Confused, feeble, romantic, (profusely) decorated, cyber, and: key. – Ornament as feminist practice

Through the project “Confused, feeble, romantic, (profusely) decorated, cyber, and: key.—Ornament as feminist practice”, ornament is reinterpreted as a feminist tool for artistic and design work, and the necessity of ornamentation in visual practice is contemporarily examined.

As part of the World Design Capital, a two-day symposium at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach on June 18–19, 2026, will bring together international guests and students to discuss the role of ornament as a form of material reflection and as a potential structure for non-hierarchical relationships. By examining historical, cultural, and artistic contexts, the symposium explores how ornament—understood as a “visual alphabet”—can create a new language that supports feminist and democratic approaches in design and art.

Following the symposium, a publication will be produced that not only documents the event but also provides a design-driven access to ornamental working methods.

The project is initiated by artist and designer Tatjana Stürmer and carried out in collaboration with students from HfG Offenbach. At the center of Tatjana Stürmer's practical research is the exploration of how spoken, written, and visual language influences our social and political experiences. Since April 2022, she has been working as an associated researcher and lecturer in the field of Graphic Design and Illustration at HfG Offenbach.