Das greenlab

greenlab

Initiated in 2010, greenlab, the interdisciplinary laboratory at weißensee kunsthochschule berlin, links university projects with practice-oriented research and industry with the aim of inspiring and developing innovative concepts for sustainable and environmentally friendly products and services. In this research-oriented collaboration, sustainable design methods and strategies are to be applied to develop and implement new concepts and answers to ecological, social and cultural questions.

The intentions of greenlab are:

• to inform students and the interested public about existing sustainability concepts, strategies and products
• to inspire and promote developments in this field through practice-led research and design methods.
• to take a critical look at sustainable design in the context of ecology, economy, society and culture
• to create innovative and holistic solutions through an interdisciplinary approach between the fields of textile design, fashion design, product design and visual communication, and to connect these in the context of current discourse on theories relevant to society and design.

Projects within greenlab:

• ‘GreenDesign’ projects are transdisciplinary university projects in cooperation with experts from various fields on the following topics (excerpt): Material Innovation and Materials Cycles, Biodesign, Bioeconomy and Social Development. The projects are accompanied by symposia and/or lectures as well as workshops.
• ‘local international’ is a cooperation project in the field of fashion design, bringing together weißensee kunsthochschule berlin, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and the University of the Arts Berlin with the aim of educating young fashion designers from Berlin and Bangladesh on the topics of sustainability, participation, Fairtrade and local production.
• ‘greenlab Alumni’ brings together works and projects which started within greenlab, and have been continue by weißensee graduates after leaving the university.

The initiators of greenlab are Prof. Dr. Zane Berzina, Prof. Susanne Schwarz-Raacke and Prof. Heike Selmer. greenlab sees itself as a network of various collaborators of weißensee kunsthochschule berlin who work together with partners from research and industry on specific topics.