Werkschau Magazine 2024 Mannheim
einblick. ausblick. einrasten. ausrasten.
This year, the Faculty of Design at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences hosted a birthday party for design itself, which turns 100 years old—or at least in the city of Mannheim. From November 8th to 10th, Veruschka Götz, a dedicated typographer and professor of design, organized the faculty’s tenth annual Werkschau at the Mannheim Kunstverein.
Accompanying the event, a six-person team of students cataloged the works in the exhibition magazine, which was released as the 29th edition of the self-managed komma magazine series.
Spanning 152 pages under the theme “RGB and Freaking Out,” the publication offers insights into courses, highlights the best bachelor’s and master’s thesis projects in communication design, and looks to the future. The idea of “freaking out” doesn’t just symbolize the 100-year celebration but can also be taken literally—breaking out of the grid. Typography plays a subtle role in this rebellion, causing disruptions without losing clarity in its design.
The magazine’s standout feature is affectionately called the “chunky plastic spiral,” along with colorful chapter dividers that segment the content. The cover begins in symbolic solid black, transitions to vibrant colors inside, and concludes with a white back cover. As part of the launch event, several covers were spray-painted with red, blue, and green paint, forming a collective artwork. Throughout the rest of the exhibition, visitors were invited to take creative control, customizing their own copies as they pleased.
But one question remains—what’s with all the horses? Horses, often seen as wild animals, symbolize freedom. They’re known to kick back when something doesn’t sit right with them. This spirit is something we should carry forward after the challenges of the past century. Every generation of designers must face their own set of adversaries—be it Hitler, AI, or the ongoing attempts to financially starve our craft. So go wild, little horses! Let’s kick back and make our mark.
The team includes: Ann-Sophie Breitung, Tessa Breuer, Sarah Ciccarese, Luisa Forberger, Jona Missal, Nyaz Schmitt
