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Lab

A Lab for Rapid
Prototyping

Curatorial-driven, the LAB is an innovation laboratory and incubator promoting research, multidisciplinary studies, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of complex ideas and networks. The LAB will inform practice in the field of design and enable the development new strategies and special projects in the museum.

Key research clusters include:

  • Creating Rapid Response Curatorial Strategies
  • Rethinking permanent collection displays
  • Proposing new ways of collecting and exhibiting design
  • Creating new opportunities/partnerships for the Museum
  • Creating new modes of curatorial work
  • Developing new types of collaboration among SKD museums
  • Exploring new platforms for public interaction
  • Serving as an incubator to develop new design projects within the digital strategy of the museum


The LAB will host a series of residencies, workshops, and partner events possibly leading to exhibitions, products or services, and publications. Its programme involves collaboration with local and international universities, companies, research institutions, scholars and partners from all over Germany and abroad. 

Beyond the Garden

Plant Journeys

Building upon their recent research and adopting The Manifesto of Phyto-centred Design as a compass for further critical reflection, the founders of studio d‑o-t‑s will establish connections with local institutions and practitioners active in the field of plant cultivation, education, and conservation.

The Manifesto of Phyto-centred Design [texts: studio d-o-t-s, graphic design: Matthieu Visentin], 2020 Photo © Olly Cruise
Beyond the Garden

Pioneers of Design Education

New Perspectives on German Schools of Decorative Arts before the Bauhaus

This Transnational network explores the history of German schools of decorative arts between 1850 and 1920. Although early German Schools of Decorative Arts were pioneers of modern design, they still lack basic art historical research.

Women's class of Prof. Margarete Junge at the Königlich-Sächsische Kunstgewerbeschule Dresden, 1911, © Archive of the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden, picture archive, Sign. 08.01/15
Pioneers of Design Education

Themis real time

Avatar for ecosystems that claim their rights

What if our views on democracy evolved further and would develop into an ecocracy, where next to humans, as well ecosystems and non-human species would have (equal) rights and were included into decision making processes.

Themis real time

MADE IN

Platform for Contemporary Crafts & Design

Made in Platform for Contemporary Crafts & Design is a research, design, and heritage initiative encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange between traditional craftspeople and contemporary designers, as well as other experts in the fields of culture and science.

MADE IN

THE LANGUAGE OF PLANTS

Nature Interventions

In the interplay between botanical observations, free design experiments, the reading of design-historical and current texts, discussions, design workshops and design exercises, new approaches to the historically significant design collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts will be sought as nature interventions”, integrated into the garden culture that can be directly experienced in Pillnitz.

THE LANGUAGE OF PLANTS

Circular Design Challenge 2023

an International Summer Workshop under the umbrella of the New European Bauhaus

This 9‑day program will provide the latest insights, tools and methods for circular design in the fields of construction and product design and guide you in conception of innovative solutions for repurpose of end-of-life components.

Circular Design Challenge 2023

BROT

Baking The Future

A loaf or slice of bread may seem simple, but there is a curious complexity to the matter of bread. From geopolitical contexts to microbiological processes to multi- sensory experiences, bread and bread making can open up a whole new universe and pathway for transformative design practices. Together with the curator Thomas Geisler, the design duo Chmara.Rosinke addresses and explores the complexity of bread in this year’s Austrian pavilion at the London Design Biennale 2023.

BROT

Dresdner Zimmer reloaded

a pop-up workshop for design-oriented, regional craftsmanship

Dresdner Zimmer is a showroom and communication concept showcasing interior design from Dresden and the surrounding region.

Dresdner Zimmer reloaded