Design in Schools!

This page brings together projects, ideas, and tools at the intersection of design, creativity, and democracy within schools. The focus is on secondary school students and the question of how schools can become spaces where participation, creativity, and social responsibility are actively practiced. Get inspired and explore how the region is shaping innovative learning experiences.

As part of WDC 2026 the educational program demonstrates learning beyond the classroom. Designers, social workers, content creators, and other professionals collaborate with young people and schools to create contemporary, hands-on learning experiences.

Into the School: Opening Schools to Design

Grafik mit gezeichneten Elementen©Falko Schnelle
Urbane Raumforschung Frankfurt
studio gross klein & Schülern:innen der Georg-August-Zinn-Schule
Young people shaping their neighborhood! Together with experts and the local community they explore and transform public spaces. The city becomes their own project.
Georg-August-Zinn-Schule
Kinder arbeiten mit Gartenhandwerkzeugen auf einer Wiese.©Busch
August 2025
December 2026
01
Fr
Aug 25
31
Th
Dec 26
Bildung, die nachhallt
FREUDENBERG Gesellschaft Natur & Kunst gemeinnütziger e.V.
Workshops for 10 school classes convey the interconnections between nature and society.
Schloss Freudenberg
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Wir gestalten unseren Lebensraum Schule mit
Gymnasium Eltville
Ideas for a more attractive learning and living environment are being developed and realized in collaboration with professionals from architecture, art, and design.
Gymnasium Eltville
Ein mit Postern und Zeichnungen verzierter Bus: Der DemokratieWagen steht am Straßenrand.©mehr als wählen e.V.
DemokratieWagen in Schulen
mehr als wählen e.V.
An educational role-play game in a converted 20-metre articulated bus.
Junge Menschen basteln an Holzmöbeln©Christof Jakob
January
October
01
Th
Jan
31
Sa
Oct
Zeichen setzen – Ethik trifft Design
Stiftung Deutsches Design Museum
The workshop “Zeichen setzen” combines an exploration of personal values with creative forms of expression.
Illustration eines Hundes der in ein Megafon spricht©Regina Henze
November 2025
May 2026
Das DemokraTier
Prof. Regina Henze
A student competition invites 8–10-year-old pupils to explore the values of democracy in their classrooms through playful activities.
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November 2025
February 2026
03
Mo
Nov 25, 10:00
27
Fr
Feb 26, 13:00
Wir sind alle.
filme+mehr GmbH
Primary school pupils explore democratic thinking and action through short films.
August-Gräser-Schule
Frau sitzt vor einem Gemälde und malt©HMKB
January
December
01
Th
Jan
31
Th
Dec
Hessisches Ministerium für Kultus, Bildung und Chancen
The HMKB focuses on cultural education in schools. Strong cultural education fosters creativity, perspective-taking, respect for diversity, and the experience of self-efficacy.
Hessisches Ministerium für Kultus, Bildung und Chancen
Von hinten sind ein Mädchen und ein Mann mit Mikrofon zu sehen, wie sie vor Kindern im Publikum draußen reden.©Umweltlernen in Frankfurt e.V.
February
Mobilität und öffentlicher Raum
Umweltlernen in Frankfurt e.V.
Children and young people engage with mobility and help design their city.
Menschen hängen Demokratiedeckel auf©Ben Kuhlmann
April
December
01
We
Apr
31
Th
Dec
Fragen für gelebte Demokratie
Demokratiedeckel e.V.
The three-day workshop "Questions for Lived Democracy" by Demokratiedeckel e.V. invites students to discover democracy in urban space and actively participate in shaping it.
Evangelische Akademie Frankfurt
Jugend debattiert©Hessischer Landtag
March
26
Th
12:00
Jugend debattiert: Landesfinales 2026
Jugend debattiert, Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung
As part of the WDC 2026, a special edition of the state finals of Jugend debattiert is taking place.
Hessischer Landtag

Out of the School: Learning Through Everyday Experience

Passanten gegutachten Schaukästen an der Frankfurter Hauptwache©Ben Kuhlmann
December 2025
08
Mo
09:00
Kunststation Hauptwache
Domäne S – für Schülerinnen und Schüler e. V.
This project transforms unused display cases and empty shop windows on level D at tube station Hauptwache into creative platforms for students in Frankfurt, allowing them to showcase their ideas and experience democratic participation in public spaces.
Hauptwache
Eine Frau spielt ein Theaterstück auf einer Bühne©Frédéric Iovino
February
March
20
Fr
Feb
03
Tu
Mar
Starke Stücke: Räume für zukünftige Gedanken
KulturRegion FrankfurtRheinMain gGmbH
Theatre guest performances for schools and libraries in the RheinMain region.
Kinder rennen auf einem Gehweg©Amt fur Soziale Arbeit Wiesbaden (Amt fur Soziale Arbeit Wiesbaden (Photographer) - [None]
February
October
01
Su
Feb
31
Sa
Oct
Auf die PLÄTZE los
Amt für Soziale Arbeit Wiesbaden
Children from primary schools in Wiesbaden develop their own projects for a child-friendly city.
Ein großer, moderner Raum mit Tischen und Büromöbeln.©Tumo Frankfurt
TUMO Frankfurt
Verein zur Förderung von TUMO in Frankfurt e. V. & Volkshochschule Frankfurt am Main
An innovative and free learning center for young people outside of school.
Eine ballonartige Skulptur aus recyceltem Plastik©Umwelt-Exploratorium e.V.
re\plastik
Umwelt-Exploratorium e.V.
A participatory exhibition with workshops in schools on the topic of plastics.
Alter Flugplatz Frankfurt
Junge Menschen spielen im urbanen Raum©Nikolaus A. Nessler
February
m4-SpaceLab
Nikolaus A. Nessler
A box that gives young people the opportunity to engage in social, cultural, and sports activities in public spaces, while also offering a place to meet without any pressure to consume.
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Geschichten erzählen in Stop-Motion
Karoline Schüßler
In a workshop, ideas, figures, and sets are developed and animated – with a particular focus on upcycling and a sustainable approach to the environment.
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May
September
01
Fr
May
03
Th
Sep
Aquanauten Werkstatt
Umwelt-Exploratorium e.V.
Through a playful and interactive approach, young Frankfurters learn about climate and climate justice through the topic of water.
Alter Flugplatz Frankfurt
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Jugend im Stadtraum
Deutsches Architekturmuseum
For youth involvement in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt am Main
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April
07
Tu
11
Sa
Meine Wiese, meine Hütte, mein Platz
Anna Dischkow-Braml
Workshop for children to design the Wiesenhüttenplatz and a small neighborhood festival.
Internationales Kinderhaus
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April
May
17
Fr
Apr
15
Fr
May
#MyDesign4Democracy
Foto-Club Darmstadt e.V.
A youth photography competition for 9- to 21-year-olds from Darmstadt and the surrounding region. Participants creatively engage with the concept of democracy.
Justus-Liebig-Haus

Lifelong School: Learning as a Multigenerational Experience

Hände aus dem Publikum zeigen während einer Veranstaltung auf©Eva Arnold
May
18
Mo
23
Sa
Huch, ein Buch!
Kulturfreunde Centralstation e.V.
15. Jugend- und Kinderliteraturfestival Darmstadt: Gemeinsame Sache
Centralstation Darmstadt
eine plakatierte Wand wirbt für die Demokratie Kioske©Young Urban Future Labs
February
September
01
Su
Feb
30
We
Sep
DemokratieKioske
Lust auf besser leben gGmbH
The Demokratiekioske project aims to use temporary kiosks and public spaces as discussion hubs, where communities can engage with democratic themes in informal, accessible ways.
Rhein-Main-Gebiet
Stadtführungen in einfacher Sprache©Lebenshilfe Frankfurt e.V.
April
October
18
Sa
Apr
24
Sa
Oct
„Des is doch Design!“
Lebenshilfe Frankfurt am Main e.V.
Guided tours in plain language led by inclusive tandems.
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Klassenräume von morgen
AMD Akademie Mode & Design Wiesbaden
Students work together with school pupils to design classrooms for democratic work and learning.
Offenbar Kreativkiosk bietet unter anderem Druckworkshops an©Christina Dirlich
Offenbar Kreativ-Kiosk
offenbar e.V.
Print workshops exploring questions of social coexistence and sustainable community.
In einem Ausstellungsraum sind verschiedene illustrierte Figuren zu sehen.©Uwe Dettmar
Bilderbuch und frühe demokratische Bildung
Struwwelpeter Museum
The exhibition presents current exemplary picture books on the topic of democracy, including high-quality picture book design “made in Frankfurt.”
Struwwelpeter Museum
Illustration des WDC Pavillon©Constructlab
April
September
13
Mo
Apr
27
Su
Sep
WDC Pavilion tour
WDC 2026
The Pavilion will travel through the region, stopping at key locations.
Auf einer Straße steht ein großes Gemälde, vor dem ein Fahrradfahrer vorbeifährt.©mh-eventproduction
Reclaim inner city
mh-eventproduction , Open Walls
An urban art and education project promoting legal graffiti in Frankfurt’s public spaces.
Climate Community Streetplay©Climate Community Streetplay
Climate Community Streetplay – Playing with the Trouble
Frankfurt UAS
Climate community street play in urban areas affected by climate change.
Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
Young Talent Design Campius©Ben Kuhlmann
April
August
WDC-Campus
Students, educators, and graduates from various disciplines present their projects, concepts, and visions.

Teaching resources and more

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Designwissen – Unterrichtsmaterialien zum Thema Design
Stiftung Deutsches Design Museum
The knowledge platform designwissen.net offers not only thematic foundations on design but also free teaching materials.
Illustration, die mehrere Figuren zeigt, die sich freuen.
Checklists
Here are our checklists on inclusive and environmental friendly events. They can also help you reflect on school projects or your own teaching.
Eine Person hat den Design for Democracy Reader in der Hand und liest. ©Ben Kuhlmann
Reading List
Here you’ll find recommended readings on topics related to World Design Capital 2026. In the last section, you’ll find: Teaching, Learning, and Books for Young People.

This collection will continue to grow for you.

Design in Schools shows what’s happening in our region at the intersection of schools and design. We bring together projects, inspiration, and best-practice examples—for teachers, students, and anyone interested in actively shaping school life.

Currently, this includes:

  • A clear project database on schools & design
  • Inspiration and networking for new ideas
  • Teaching resources & tips, which we will continue to add over time

We welcome your feedback!
Share your ideas or questions about this page with us. We listen, advise, and support wherever we can.
After consultation, we’re also happy to connect you with projects that might be particularly interesting for you.

Contact us: dilan.alt@wdc2026.org

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