PATCHWORK collection

Research: How we began?

Before diving into the design process, we set out to understand what the Hochschule Anhalt community truly wanted from their merchandise. Through a campus visit to Köthen and a survey across all three campuses, we gathered insights into how students perceive their university. While each campus is described in unique ways—some call it big and bustling, others small and cozy—one thing became clear: their expectations for merchandise were remarkably similar. Students wanted fresh, colorful designs that capture both the modern spirit and heritage of Hochschule Anhalt. They also expressed interest in expanding beyond the usual hoodies and t-shirts, with requests for items like socks and scarves. With these insights in mind, we began shaping a collection that truly reflects the university experience.

Challenge: More than just a logo on a hoodie

The Hochschule Anhalt online shop had a problem—no real identity. It was just the university logo slapped on a hoodie, a t-shirt, or a water bottle. Functional? Maybe. But inspiring? Not really.

Merchandise should be more than a souvenir—it should be something people actually want to wear and use, something that represents the university experience in a meaningful way. How do we create a visual identity for the merchandise that feels relevant, unifying, and uniquely Hochschule Anhalt?

HSA is spread across three campuses, each with a distinct focus—Köthen is all about business, programming, and innovation; Bernburg is rooted in agriculture and nature; and Dessau is the home of architecture and design. How do we bring all these different worlds together in a way that makes sense?

The Turning Point: From Fragmentation to Unity

Our first instinct was to create separate designs for each campus—tailoring visuals for Köthen, Bernburg, and Dessau individually. But the more we tried, the more it felt disconnected. Each concept made sense on its own, but as a collection, they lacked cohesion.

We realised: trying to highlight every difference was pulling the project apart instead of bringing it together.

That’s when we flipped the approach. Instead of focusing on differences, what if we celebrated diversity as a whole?

Solution: The Patchwork Metaphor

The idea of patchwork resonated immediately. Many different pieces—different students, different disciplines, different campuses—all coming together to create something bigger, something whole.

As we explored this concept, we found inspiration in the Bauhaus weaving workshop, where textile artists like Anni Albers created intricate woven patterns from individual threads, embodying the same principle we were after: individuality within unity.

The Dessau campus buildings—inspired by Bauhaus itself—became another key element. Their geometric forms gave us a natural visual language to work with.

The final design concept became a modular pattern—a system of patches, pixels, or constructor pieces that can be easily adapted and adjusted for different products. It reflects Hochschule Anhalt’s diversity while still feeling like one cohesive identity.

Designing Our Pattern

Design process of the bottle opener

One of the problems we address in our collection was something every student has experienced at a party—the classic question: „Does anyone have a bottle opener?“

We’d heard it too many times, so we decided to do something about it.

During the design process of the bottle opener, we initially developed two different concepts. One of the designs featured sharp edges, which proved to be uncomfortable and caused discomfort when held. To address this issue, we refined the design by smoothing out the edges for better ergonomics and user comfort. Additionally, as part of the final iteration, we incorporated a strap to enhance convenience and usability. We settled for a pixelated logo because it is more cohesive with our collection and also more effective in opening bottles. This redesign ensured a more functional and user-friendly product.

Finalization

With our concept solidified, we finalized the product range by categorizing them into two main sections: textiles and accessories. The textile collection includes hoodies, t-shirts, and the newly introduced scarves and socks, while the accessories feature items like water bottles and tote bags, all designed within our modular patchwork identity. As we wrapped up the project, we focused on refining the final presentation—showcasing not just the products themselves, but the journey behind them. From research to design, from concept to creation, our goal was to present a collection that feels cohesive, meaningful, and truly representative of the Hochschule Anhalt community.