Diversity and Recognisability
Anna Moldenhauer: What is your impression after the first few weeks at the Hochschule für Gestaltung?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: I was warmly welcomed and already have a good impression of the overall situation. I'm impressed by what and how many programmes are offered at the HfG and the depth to which the topics are approached. At the diploma presentations in the Design department, for example, it was great to see the high level at which the graduates deal with current social issues. Marc Ries, former Professor of Media Theory, and Kai Vöckler, Professor of Urban Design, recently published the book ‘Vision und Verantwortung – Zur Gründung der HfG Offenbach 1970’. Walther König was holding it in his hands at the book fair when I stopped by. I was very pleased that it was immediately well received. What I would like to say: There is a positive, lively atmosphere at the Hochschule für Gestaltung and it is a great pleasure to be here.
What is the spirit of the HfG that you would like to highlight more in the near future?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: The spirit of the university is very much characterised by openness to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking. I deliberately use both terms, as interdisciplinarity refers more to the co-operation between the specialist disciplines, whereas transdisciplinarity also raises the question of effectiveness in society. Thinking about the duality of art and design together is a characteristic trait and a strength for us, both internally and externally. We scrutinise their relationship to society. For me, this very exciting mixture also gives rise to thematic areas. For example, the HfG Offenbach is continuing the operation of the Höchster Porzellanmanufaktur with a new concept and utilising the craftsmanship and artistic expertise for interdisciplinary research and teaching. At the same time, the focus is on the materials and media of the future, for example. And then we have the plans for the new building, which I was already working on before I took up the position at the HfG. The new building is a fantastic opportunity, now it's all about detailing and specification. The HfG team has done its homework and is an equal sparring partner for the architects. Together with the Executive Board, I can build on this excellent cooperation.
The new construction by Xaveer de Geyter Architects and Topotek 1 is intended to create a university building that promotes the interdisciplinarity of the departments, including joint workshops. What is the opportunity when art and design come together?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: Interaction is in our DNA. After 1945, the HfG saw itself as an art school, modelled on the Bauhaus and the Ulm School of Design. From the 1970s onwards, it was transformed into an art academy with university status as a School of Design. The orientation towards the Bauhaus and Ulm was followed with regard to the issues and this orientation was developed further, e.g. with reference to socio-ecological issues or, today, green fashion or ‘critical’ painting, if I may call it that. Thinking about art and design collectively and as socially effective therefore has a long tradition in Germany and specifically in our country. And we are now looking to the future with this tradition, offering students a great deal of openness in teaching alongside the curricula, as well as opportunities to orientate themselves according to their interests. However, the fact that we don't work with a class system also brings with it complexity, as it means that students take responsibility for compiling their own individual study programmes. We see that this system of teaching works during the impressive tours at the end of each summer semester.
It will be exciting to see how the HfG's open ‘engine room’ will develop as a result of the new building and how it can also be a centre of attraction for outsiders as the HafenCampus.
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: That's a good keyword, because that's exactly what the building plans include. The teaching areas and workshops are able to work together in an interlinked space so that any duplicate structures become a thing of the past. The architecture alone will create a network that pools energy and capacity. Each teaching area will have sufficient space available in the new building. In addition, a separate theatre and experimental studio is planned, as well as a canteen, exhibition rooms and living space for students. The layout will be determined by function rather than purely by department. Large corridors are planned, which can also be used as exhibition areas, and of course the fantastic outdoor area. Thanks to the green roofs, the rainwater collected there can be used to manage the park. Photovoltaics supply the building with energy. The green space will also be available to the public. I am very confident that the ideas can be realised as planned. At the moment, it's all about the details, e.g. the façade design and the quality of the materials for the interior work.
Offenbach is experiencing gentrification as a result of the building crisis and rising rents, and there are fewer and fewer affordable creative spaces. How could the HfG meet this challenge? Is it possible for the HfG to continue using the old building after the move?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: This is currently being discussed intensively. The city would also like the location in Offenbach-Mitte to be used in the university context in the future. It is also simply our traditional location, so we would like to find a way to help shape these spaces in the future. We'll see whether this takes the form of an incubator for start-ups or something else. We are fortunate to have the support of the state of Hesse and the city. This momentum is now focussing our attention fully on the new building.
You yourself have taught and studied at various universities, both in Germany and Austria. Which approach to teaching has influenced you the most?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: That's a very good question. What influenced me a lot was critical art history in Marburg. This approach has connected me with interesting thinkers such as Martin Warnke, Heinrich Klotz and Wolfgang Kemp. Always questioning and analysing art in terms of its social function and along its contexts and concepts had a strong influence on me. I then studied in Vienna with the feminist art historian Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat and with Konrad Oberhuber, who was director of the Albertina at the time. Thanks to him, we were able to study fantastic originals by Dürer or Masaccio in the Albertina's presentation rooms, for example. That was a very important experience and I learnt an incredible amount there. There were also encounters outside of my studies and teaching, such as with Jean Christophe Amman and Kasper König. With the former, I was able to take my first professional steps at the MMK as a student and graduate. I have been in close contact with Kasper König since the mid-1990s. Shortly before his death, he learnt that I was to become President of the HfG and advised and encouraged me. Both were very important ‘teachers’ for me in dealing with art and the public.
What is important to you when communicating art, architecture and design?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: What has always particularly interested me about architecture and design is their quasi-given public impact. We are surrounded by them, you don't have to visit a museum to see them - which often limits the impact of visual art if it doesn't take place in a public space per se. Each of us is influenced by architecture and design, consciously or unconsciously. This ‘accessibility’ has motivated me to move between disciplines and to engage with theory and practice. University buildings are also a form of communication, a medium of expression. Its atmospheres influence what is created in and from it. But we also influence the perception of art and design in urban society outside the walls of the HfG, for example through the experimental spatial concepts and projects of Heiner Blum, who teaches at the HfG; or through influential signage in public spaces or typography developed here, or exhibitions of painting and performance. This results in a logical harmony. With a view to the Netherlands, Switzerland or the Nordic countries, which are exemplary in this respect, it would be important for us as a society to think more about the productive power of the influence of aesthetics, art and design. This should already be addressed in schools and then lead to an even greater appreciation of these specialisms when deciding on a course of study.
The so-called ‘creative industries’ are the second strongest economic sector in Germany. The interaction that arises here with what happens at the university has incredible potential - also in terms of external perception. The creative minds that will later shape the creative industries are trained here. Learning to see’ is a key aspect of this - building up the experience to be able to judge design processes. This transfer of expertise takes place at universities such as the HfG, which is why these places are so important to society. The training of experience in these areas must begin in art lessons at schools. Because if an appreciation for design as a profession is conveyed there, an imprint is made that encourages people to work in this sector. The great importance of art, design and architecture for our society can be easily recognised in this interaction. They are more than just the cherry on top of the cream cake and, above all, they are not decoration.
You have worked in many different leadership positions in science, art and teaching. What is important when managing institutions in these disciplines?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: Basically, a high level of communication and substance. You have to engage in a lot of personal dialogue and deal with ideas, structures and procedures. This is a trait of successful leadership that is essential in every area. Establishing serious contact with colleagues, employees and students is the be-all and end-all. It is also about style. Especially in a place like a university, this should be developed collectively. What is our way of working and communicating? How and what do we communicate, in terms of content and in what form? Nevertheless, it is essential that leaders have knowledge and an idea of what the path should look like and have goals in mind. This always includes the external impact. How do the content, the spaces, the structures and the design details contribute to the overall effect? An authentic reference to each other signals good cooperation. These elements are crucial when it comes to creating atmospheres in which people like to arrive, feel welcome and want to get involved and develop.
What do you see as a challenge for the HfG that you would like to solve or change?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: At the moment, I'm still in the phase of getting to know the system and generally far from wanting to turn the tide. That's not my understanding. You can only be successful together. I would also prioritise communicating and discussing a new strategy internally before taking the step outwards. But basically speaking, art academies are facing new questions. The highly significant question of sustainability includes how we deal with materials in the broadest sense. How do we position ourselves in relation to artificial intelligence and its criticism? What structure do we need to be fit for the future as a modern university? What does this mean for our new building? This strong impulse that I perceive to connect even more internally without creating a uniform mishmash and then to become socially effective is an important approach. It must still be possible for individuals to realise flagship projects that are supported by the entire university. It's about balance. Diversity and recognisability. This is a process of discourse.
In these times of crisis, society needs positive perspectives. Do you have the impression that, despite the current burden, the young generation of designers is developing its own language and placing core topics that can become significant for the community?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: That's an interesting question. What I have noticed gives me hope, because there is a great deal of support for cultivating togetherness among students. When I was a student, there was more of an elbow mentality, perhaps also due to the size of the generation; there were simply a lot of us. Today, students actively scrutinise teaching, which I find very productive. What should not be lost sight of, however, is self-organisation, getting involved in ‘doing’ things yourself. I want to empower students to develop a sense of self-organisation for the time after their studies that doesn't end up as self-centredness. This is also about balance. Beyond that, the issues of the time are obvious. I see great potential and fields of work in the area of ‘aesthetics of society and democracy’ - if you want to call it that - and I hope that we will work towards this for society as a whole. At the HfG, we basically allow ourselves to take a visionary approach to shaping the future, communities and society: at the level of ideas, materials and technology. I am excited to see how this will develop in the coming years.
Do you have a motto that will guide you in the coming years?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: The question of the genius loci, the spirit of the place, was more of a basic idea than a guiding principle - something that has always motivated me a lot, regardless of the task. This includes knowing the past, sensing what your own specificity is, whether and what resources it has to offer and what profile you want to position yourself with in the community now and for the future. ‘You can't be what you can't see’ is a sentence by the American civil rights activist and philosopher Marian Wright Edelman, which I recently read and find very fitting.
In preparation for this interview, I read that ‘heart and gut’ led you back to Frankfurt. Why is the region special to you?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: That's not easy to describe verbally. I really appreciate the diversity of the region and this also goes hand in hand with an emotional bond. I grew up in Frankfurt am Main. On top of that, there are good connections. There is a natural dynamism and vibrancy here. The Rhine-Main region is an agglomeration that offers everything, from urban life to beautiful countryside. I really like the Wetterau region, for example. The region is also interesting from an urban planning perspective, offering historic industrial sites as well as the flair of the big city. I'm a fan of medium-sized cities, also with regard to working at an institution like the HfG. The clear layout facilitates communication, you can respond to calls and have short distances. I think Frankfurt Rhine-Main Offenbach generally has huge potential.
What are you currently working on?
Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen: I'm currently busy getting to know the team at the Hochschule für Gestaltung and understanding the overall structure. We are also planning the next tour, which will take place from 18 to 20 July 2025. We would like to introduce visitors to the university's locations, but also take a look at the community in Offenbach. If there is still some time left, I will write texts on what the topics of the future could be.ffenbach aufgreifen. Wenn noch etwas Zeit bleibt, schreibe ich an Texten, was die Themen der Zukunft sein könnten.
