Design in Application – Applied Art in Schools
Development and exemplary implementation of a model teaching subject.
On behalf of and in collaboration with the Museum of Applied Arts in Frankfurt am Main, Knut Völzke developed a modular subject for grades 8-10 at general education schools. The project was funded by the "Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain" and was implemented as a model from 2014 to 2016. As part of the concept, the museum provided an extracurricular learning location and the framework for design-related teaching topics in the museum context, while regular classes took place at the Carl-von-Weinberg-Schule (2014/15) and the IGS-Nordend (2015/16) in Frankfurt am Main.
The teaching program began with low-threshold representation exercises to convey that anyone can draw with a little practice and knowledge, followed by basic shape, color and proportion exercises to help students perceive calm, restlessness and tension. The students then trained their spatial imagination and communication skills in individual and team exercises. They also developed constructive drawing and construction skills for planning and translating their designs into different scales. The elective subject, which each lasted one school year, covered the spectrum from acquiring basic design experience and forms of expression to developing and producing product prototypes.
Project management: Dipl.-Des. Knut Völzke
Client: Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt am Main
Year of creation: 2014-2016
The magazine "Form", issue no. 268, Nov/Dec 2016, reports in the article "Back to School. School Subject Design" about the projects developed by Knut Völzke for the Museum of Applied Arts in Frankfurt in the context of international developments.
Was bedeutet eigentlich angewandte Gestaltung? Welche Aufgaben müssen Gestalter*innen lösen, bis ein fertiges Produkt entsteht? Je ein Schuljahr lang wurde eine Gruppe Schüler*innen angeleitet, sich mit grundlegenden gestalterischen Fragen auseinander zu setzen. Für mehrere Themen fand der Unterricht auch im Rahmen von aktuellen Ausstellungen im Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt statt. So entstand etwa zur Ausstellung «Brian Eno. My Life in Light» eine von den Schüler*innen gestaltete «Soundflower», die in der Ausstellung präsentiert wurde. Im Rahmen der Schau «Alles neu! 100 Jahre Neue Typografie und Neue Grafik in Frankfurt am Main» zeichneten sie Monogramme. Aus der Ausstellung «ZeitRaum. Nach Here von Richard McGuire» gestalteten die Schüler*innen mittels Comic Software erzählerische Comicstrips.
