Demokratie-Kiosk (Kiosk, arabisch Koshk)

A kiosk—koshk in Arabic—is a rare public space where different social groups come together and engage in exchange. The aim of the project is to use design interventions and solutions to foster dialogue, encourage constructive conversations, and strengthen engagement with democratic processes in public space.

The project is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration with students from the German International University in the fields of graphic, product, and media design. In addition to their design expertise, the students—most of whom come from the Near and Middle East—bring valuable intercultural perspectives.

The starting point was an initial master’s project in which the students explored the intersection of design, civic engagement, and public space, developing innovative solutions in product and graphic design. Among the outcomes were a beer-bench connector (“Connect & Convers”), decorative plates designed with local residents for communal events, as well as interactive games and products.

In 2026, these ideas will be further refined in cooperation with the partner Citydecks from Mannheim and implemented together with local craft businesses and other suppliers at a kiosk in Frankfurt.