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)

Download the curriculum as a PDF:  Deutsch  English

People

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Pavel Naydenov

Artist, Sofia/Vienna

Studied Musical Pedagogy, Art Management; He worked as an artist in the fields of contemporary music, instalations; Art activities in research process; He therefore also pursues design which is focused on subcultures, urban phenomena.

naydenov.pavel@yahoo.com

Vera Naydenova

Social Designer, Tallinn

Seeks to define her practice at the intersection of social sciences and art, theory and action. Her projects relate back to her homeland and deal with the impacts of post-socialist transformation and urban shrinkage on community life. She is particularly interested in the promotion of proactive attitudes and resilient lifestyles and the exploration of urban-rural-natural phenomena.

Alumni
Shrinking Cities, Post-Socialist Transformation, Culture-led Urban Regeneration
naydenova.vera@gmail.com
www.veranaydenova.com

Shirin Omran

Student, Graphic designer, photographer, Vienna

Born and raised in Vienna, curious and confused all over the world. Important is dialogue, important is humor, important is emotion. Making things that are understandable for uncles and aunts who don’t understand things. The internet is a horrible place, the internet is brilliant. You know it’s good when it gives you goosebumps. Don’t forget to feel. Tell stories.

@shirinomran

Isin Önol

Curator, New York/ Vienna

Isin Önol (1977, Turkey) is an independent curator primarily working in Vienna since 2009. Before that, she leaded the Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art as its director and curator in Istanbul for three years. She is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Cultural Studies, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, and has been invited to work as a visiting scholar for a year at Columbia University, New York.

Visiting Curator / Summer Term 2017
Cultural Studies
isinonol@gmail.com
isinonol.com

Christian Orendt

,

Visiting Artist / Summer Term / 2022
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Péter Oroszlány

Designer, Budapest

He graduated in Social Design in 2016. Previously, he received his BA in Graphic Design from MOME Budapest, and completed a Masters programme of Urban Development at BME Budapest. He likes to direct or support from the backstage and to organise objects. His main interest is changing the perception or functions of different off–spaces in urban areas.

Alumni
2D, 3D, 4D
peteroroszlany@gmail.com
issuu.com/peteroroszlany/docs/peteroroszlany_projectportfolio
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