Sarah Dorkenwald
Sarah Dorkenwald explores in her practical and theoretical work the critical and transformative potential of design.
In exchange with social, cultural natural sciences, local politics and communities as well as civil society she examines new forms of knowledge transfer in which design serves as a tool for perspective change, for a critical examination of current and emerging developments, as well as a catalyst for conceiving, negotiating and testing alternative future scenarios. In doing so, she engages theoretically and practically with design approaches and methods from social and participatory design, critical and speculative design, design activism as well as system and future thinking design.
Her vision is to shape living spaces and urban environments more sustainable, more resilient and with a higher quality of life and biodiversity. To this end, as part of her work at HM:UniverCity at Munich University of Applied Sciences, she methodically supports inter- and transdisciplinary innovation and research processes (e.g. »Transformation Laboratory Museum Wolfratshausen« in cooperation with the city of Wolfratshausen and »Departmental Research Institutions as Drivers of Transformation« in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Center for Responsible Research and Innovation) as well as develops independent participatory and sensual-experimental formats on social relevant issues with her studio UnDesignUnit.
Teaching is a central part of her work. The focus here is on speculative and critical design approaches, design fundamentals, experimental design and visual communication as well as design theory seminars. She has a professorship and has taught at the Hochschule für Kommunikation und Gestaltung in Ulm for seven years (2017-2024), she also had teaching assignments at the THA Augsburg (2023), Goethe-Institut Iraq (2022), TH Nuremberg (2020-2022), Hochschule München (2017-2019), OTH Regensburg (2011-2014), Ontario University of Art and Design (2005-2007).
From 2012 to 2016 she worked for bayern design, the international competence center for knowledge transfer and collaborations around design, and curated new transfer formats and design exhibitions, including in the context of Munich Creative Business Week (MCBW)
She is a regular member of juries as an expert for design, including City of Munich Förderpreis für Design (design sponsorship award) as well as the City of Munich Design Award, the city’s highest honour where she nominated 2023 the winner Ayzit Bostan, for which she also held the laudatory speech.
As part of a teaching and funding project, she is publishing »Animal Fiction« together with artist Isabelle Enders, 2022. She writes for design magazines (e.g. »form«, »Nomad«) as well as trade publications (e.g. »Kitchens by chmara.rosinke«, Hg. Maciej Chmara, Ania Rosinke, Spector Books, 2019; »Neue Allianzen für die Gestaltung der Zukunft«, Hg. Elisabeth Hartung, av edition, 2018; »Out of Office«, Hg. Simone Schimpf und Theres Rohde, Surface, 2017; »Visionen gestalten: Neue interdisziplinäre Denkweisen und Praktiken in Design, Kunst und Architektur«, Hg. Elisabeth Hartung, av edition, 2017).
Sarah completed her design education at the Offenbach University of Art and Design with a diploma in visual communication. Subsequently she worked as art director for the design magazine »form« (1999 to 2002) and for the design studio »Bruce Mau Design« (2002 to 2004) in Toronto. 2002 to 2012 she run together with product designer Ruth Spitzer the Canadian-based design partnership »dorkenwald und spitzer«, which gained international reputation for their conceptual design projects, exploring mobile life styles and challenging living conventions.
http://www.dorkenwald-spitzer.com
Photo: Verena Kathrein