2000th
2022

Appointments

Three professorships have been filled for the winter semester 2022/23: In the Department of Art, Angelika Levi has been appointed to the Film Professorship, which she shares with Prof. Dr. Marie-Hélène Gutberlet, and Johanna Siebein to the Typography/Type Design Professorship. In the Department of Design, Dr. Tom Bieling was appointed to the professorship of Design Theory.

Obituaries

On February 14 Burghart Schmidt passed away at 79. He was professor of philosophy and aesthetics at the HfG from 1998 to 2011, and vice president from 2005 to 2011.
Gisela Friederichs died on March 11 at the age of 86. She and her husband Heinz established the Heinz and Gisela Friederichs Foundation in 1991, which has supported the HfG Offenbach with generous donations for more than 20 years.
The poet and visual artist Franz Mon died on April 7 at the age of 95. He taught concrete poetry in 1992/93 and 2000 as part of teaching assignments in the Visual Communication Department (now Art)
Antonius "Toni" Vogt died after a long, serious illness on October 11 at the age of only 46. He had been an employee in the cleaning service since November 2006, looked after outside companies and the guest apartments, and was active in the staff council for many years. 

Study reform

As of the winter semester 2022/23, the previous diploma program in the departments of art and design has been replaced by bachelor's and master's programs as a result of a study reform. The changeover to Bachelor's/Master's will enable an even stronger interdisciplinary interpenetration between the teaching areas of the departments of Art and Design, which is unique in Germany. Degree programs: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts with a greater theoretical component in art and Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in design.

Höchster Porzellanmanufaktur

In December, the State of Hesse acquires the assets of the insolvent Höchster Porzellanmanufaktur (HPM) 1746 GmbH in order to preserve this historical legacy for the State of Hesse. The HfG will continue the operation of Germany's second oldest porcelain manufactory with a new concept and thus use the craftsmanship and artistic know-how for research and teaching.

HAB - Hessen graduation funding

Four universities from the network of the Hessian Film and Media Academy hFMA - the Offenbach University of Art and Design (HfG), the Kassel University of Art and Design, the RhineMain University of Applied Sciences and the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences - are launching a project funding program under the title HAB - Hessen Abschlussförderung (Hessen Graduation Funding) to support graduation projects in art, design, film and media degree programs. 

Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has selected the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence hessian.AI, which includes HfG Offenbach, to become one of four AI service centers nationwide. As a result, the cross-university Hessian center with its headquarters at TU Darmstadt can count on additional funding of around 17 million euros.

2021

People

In the Department of Art, the positions of Vice-Dean and Dean of Studies will be filled in the summer semester: Prof. Dr. Christian Janecke will become Vice-Dean and Prof. Marie-Hélène Gutberlet Dean of Studies, succeeding Heiner Blum as long-time Dean of Studies. Prof. Kerstin Cmelka will take over from Janecke in the winter semester. Prof. Alex Oppermann will remain Dean and Gutberlet Dean of Studies.
In the winter semester of 2021/22, the cross-departmental endowed professorship for creativity in an urban context, which Prof. Dr. Kai Vöckler has held since 2010, will be made permanent and integrated into the Department of Design with a new focus on Urban Design.
On 1 March, HfG press spokesperson Katja Kupfer is appointed Equal Opportunities Officer. She replaces the head of the library, Christa Scheld, who was the HfG's Equal Opportunities Officer for 25 years. Scheld takes over the position of Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer, previously held by Kupfer.

Artistic staff

For the first time in the history of the HfG, an academic staff can be established from the winter semester onwards. Beginning in October, each creative-artistic teaching area will have an artistic assistant.

Appointment

Janina Anjuli Schmidt will be appointed to the professorship of Digital Design in the Department of Design at the Offenbach University of Art and Design (HfG) in the summer semester. 

Obituaries

Tatjana Turanskyj dies in Berlin on 18 September at the age of 55 after a serious illness. The director and producer had been a professor of film at the HfG since the winter semester of 2020.
Filmmaker Helmut Herbst dies on 9 October in his home Brombachtal (Odenwald). Herbst was Professor of Film and Video in Offenbach from 1985 to 2000.
Lothar Braun, honorary member of the friends of the hfg, dies on 17 February 2021 at the age of 92. Braun had been closely associated with the HfG since 1975 as a member and board member of the Friends of the HfG.
Reinhard Bauer dies on 20 August. He worked as a workshop foreman in the model-making and metal workshop in the Design Department from December 2009 until his retirement in February 2021.

50 Years HfG - Anniversary Exhibition at the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary as an art college of the State of Hesse in 2020, the HfG, together with the Museum Angewandte Kunst, has developed the exhibition From Today's Perspective. Discourses on the Future. Postponed due to Corona, it can open digitally on 24 April and, after the end of the second lockdown in May, can be visited in presence until 29 August, observing the hygiene rules.

hfg 2.1 Forum for Awareness Raising and 1st Days of Awareness Raising

The hfg 2.1 Forum for Sensitisation is founded. The aim of the association of students, staff and teachers is to strengthen the respectful treatment of each other at the HfG and to counteract the abuse of power, discrimination and sexualised violence. The forum meets regularly.
In July, the 1st Days of Sensitisation, organised by the Forum for Sensitisation, will take place digitally over 2.5 days (13-15 July) with lectures, workshops and a film programme. In order for everyone to be able to participate, teaching is suspended on these days or all staff are released from work.

KI funding project

The HfG is one of four Hessian universities to receive funding through the AI funding project of the federal government and the state of Hesse. As part of the "AI in Higher Education" programme, projects at HfG Offenbach, Goethe University Frankfurt, Kassel University and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences will receive a total of 6.6 million euros until 2025.

Code for good work

The 14 state universities in Hesse have committed themselves to principles for better employment quality in a "Code of Good Work", which they have agreed with staff representatives and the Ministry of Science and the Arts with universities.

2020

People

Heike Schuppelius, Professor of Stage Design/Scenic Space, and Peter Eckart, Professor of Integrative Design, have been elected Vice-Presidents for a term of three years. Heike Schuppelius replaces Prof. Dr. Juliane Rebentisch, who has held the office since 2014, Peter Eckart has held the office since 2011. 
The second term of office of the Chancellor, Dr Susanne Eickemeier, begins on 1 July.
The writer Frank Witzel will be appointed honorary professor for "Free Writing" in the Department of Art at the beginning of the summer semester.
​Dr Julia-Constance Dissel will be the Visiting Professor for Perception Theory for the summer semester.
​Dr. Klaus Klemp, Professor of Design History and Theory, is retiring at the end of the summer semester.
​In the Department of Design, Prof. Lisa Borgenheimer is elected Dean of Studies for the winter semester. She replaces Prof. Dr. Martin Gessmann, who previously held the position. Gessmann is elected Associate Dean and thus the successor to Prof. Dr. Klaus Klemp, who is retiring. Prof. Frank Zebner remains Dean.

Appointments

Catrin Altenbrandt and Adrian Nießler are appointed to the professorship of Communication Design in the Department of Art for the summer semester. They succeed Klaus Hesse, who held the professorship with the denomination Conceptual Design for 20 years, from 1999 to 2019.
Appointments for the winter semester: Lisa Borgenheimer to the professorship of Information Design in the Department of Design, Dr. Marie-Hélène Gutberlet and Tatjana Turanskyj to the professorship of Film in the Department of Art. The duo succeeds Rotraut Pape, who held the film professorship for 15 years before she passed away in 2019 after a serious illness.

Obituaries

Peter Matthes, who was a teacher for special tasks in the Department of Product Design (now Design) from 1969 to 2000, died on 3 October.
Volker Fischer dies on 27 November 2020. Fischer taught for 20 years in the department of product design (now design) as an honorary professor of design history at the HfG.

Hessian Higher Education Pact

The HfG Offenbach, the HfMDK Frankfurt, and the Städelschule sign the Hessian Higher Education Pact for the years 2021 to 2025. Minister President Volker Bouffier, Minister of Science Angela Dorn, Minister of Finance Dr. Thomas Schäfer and the presidents of the 14 higher education institutions in Hessen put their signatures to the agreement, which brings significant improvements in higher education funding, including for the three Hessian art colleges.

Corona pandemic

The Corona crisis with lockdowns is also hitting art and design students at the HfG Offenbach hard. With the start of the summer semester, the university is launching a digital teaching programme. Events and the application process for new students will also take place digitally at first and later, depending on the infection situation, hybrid.
In order to cushion financial hardship, the Friends of the HfG are launching a fundraising campaign called #hfghelps, with the aim of being able to support students in need quickly and unbureaucratically.

Annual tour

Due to the corona pandemic, the tour in July is cancelled for the first time. Instead, under the title Interventions I (July) and Interventions II (September), students play on the digital and, with posters and artistic interventions, the urban spaces of Offenbach and Frankfurt.

Anniversary 50 Years HfG Offenbach

50 years ago at 9 o'clock in the morning, a "new era" began for the HfG Offenbach, as the Frankfurter Neue Presse logically wrote at the time: On 15 September 1970, the sponsorship was transferred from the city to the state, which was also accompanied by the transformation of the former Werkkunstschule Offenbach am Main into the Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach as the art university of the state.

Germany Scholarship

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary as an art college of the state of Hesse, the HfG Offenbach has launched a campaign to attract more sponsors for the Deutschlandstipendium. This goal is achieved: at the beginning of the year, eleven students from the two faculties of art and design still benefit from the support, at the end there are 50. 

New building

A highlight in the 50th anniversary year of the HfG: In the next round of the HEUREKA building programme, presented by Minister of Science Angela Dorn, the HfG Offenbach will receive an additional 50 million euros by 2031 for the new building in Offenbach harbour.

Library

The HfG library successfully passes the quality management procedure conducted by the Association of Art and Museum Libraries (AKMB) and receives certification.

2019

People

Susanne Pfeffer, director of the Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt, will be appointed honorary professor in the School of Art on 1 January. She teaches in the area of exhibition and mediation of contemporary art.

In the summer semester (April), the New York-based Italian artist duo Eva and and Franco Mattes will assume the Heinz and Gisela Friederichs Endowed Professorship and teach in the field of digital and net-based art (School of Art).

Dr. Marie-Hélène Gutberlet is the deputy professor in the field of film/video and the philosopher Dr. Sandra Lehmann the guest professor for perception theory (School of Art+Design).

In the winter semester (October) Dr. Felix Trautmann will take over the deputy professorship for perception theory (School of Art+Design).

Deputy professorships in the School of Design: Knut Völzke (Product Design/Colour) and Dr. Thilo Schwer (Product Language/Product Design).

On November 4, Prof. Frank Zebner is elected new Dean of the School of Design. He succeeds Prof. Dr. Markus Holzbach, who held the office for three years and was previously Vice-Dean in two terms from 2010 to 2016. Prof. Dr. Klaus Klemp is re-elected as Vice Dean. Prof. Dr. Martin Gessmann is still the Dean of Studies.

Juliane Rebentisch, Vice President and Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics at the HfG Offenbach, will teach at the Department of German at Princeton University as a Permanent Visiting Professor for three years starting in autumn 2019. She shares the visiting professorship with Joseph Vogl of HU Berlin and Inka Mülder-Bach of LMU Munich.

Appointments

In the summer semester (April), the artist Kerstin Cmelka has been appointed to the new professorship Performance in the Extended Field (School of Art).

In the winter semester, the artist Mike Bouchet, who lives in Frankfurt, has been appointed to the professorship of sculpture in the School of Art. 

Obituaries

Rortraut Pape, Professor of Film/Video since 2003, dies on April 14 after a serious illness.

On 24 April Theophil Zwang dies at the age of 94. From 1960 to 1987 he taught bookbinding at the HfG.

New building

The state of Hesse is acquiring land at the port in Offenbach for a new building for the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG). The purchase contract is concluded in April. The concrete planning for the new building of the entire university can now begin.

Friends of the HfG

On July 1, Hesse's Minister of Economics Tarek Al-Wazir joins the non-profit association freunde der hfg.

History

On 1 October the book "Offenbach am Main. Kultur im Sog des Nationalsozialismus" was presented. The study by historian Dr. Andreas Hansert was commissioned by the City of Offenbach and the HfG Offenbach and examines the role of Offenbach's cultural institutions and artistically and/or politically active personalities of the National Socialist era.

2018

People

Prof. Bernd Kracke is re-elected President of the University by the enlarged Senate on 30 January. His third term of office runs from September 2018 to September 2024.
​Prof. Alex Oppermann is elected as the new Dean of the School of Art, succeeding Prof. Klaus Hesse, who has been Dean for many years. Prof. Dr. Christian Janecke becomes the new Vice Dean, Prof. Heiner Blum remains Dean of Studies.
Prof. Siglinde Spanihel is retiring on 15 April after 31 years in her teaching field of furniture design and products for public spaces.
The artist and publicist Ariane Müller takes over the Friederichs endowed professorship for the winter semester 18/19 and teaches text and art.
​In the winter semester of 18/19, the artist Kitty Kraus takes over the substitute professorship in the field of sculpture.
In the winter semester 18/19 Dr. Sebastian Lederle takes over the guest professorship in the field of perception theory.

Obituary

Ari Leventopoulos, who worked at the HfG for 23 years, including in the art workshop, dies on 24 April.

Appointment

Heike Schuppelius is appointed Professor of Stage Design/Scenic Space for the winter semester 18/19. She succeeds Prof. rosalie, who died in June 2017.
Matthias Wagner K, director of the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt, and Sebastian Oschatz, interaction designer and founder of Meso Digital Intersiors, are appointed honorary professors in the field of design on 15 June. Wagner K teaches curating in the field of design, Oschatz teaches interaction design.

Family-friendly university

In May, the HfG receives the seal of approval "Family-friendly University of Hesse" and is thus one of the 48 particularly committed institutions of the state with this award.

Women professors programme

The HfG prepares the documentation of the implementation of its equality concept and submits it to the BMBF in May. The documentation is evaluated positively and the HfG can submit up to three professorships within the framework of the Federal Female Professors Programme III.

2017

People

Effective February 1, 2017 the financing of the Creativity in Urban Context Endowed Chair, which is currently held by Prof. Kai Vöckler, has been secured for a further five years by HfG Offenbach, the City of Offenbach, and Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft Offenbach (GBO).
​At the department council’s meeting on February 8, 2017 the dean’s office of the Department of Visual Communication was reelected for three years. Prof. Klaus Hesse begins a third term of office as Dean, as does Prof. Rotraut Pape as Vice Dean. Prof. Heiner Blum was confirmed as Dean of Studies.

Appointment

The author and book prize winner Frank Witzel has been appointed to the Heinz and Gisela Friederichs Foundation Endowed Professorship at HfG Offenbach as of winter semester 2017-18. He will teach in the Department of Text (School of Art) for two semesters.

Obituary

Prof. rosalie died on September 12. The internationally renowned artist had been Professor of Stage Sets and Costumes at HfG Offenbach since 1995.

LOEWE

The application submitted under the auspices of HfG Offenbach to the LOEWE state funding program entitled “Infrastructure – design – society. Design research in mobility systems for the development of multi-modal, environmentally friendly mobility in the Rhine-Main conurbation” has been accepted. With the funding worth EUR 3,594,476 the participating universities and cooperation partners will be able to implement their research projects over a period of four years.

Honor

Worth EUR 10,000 and bestowed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the 2017 Lessing Prize goes to the philosopher Juliane Rebentisch. She is Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics at HfG, and Vice-President of the university. This is the first time since Hannah Arendt was honored 60 years ago that the award has gone to a woman.

2016

People

On November 15, 2016 Prof. Markus Holzbach was elected Dean of the School of Design. He succeeds Prof. Frank Georg, who had held the office since 2010. Prof. Klaus Klemp was elected Vice Dean. Prof. Petra Kellner is still Dean of Studies.
In Hans-Kurt Herbert, head of in-house services, and Manfred Kappel, head of technical in-house services, two HfG institutions with a total of 50 years’ service have retired.
The design historian and product designer Lore Kramer celebrates her 90th birthday in August. From 1956 until 1974 Lore Kramer was a lecturer in Ceramics at HfG’s predecessor institution, and until 1988 she taught as a professor in the Department of Product Design at HfG.

Obituary

Prof. Dieter Lincke, Professor of Drawing, Illustration, and Book Design at HfG from 1979 until 2005, passed away on September 19, 2016.

Target agreements

In March, Minister of Higher Education Boris Rhein and the 13 university presidents signed the target agreements for 2016 to 2020. These determine specific targets and time frames with regard to implementation of the Hessen Higher Education Pact.

Appointment

As of winter semester 2016-17, the artist Britta Thie has been appointed to the Heinz and Gisela Friederichs Foundation Endowed Professorship. She will teach Performance for two semesters.

2015

Relaunch

After 12 months of intensive preparations by a working group comprising professors, editorial staff and students, the new HfG Offenbach website went online on February 18, 2015.

Higher Education Pact

On March 9, 2015 the Prime Minister of Hessen Volker Bouffier, the Minister of Higher Education Boris Rhein, and 13 presidents of universities in Hessen signed the Higher Education Pact for 2016 to 2020 in Wiesbaden.

Departments

As of winter semester 2015-16 the Departments of Visual Communication and Product Design are to be renamed the School of Art (for Visual Communication) and the School of Design (for Product Design).

DGÄ

For the next three years, HfG Offenbach is the seat of the German Aesthetics Association (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ästhetik, DGÄ). During this time Prof. Juliane Rebentisch, Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics at HfG, will be president of the association. Its next congress will be held in February 2018 at HfG Offenbach.

Building

On October 1, 2015 the State of Hessen announced what constituted a landmark decision for HfG Offenbach in favor of a new building in the Offenbach docks. This brought to an end a lengthy decision-making process that had begun with the Hessen university construction program HEUREKA I, which had concluded that the university was in need of a considerable amount of additional space. With the launch of the HEUREKA II program, the required new building can now be constructed.

Appointment

Effective October 1, 2015, the artist Susanne M. Winterling has been appointed to the Chair of Sculpture (School of Art) at HfG Offenbach. She succeeds Wolfgang Luy, who had held the Chair since 1989 and who retired at the end of summer semester 2015.

People

Wolfgang Luy, former Professor of Sculpture, is retiring after 26 years at HfG Offenbach. At an official ceremony in the auditorium attended by well over 100 guests he was bid a befitting farewell. From 1989 to 2015 Wolfgang Luy was Professor of Sculpture at HfG, and Rector and President from 1996 until 2000.

Women professors programme

The HfG receives a positive decision on its participation in the federal professors programme II. The university receives federal funds to use these funds to proportionately finance an already defined professorship. The funds released will be used to implement additional gender equality measures.

2014

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.

2013

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.

2012

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.

2011

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.

2010

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”.

2009

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.

2008

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).

2007

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.

2006

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.

2005

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.

2004
2003

Appointment

Berlin-based artist Rotraut Pape was appointed Prof. of Film/Video.

2002

Building

The topping-out ceremony for the west wing was held on February 7. In March, the first floor at Isenburger Schloss was completed.

2001

Building

In July work started on the west wing, an extension to the main building.

2000

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.

1900th
1999
1998

Appointments

Philosopher Burghart Schmidt as Professor of Language and Aesthetics, Offenbach artist Heiner Blum as Professor of Design Basics and Experimental Spatial Concepts

1997

Staffing

Wolfgang Luy, Professor of Sculpture, elected Dean of HfG.

HfG organized a guided tour for the first time.

1996

Appointment

rosalie, a Stuttgart-based artist, joined HfG as a Professor of Stage Design.

1995

Staffing

Wolfgang Sprang, Professor of Graphic Design, elected Dean.

Appointment

Frankfurt artist Manfred Stumpf was appointed Professor of Figurative Drawing.

1994

Building

HfG moved into its first rooms at Isenburger Schloss.

1993
1992
1991

Appointment

Austrian media artist Richard Kriesche was appointed Professor of Electronic Imaging.

1990

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.

1989
1988

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.

1987

Appointment

Creation of a new Chair of Painting (Prof. Adam Jankowski).

1986

Appointment

A new position was created in the Visual Communications department: the Chair of Sculpture.

1985
1984
1983

Appointment

The Product Design department filled a newly created post in Furniture Design. The Architecture department was closed with effect from September 30.

1982

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.

1981
1980

Hessen’s Ministry of Culture issued a decree on August 18 to close the Architecture Department with effect from September 30, 1983.

1979
1978
1977
1976

Degree examination regulations were introduced for the Graphic Design and Product Design departments.

1975
1974

Staffing

Illustrator Prof. Kurt Steinel was elected Principal.

1973
1972
1971

Staffing

An art historian, Prof. Hans Voss, was elected the first Dean of HfG Offenbach.

1970

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.

1969

The School Management and the Board of Trustees agreed on a charter for the establishment of a University of Art and Design.

1968

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.

1967
1966

An architect, Prof. Dieter Döpfner, was appointed Director of the School.

1965
1964

Dr. Hans Voss appointed Director of the School.

1963
1962
1961
1960
1959
1958
1957
1956
1955
1954

Henry Gowa appointed Director of the School of Applied Industrial Arts.

1953
1952
1951
1950
1949

The school was now called Offenbacher Werkkunstschule (Offenbach School of Applied Industrial Arts).

1948
1947
1946

The School for Master Craftsmen reopened in July. Director: Dr. Alexander Battes.

1945

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.

1944
1943

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.

1942
1941
1940
1939

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.

1938
1937

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.

1936
1935
1934

“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.

1933
1932
1931
1930
1929
1928

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.

1927
1926
1925
1924
1923
1922
1921
1920
1919
1918
1917
1916
1915
1914

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.

1913

Inauguration of and move into the school building next to Isenburger Schloss.

1912
1911
1910

Building

Start of construction work on the new school building planned by Professor Hugo Eberhardt next to a local castle, Isenburger Schloss.

1909
1908

The state government of Hessen authorized the School of Construction to be called “Baugewerkschule” (School for the Construction Trade).

1907
1906
1905
1904
1903

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

1902

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.

1901
1900
1800th
1899
1898
1897
1896
1895
1894
1893
1892
1891
1890

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)

1889
1888
1887
1886
1885

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.

1884
1883
1882
1881
1880
1879
1878
1877

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).

1876
1875

The City itself took charge of the school but entered in on negotiations with the state trade association for a higher grant.

1874
1873
1872

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.

1871
1870
1869
1868

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.

1867
1866
1865
1864
1863
1862
1861
1860

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.

1859
1858
1857
1856
1855
1854
1853
1852
1851
1850

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.

1849
1848
1847
1846

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.

1845
1844
1843
1842
1841

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.

1840
1839
1838
1837
1836
1835
1834
1833
1832

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.