Semantic effect and material driven design
In the first part of the project, a material concept is to be developed based on a selected association term.
The second part deals with the design method ‘Material Driven Design’.
As part of the course, students first analyze the sensory perception, functional properties, and semantic dimensions of meaning of a material. Building on this, an association term (e.g., sporty, artificial, or playful) is drawn from a defined pool of terms and systematically related to the material.
From this connection, students develop a material concept whose intended effect corresponds to the respective associative term. In addition to examining the semantic effect of materials, students use this as a basis to design a product according to the principle of material-driven design. The application, function, and design of the product are consistently derived from the specific properties of the material.
The project reimagines packaging not as a neutral container, but as a temporary, almost living object with its own character and lifespan. Made from bioplastic and sheet gelatin, it is designed to dissolve over time, blurring the line between artificial product and natural cycle. A functional lid allows precise portioning and reuse, grounding the concept in everyday ritual while quietly questioning habits of consumption. Once its task is fulfilled, the object abandons any claim to permanence and reframes disposal as completion rather than waste. What remains is a fragile balance between use and disappearance.
