to be able to react to acute crises great and small with fresh solutions.
Innovations are driven on a bottom-up basis. Not infrequently they arise at the margins of society, where established structures encounter influences from without, traditional responses no longer work, or safeguards apply to some but not to others.
The projects developed in the studio situation of our Social Design program show that societal innovation–meaning extraordinary results and unexpected approaches–becomes possible where different forms of knowledge and methods interact, where artistic acumen combines with creativity from the so-called hard sciences, where design, theory, architecture and the fine arts not only pool their strategies but also enter into confrontations and alliances that can be both risky and productive.
Innovative methods construct new meanings, strengthen responsibility and thus create the preconditions for identification with one’s own actions. Students who choose the Master’s in Social Design – Arts as Urban Innovation signal their determination to play a critical and active part in influencing society and a refusal to discount the future!
Curriculum
The master programme Social Design Arts as Urban Innovation at the University of Applied Arts Vienna is oriented towards graduates from diverse fields of study, thereby stipulating work in transdisciplinary teams as the central teaching and learning approach in the programme. On the basis of professional competences acquired in their respective previous studies, students become acquainted with transcending disciplinary codes and thinking and working in greater interrelationships. Art in synergy with project-related scientific methods and knowledge is seen as a tool for urban innovation.
Duration and Scope:
4 semesters / 120 ECTS
Graduation: "Master of Arts" (MA)
People
Sally Kotter
Industrial Designer, Munich
Sally studied Industrial Design at the University of applied sciences in Munich. In Social Design she focused on the city as an accumulation of different spaces for various needs, the interrelation of the identity of the city and city dwellers, and habits used to aquire individual and collective space. Currently she ist working at an NPO engaging in education for sustainable development in Munich to develop projects to motivate fellow citizens by offering joyful, interactive options for action.
- Title / Function
- Alumni
- Sallykotter@gmx.de
- Links
- https://rehab-republic.de/
Sebastian Kraner
Film Maker, Vienna
Every „social“ work coming out of the arts has a totally different context and field of influence than, for example, the work of NGOs. There is the need for both. Social Design means using existing structures but also implementing new ones. It is connecting and allowing different ways of thinking and practice to develop new methods - which hopefully allow us to overcome the immanent powerlessness in current and future developments of a quite twisted world.
- Title / Function
- Alumni
- Field of Expertise
- Fine Arts
- ich@sebastiankraner.at
- Links
- www.sebastiankraner.at
Hana Krizanova
Professional Dreamer, Vienna
Interested in exploring city as if it would be a living organism. Connecting knowledge of public space design (based on landscape architectural studies), fascination by natural science and magic (studying with eyes wide shut) is trying to grasp bigger processes in urban realm that we are part of everyday.
- Title / Function
- Alumni
- Field of Expertise
- Design of public space, Stories
- krizanova.hana@gmail.com
- Links
- krizanovahana.wix.com/portfolio
Project
Right to the city
Poojitha Lal
, Bangalore
Eager to learn and looking forward to opportunities. Currently studying Business, system and service design at Srishti- College for art design and technology, Bangalore. I am at di’Angewandte for an exchange program and will be pursuing Social design.
Dieter Lang
Industrial Designer, Vienna
2006 bis 2010 Bachelorstudium Industrial Design an der Universität für künstlerische und industrielle Gestaltung Linz. 2012 bis 2015 Masterstudium Social Design an der Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien.
- Title / Function
- Alumni
- Field of Expertise
- Escalator Sciences
- dieter.lang@gmx.at
Aki Lee
Designer, Vienna
Based in Shenzhen and moved in Vienna recently. specially focused on the industrial heritage/architectural renewal projects in the PRD regions, and working on the documentary films regards on it. Also interested in city-observations and wandering. And how to re-define the terms we used for city lifes.
- Title / Function
- Student
- Field of Expertise
- Documentary films, Design
- aki.lee.linaqi@gmail.com
- Links
- www.aki.format.com
- vimeo.com/akiaki7