Winner of HSUD. Photo left: tilo, Multifunktionales Tastspiel von talking hands and Anna Louisa Steinbach © Anna Louisa Steinbach, Photo right: LAVA Pflegestuhl von Lola Behrens © Lola Behrens
On 23 and 24 April 2025, the Hessian State Prize for Universal Design (HSUD), WDC 2026, and the German Design Council invite you to Together by Design at the Hessian State Representation in Brussels. Look forward to a dynamic mix of discussions, workshops, and an exhibition – all exploring the role of design in shaping a shared future for Europe.
The exhibition will also feature works by last year’s winners of the Hessian State Award for Universal Design. Together by Design is aimed at associations, young designers, representatives of European funding programmes, and decision-makers in the creative and political sectors. Register here!
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
18.00 Admission
18.30 Welcome:
Manuela Strube, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs
18.40 Keynote:
Nicola Stattmann, Co-Founder Office for Micro Climate Cultivation
19.00 Panel – Transformative Power of Design
Uwe Becker, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Finance
Maria Möller, HSUD award winner, talking hands flipbooks GmbH
Ruth Reichstein, European Commission
Carolina Romahn, CEO World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026
Nicola Stattmann, Co-Founder Office for Micro Climate Cultivation
20.00 Exhibition opening, closing stage programme
Manuela Strube, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs
20.15 Get Together
Moderation: Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director German Design Council
Thursday, 24 April 2024
10.00 Admission & breakfast
10.20 Welcome
Uwe Becker, State Secretary of the Hessian Ministry of Finance
10.30 Workshop 1 & Workshop 2
Workshop 1: Better Together: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
A – Beyond the Niche: The Potential of Universal Design
Universal design is no longer a niche issue. Demographic change and social developments emphasise the importance of inclusive design for a forward-looking society. But how does universal design fit into the main theme of World Design Capital 2026 – Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life?
This session will provide practical answers: Concrete examples will be used to make the potential of universal design tangible. HSUD prizewinner Lola Behrens will present her innovative care shower chair LAVA and will show how design can break down barriers. Together with the participants, we will discuss how the implementation of this potential can be actively promoted – especially focussing on how universities, institutions, companies and individuals can act as drivers of innovation.
Hosted by: Helena Kiefer, WDC 2026
Impulse: Lola Behrens, winner of the Hessian State Prize for Universal Design 2024, Manuela Strube, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs
Workshop 2: Democracy by Design: Integrating Creative Strategies into Policy Frameworks
A – The Blueprint for Change: Design Policies
World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain is an international platform that highlights the transformative potential of design for business, society and politics. This session will focus on design policies as strategic tools for promoting inclusion, innovation and democracy. Projects will be presented, such as the position paper of session partner BEDA, The Bureau of European Design Associations, which show how social and political challenges can be effectively addressed through targeted design policies. The participants will analyse success factors and discuss transferability to other areas.
Hosted by: Felix Kosok, WDC 2026
Impulse: Piotr Swiatek, BEDA Treasurer | Researcher and Project Manager in the Design and Innovation Policy Team at PDR
11.30 Coffee break
12.00 Workshop 1 & Workshop 2
Workshop 1: Better Together: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
B – Design for All: Shaping Diversity and Inclusion
Universal design aims to ensure that products, services and environments can be used by as many people as possible without restrictions. The core competence of designers is to understand the needs of users. Design is therefore a decisive factor for an inclusive society. In this workshop, we will discuss how design can promote inclusion and democracy. We will develop practical approaches for universal design and explore how design solutions can strengthen social participation. Because good design is universal and universal design is democratic.
Hosted by: Helena Kiefer, WDC 2026
Impulse: Franziska Warnke, HA Hessen Agentur GmbH
Workshop 2: Democracy by Design: Integrating Creative Strategies into Policy Frameworks
B – The Art of Politics: Creativity as a Political Tool
Design is more than creating functional products and beautiful graphics. How can creative approaches such as design thinking make political decision-making processes and governance structures more innovative and inclusive? This session will use the design of the New European Bauhaus programme to demonstrate successful application of creative methods in policy design. The aim is to anchor creative processes as an essential component of political decision-making.
Hosted by: Felix Kosok, WDC 2026
Impulse: Vera Winthagen, Acting Head of Unit, New European Bauhaus
13.00 Wrap-up session with panel discussion
13.30 Conclusion with lunch
Date: 23 – 24 April 2025
Location: Hessian State Representation in Brussels, Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Organisers:
Winner of HSUD. Photo left: tilo, Multifunktionales Tastspiel von talking hands and Anna Louisa Steinbach © Anna Louisa Steinbach, Photo right: LAVA Pflegestuhl von Lola Behrens © Lola Behrens
On 23 and 24 April 2025, the Hessian State Prize for Universal Design (HSUD), WDC 2026, and the German Design Council invite you to Together by Design at the Hessian State Representation in Brussels. Look forward to a dynamic mix of discussions, workshops, and an exhibition – all exploring the role of design in shaping a shared future for Europe.
The exhibition will also feature works by last year’s winners of the Hessian State Award for Universal Design. Together by Design is aimed at associations, young designers, representatives of European funding programmes, and decision-makers in the creative and political sectors. Register here!
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
18.00 Admission
18.30 Welcome:
Manuela Strube, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs
18.40 Keynote:
Nicola Stattmann, Co-Founder Office for Micro Climate Cultivation
19.00 Panel – Transformative Power of Design
Uwe Becker, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Finance
Maria Möller, HSUD award winner, talking hands flipbooks GmbH
Ruth Reichstein, European Commission
Carolina Romahn, CEO World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026
Nicola Stattmann, Co-Founder Office for Micro Climate Cultivation
20.00 Exhibition opening, closing stage programme
Manuela Strube, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs
20.15 Get Together
Moderation: Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director German Design Council
Thursday, 24 April 2024
10.00 Admission & breakfast
10.20 Welcome
Uwe Becker, State Secretary of the Hessian Ministry of Finance
10.30 Workshop 1 & Workshop 2
Workshop 1: Better Together: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
A – Beyond the Niche: The Potential of Universal Design
Universal design is no longer a niche issue. Demographic change and social developments emphasise the importance of inclusive design for a forward-looking society. But how does universal design fit into the main theme of World Design Capital 2026 – Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life?
This session will provide practical answers: Concrete examples will be used to make the potential of universal design tangible. HSUD prizewinner Lola Behrens will present her innovative care shower chair LAVA and will show how design can break down barriers. Together with the participants, we will discuss how the implementation of this potential can be actively promoted – especially focussing on how universities, institutions, companies and individuals can act as drivers of innovation.
Hosted by: Helena Kiefer, WDC 2026
Impulse: Lola Behrens, winner of the Hessian State Prize for Universal Design 2024, Manuela Strube, State Secretary Hessian Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs
Workshop 2: Democracy by Design: Integrating Creative Strategies into Policy Frameworks
A – The Blueprint for Change: Design Policies
World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain is an international platform that highlights the transformative potential of design for business, society and politics. This session will focus on design policies as strategic tools for promoting inclusion, innovation and democracy. Projects will be presented, such as the position paper of session partner BEDA, The Bureau of European Design Associations, which show how social and political challenges can be effectively addressed through targeted design policies. The participants will analyse success factors and discuss transferability to other areas.
Hosted by: Felix Kosok, WDC 2026
Impulse: Piotr Swiatek, BEDA Treasurer | Researcher and Project Manager in the Design and Innovation Policy Team at PDR
11.30 Coffee break
12.00 Workshop 1 & Workshop 2
Workshop 1: Better Together: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
B – Design for All: Shaping Diversity and Inclusion
Universal design aims to ensure that products, services and environments can be used by as many people as possible without restrictions. The core competence of designers is to understand the needs of users. Design is therefore a decisive factor for an inclusive society. In this workshop, we will discuss how design can promote inclusion and democracy. We will develop practical approaches for universal design and explore how design solutions can strengthen social participation. Because good design is universal and universal design is democratic.
Hosted by: Helena Kiefer, WDC 2026
Impulse: Franziska Warnke, HA Hessen Agentur GmbH
Workshop 2: Democracy by Design: Integrating Creative Strategies into Policy Frameworks
B – The Art of Politics: Creativity as a Political Tool
Design is more than creating functional products and beautiful graphics. How can creative approaches such as design thinking make political decision-making processes and governance structures more innovative and inclusive? This session will use the design of the New European Bauhaus programme to demonstrate successful application of creative methods in policy design. The aim is to anchor creative processes as an essential component of political decision-making.
Hosted by: Felix Kosok, WDC 2026
Impulse: Vera Winthagen, Acting Head of Unit, New European Bauhaus
13.00 Wrap-up session with panel discussion
13.30 Conclusion with lunch
Date: 23 – 24 April 2025
Location: Hessian State Representation in Brussels, Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Organisers:
