Staffing
After 25 years as the Chancellor of HfG Offenbach, Dr. Vera Sponheimer-Bram retired in June.
Dr. Susanne Eickemeier is the new Chancellor, and took office for six years on July 1.
Appointments
As of the Winter semester, faculty of Product Design: Dr. Klaus Klemp, Deputy Director and Curator for Design at Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt was appointed Professor of Design Theory and Design History
Building
Since July 2014, the HfG has exhibition spaces in the former Offenbach Customs office. The Customs Office Gallery can be used for exhibitions by HfG students and teachers from both faculties.
Staffing
Prof. Adam Jankowski of the Visual Communications department, whose subject area was Painting, and Prof. Bernhard E. Bürdek of the Product Design department, whose subject area was the Methodology and Theory of Design, retired at the end of the summer semester. Jankowski had held his professorship for 26 years and Bürdek had been a professor at HfG for 34 years.
Appointments
As of the winter semester in the Visual Communications department: Berlin-based artist Gunter Reski to the Chair in Painting, Alexander Oppermann to the Chair in Electronic Media, video and performance artist Julika Rudelius to the Heinz and Gisela Friederichs Endowed Chair in Electronic Art. In the Product Design department architect Dr. Alex Buck was awarded the Adjunct Chair in Brand and Design Strategy.
B3 Biennale of Moving Pictures
The first B3 Biennale of Moving Pictures took place in Frankfurt between October 30 and November 3 with Festival, Parcours and Campus. The organizer was HfG Offenbach, HfG President Prof. Bernd Kracke was in charge of the festival.
Staffing
At the end of the winter term Prof. Burghart Schmidt retired after 13 years as Professor of Philosophy/Aesthetics. Between 2005 and 2011, Schmidt had been Vice-President of HfG.
Prof. Bernd Kracke’s second term as President of HfG started on September 15.
Advisory Board
On April 4 HfG’s new Advisory Board was formed for the coming four years. It consists of ten members from the fields of business, the humanities and art.
The National Scholarship Program
The National Scholarship Program was introduced in the summer semester. The scholarships worth 300 euros per month were funded half by the Central Government and half by private benefactors.
Appointments
As of the summer semester: Graduate physicist Werner W. Lorke as Prof. of New Materials and Technology in the Product Design department; as of the winter semester: Eike Köng as Professor of Illustration/Graphic Design and Dr. Juliane Rebentisch as Professor of Philosophy/Aesthetics in the Visual Communications department; Dr. Martin Gessmann as Professor of the Theories of Culture and Technology in the Product Design department.
Staffing
Prof. Peter Eckart (Product Design department) and Prof. Marc Ries (Visual Communications department) were elected the new Vice-Presidents on March 24. On April 6 Prof. Klaus Hesse was elected the new Dean, Prof. Rotraut Pape the new Vice-Dean and Prof. Heiner Blum Dean of Studies in the Visual Communications department.
Building
At the beginning of the summer semester 2011, in addition to the main campus on Schlossstrasse, the University started using premises on Geleitsstrasse 103.
The winter semester saw the opening of the first professionally run cafeteria for HfG. It is operated by Studentenwerk Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt’s student union.
Doctorate
As of April 1, HfG started offering graduates from the fields of Art, Design, Media and related areas the opportunity to study for a PhD using a model combining academic knowledge with art and/or design.
Obituary
Richard Fischer, a professor in the Product Design department of many years’ standing, died on February 28.
Appointments
Sascha Lobe was appointed Professor of Typography, Dr. Marc Ries Professor of Sociology/Media Theory, and Alexander Oppermann Friederichs Endowed Professor of Interactive Design/Motion Design in the Visual Communications department; Dr. Markus Holzbach Professor of Materialization and Visualization. Interdepartmentally, urban planner Kai Vöckler was named Endowed Professor of Creativity in the urban context.
Staffing
Prof. Frank Zebner was elected Dean of the Product Design department.
Building
The college rented the Katharina von Bora house belonging to the city’s Protestant community and adjacent to the campus for the Product Design department’s foundation course.
Anniversary
On September 15, 1970, HfG was transformed into a Hessen State University of Art. HfG celebrated its anniversary under the motto “HfG XL 40 years of the University of Design Offenbach”.
With its satellite in Berlin, HfG opened a gallery in the German capital with separate living quarters where changing exhibitions by its students could take place.
Appointments
Artist Martin Liebscher was appointed Professor of Photography. Frank Zebner accepted an invitation to become Professor of Technical Products and Product Systems in the Product Design department.
Tuition fees
In the winter semester the tuition fees introduced one year earlier were abolished once again. They were replaced by QSL funding (funding to improve teaching quality).
Building
Reconstruction work started on the façade of Isenburger Schloss and in the castle’s chapels.
Anniversary
HfG celebrated its 175th anniversary. The 10th guided tour of HfG was devoted to the anniversary. An alumni exhibition (July-August 2007) opened simultaneously at Frankfurt’s Museum Angewandte Kunst. A festschrift entitled “Gestalte Create” was published
Staffing
Prof. Peter Eckart, Professor of Product Design/Integral Design was elected Dean of the Product Design department.
Appointments
Hamburg-based artist Mariola Brillowska was appointed Professor of Fine Art Drawing and Illustration. The artist Atak (alias Georg Barber) was named Heinz and Gisela Friederichs Endowed Professor of Illustration.
Establishment
The Hessian Film and Media Academy was established on October 15 under the auspices of HfG. Additionally, the network initiative’s registered offices were located at HfG Offenbach.
Tuition fees
In the winter semester tuition fees were introduced at Hessen’s further education establishments for the first time.
Building
The ostpol° on Hermann Steinhäuser Strasse was opened. This campus comprised apartments for students and teaching rooms.
Appointments
In the summer semester Dr. Martina Hessler was appointed Professor of Cultural and Technical History in the Product Design department; Dr. Christian Janecke was appointed Professor of the History of Art in the Visual Communications department.
Staffing
Adam Jankowski, Professor of Painting, was elected Dean of the Visual Communications department. Bernd Kracke, Professor of Electronic Media, was elected the new president of HfG on September 15.
Establishment
The Product Design department’s Institute of Technology-oriented Design Innovation (ITD) was established.
Obituary
Kurt Steinel, former director and professor at HfG, died on September 10.
Appointment
Professor Achim Menges was appointed to the Product Design department to teach specialist courses in Visualization and Materialization as of the 2005-06 winter semester.
Appointment
Berlin-based artist Rotraut Pape was appointed Prof. of Film/Video.
Building
The topping-out ceremony for the west wing was held on February 7. In March, the first floor at Isenburger Schloss was completed.
Building
In July work started on the west wing, an extension to the main building.
Appointments
Hamburg-based multimedia artist Bernd Kracke as Professor of Electronic Media, Düsseldorf-based graphic designer Klaus Hesse as Professor of Conceptual Design, Frankfurt-based designer Peter Eckart as Professor of Product Design
The Art Academy Act of the State of Hessen was replaced by the uniform Higher Education Act of the State of Hessen (HHG), which entitled HfG to appoint an outside expert as president.
Staffing
The council elected lawyer Frank Mussmann as the School’s first president.
Appointments
Philosopher Burghart Schmidt as Professor of Language and Aesthetics, Offenbach artist Heiner Blum as Professor of Design Basics and Experimental Spatial Concepts
Staffing
Wolfgang Luy, Professor of Sculpture, elected Dean of HfG.
HfG organized a guided tour for the first time.
Appointment
rosalie, a Stuttgart-based artist, joined HfG as a Professor of Stage Design.
Staffing
Wolfgang Sprang, Professor of Graphic Design, elected Dean.
Appointment
Frankfurt artist Manfred Stumpf was appointed Professor of Figurative Drawing.
Building
HfG moved into its first rooms at Isenburger Schloss.
Appointment
Austrian media artist Richard Kriesche was appointed Professor of Electronic Imaging.
Appointment
The Product Design department created a Chair in Conceptual Design Strategies and Color Design (Prof. Petra Kellner)
Building
Start of construction work on the long-planned extension building for the courses in Stage and Vehicle Design on November 26.
The department of Visual Communications passed new study and examination regulations and was divided up into four areas of specialization: Applied Design, Pure Design, Audiovisual Media, Stage Design.
Appointment
Creation of a new Chair of Painting (Prof. Adam Jankowski).
Appointment
A new position was created in the Visual Communications department: the Chair of Sculpture.
Appointment
The Product Design department filled a newly created post in Furniture Design. The Architecture department was closed with effect from September 30.
Appointment/staffing
Appointment of new professorships in Film, Language & Stage Design, and the creation of a post as Teacher for Special Purposes (Video) in the department of Visual Communications.
The department of Visual Communications decided to introduce course specialization in Graphics, AV Media and Stage Design/Set Design. A two-semester course in Postdiplom Studies for the Visual Communications and Product Design departments was authorized.
Hessen’s Ministry of Culture issued a decree on August 18 to close the Architecture Department with effect from September 30, 1983.
Degree examination regulations were introduced for the Graphic Design and Product Design departments.
Staffing
Illustrator Prof. Kurt Steinel was elected Principal.
Staffing
An art historian, Prof. Hans Voss, was elected the first Dean of HfG Offenbach.
Establishment
of Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) as a University of Art and Design in the State of Hessen. The university comprised the Architecture, Graphic Design and Product Design departments.
The School Management and the Board of Trustees agreed on a charter for the establishment of a University of Art and Design.
Abolition of the old-style class system. A group of tutors taught in the three departments – Architecture with Interior Design, Graphics, Product Design with Ceramics, Leather, Textiles, and Furniture. In October, a “Manifesto on the State of the School of Applied Industrial Arts” was issued. The reconstruction work started on the partly destroyed school building in 1965 was completed.
An architect, Prof. Dieter Döpfner, was appointed Director of the School.
Dr. Hans Voss appointed Director of the School.
Henry Gowa appointed Director of the School of Applied Industrial Arts.
The school was now called Offenbacher Werkkunstschule (Offenbach School of Applied Industrial Arts).
The School for Master Craftsmen reopened in July. Director: Dr. Alexander Battes.
On April 18, teaching was halted on the orders of the military government. On October 8 an inquiry was received from the state government of Greater Hessen regarding under what conditions the School for Master Craftsmen could be reopened.
The school was renamed “Meisterschule für das gestaltende Handwerk” (School for Masters of the Design Trade”. The school building was seriously damaged by fire bombs.
The school was given a new name: “Meisterschule des Deutschen Handwerks” (School for Master Craftsmen in the German Craft Industry). The title was intended to convey the idea of “masterly skill”, i.e., not that of training master tradesmen.
The School of Engineering’s classes also went to Darmstadt. The result: The technical teaching institutions in Offenbach now consisted purely of a School of Arts and Crafts.
“As part of a new dirigiste organization of the vocational school system in the Rhine-Main region with the objective of centralizing the school system” the Nazis closed the School of Construction and relocated its classes to the “Landesbaugewerkschule” (State School for the Construction Trade) in Darmstadt.
When the Vocational School Act of December 14 came into force, the City of Offenbach became responsible for the school. The permanent staff were paid by the state and the institution’s material costs were borne by the City.
During World War I Hugo Eberhardt established the “Werkstätten und Berufsübungslazarett Technische Lehranstalten Offenbach a.M.” (Military Hospital’s Workshops and Technical Teaching Institutions for the Exercise of Professions in Offenbach/Main” in the newly finished school complex. His objective: to allow the wounded to be re-integrated into professional life. There were also workshops for orthopedic technicians where artificial limbs were built and tested.
Inauguration of and move into the school building next to Isenburger Schloss.
Building
Start of construction work on the new school building planned by Professor Hugo Eberhardt next to a local castle, Isenburger Schloss.
The state government of Hessen authorized the School of Construction to be called “Baugewerkschule” (School for the Construction Trade).
Incorporation of a school of engineering, meaning that the technical institutes were now divided into: (1) School of Construction, (2) School of Engineering, (3) School of Art and Crafts, and (4) Crafts School
Change of name to “Technische Lehranstalten der Stadt Offenbach a. M.” (Technical Teaching Establishment of the City of Offenbach/Main). The school was now one of the educational establishments in Hessen that were 50% financed through public funding.
The school’s new official name was “Städt. Kunstgewerbe- und gewerbliche Fachschule zu Offenbach a. M.” (State Vocational School of Arts & Crafts and Trades in Offenbach/ Main)
The school was renamed the “Kunstgewerbeschule” (School of Arts and Crafts). The City erected a new school building on Mathildenplatz. The local and state trade associations made available starting capital of 40,000 marks from the profits of the 1879 State Trade Fair.
Merger between the two vocational education establishments, the Crafts School and the School of Industrial Art to form the “Vereinigte Kunstindustrie- und Handwerkerschule” (United School of Industrial Art and Crafts School).
The City itself took charge of the school but entered in on negotiations with the state trade association for a higher grant.
A sculptor named Keller assumed responsibility for the School of Industrial Art. At the same time, drawing courses for teachers at state schools were included in the teaching curriculum.
The planned School of Industrial Art was finally established on March 8 and its teaching schedule approved by the State Trade Association and the City.
Staffing
The first teacher was building assessor Müller.
The state trade association, the local trade association and the Chamber of Commerce considered establishing a Municipal School of Industrial Art alongside the existing Crafts School. Delays in the establishment of the latter.
The City of Offenbach started paying a fixed grant of 150 guilders per year. Accordingly, the Lord Mayor became an advisory member of the trade association’s management board on matters relating to the Crafts School.
Übernahme der Schule durch den Gewerbeverein. Vertrag mit Fink, der als Lehrer übernommen wird. Die Schule ist als Sonntagsschule organisiert und mit einer Abendschule verbunden. Die Schüler zahlen 30 Kr. Schulgeld jährlich. Ihr Alter liegt durchschnittlich bei 15 Jahren.
The school received assistance from the “Verein zur Beförderung des Gewerbewesens” (Association for the Advancement of Skilled Trades) in Darmstadt in the form of sample texts as teaching material.
Foundation
Surveyor Georg Fink established the “Offenbacher Handwerkerschule” (Offenbach Crafts School) as a private institute – on his own initiative, at his own expense and without financial support from the City.