MAKE IT MAKE SENSE
Mia Pahl (MA 2025) with her projekt ‚ Homage an die Katzenwasche‘ and Caspar Fischer (BA 2025) with his projekt ‚ to Brick or not to Brick‘ are selected for the 2026 German Design Graduates exhibition ‘Make It Make Sense’ .
‘Make It Make Sense’ is a phrase that circulates in internet culture as a succinct response to contradictions and overwhelming situations. Often accompanied by exaggerated images or ironic formats, the expression marks the moment when something no longer adds up and demands clarification.
Applied to design, ‘Make It Make Sense’ describes how to deal with complexity and the question of how complex relationships can be made comprehensible. ‘German Design Graduates’ takes up this idea and showcases work that engages with such situations. Design is thus revealed as a potential method for structuring complexity and making it accessible.
From October 16 to November 29, 2026, approximately 70 selected graduation projects from about 30 German universities will be presented. The exhibition will feature projects in product and industrial design, communication and digital design, as well as textile and fashion design. The selection offers insight into the breadth of current design approaches and demonstrates how a new generation of designers is engaging with social and technological developments.
The exhibition is accompanied by a programme specifically designed to foster dialogue. The opening will take place on 15 October 2026. This will be followed by full-day workshops in which graduates will work directly with companies and institutions in small groups. The programme will be complemented by discussion forums and a round-table discussion for representatives of higher education institutions, see all selected projects
FUnding Partner
In recent years, German Design Graduates has been exhibited at venues including the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, the Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt, the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin and the MAKK in Cologne. The changing exhibition venues reflect the aim of showcasing design in a variety of institutional contexts.
Program partner
Guided tours for school pupils and prospective students will be held throughout the exhibition. These tours provide an insight into current final-year projects and offer guidance on the various design degree programmes.
A program of workshops brings graduates together with companies and organisations from the design sector. Working in small groups, they explore topics such as design implementation, circular design, branding and design research.
GDG x UDK
• Noah Müller who graduated in Magdeburg and starts his MA at IPP in 2026/27 is also selected with his work
• The German Design Graduates were initiated by Prof. Ineke Hans, who – when she arrived in Berlin – was amazed that german schools are not united and had no graduation shows.
• The 2026 exhibition is designed by Tobias Trubenbacher who graduated his BA in Product design very succesfull with hir project PAPILIO in 2021.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
‘Make It Make Sense’
Die Neue Sammlung / The Design Museum München, SEE
Barer Straße 40, 80333 München
16 Oct – 29 Nov Daily 10-18.00h, Thursdays 10.20.00h, Mondays closed
Opening
15 Oct. 2026, 19.00h Preview, free entransce but RSVP
14-16 Oct. 2026
workshops and talks, SEE
a.o. 15.10.2026, 14–15:30 Uhr with Marie Kurstjens & Tobias Trübenbacher
