The goal is to bring in as many people as possible, not just from Dessau but also from nearby cities like Magdeburg, Halle, Leipzig, and even Berlin. For the university, it’s a chance to show what we do and attract new students. For us, it’s about visibility — jobs, internships, and collaborations often come out of the connections made during DDS.

But have you ever thought about who’s behind the making of DDS? I’m not talking about the students showing their work — I’m referring to the people who create the posters, flyers, wayfinding systems, merch, marketing materials, and social media content. The ones who shape how the event looks, feels, and communicates to the outside world. This semester, I was part of that group.

I took on three main areas: I handled the merchandising, I led the KIOSK exhibition space, and I created the key visual proposal for the next DDS. I worked with a great team, but I naturally took the lead on most of the hands-on work and decision-making. Through the process, I learned that I work best when I take ownership of projects and keep the momentum going. This documentation is about my design thinking, the choices I made, and what came out of them.

Merchandising: Sticker Sheets and Vinyl Stickers

The idea to make stickers came from a simple observation: stickers always sell well. I wanted to create merch that felt useful, collectible, and connected to design culture — not just generic souvenirs. I chose five design icons that are recognizable and meaningful in our context: the Bialetti coffee maker, a Bauhaus chair, the squiggly cardboard chair, the Monoblock chair, and the university logo for the vinyl stickers and for the sticker sheets we just made pretty and funny stickers that we thought would look cool. Each of these objects carries its own visual weight and story, and together they form a small lexicon of design references.

I developed two formats. The sticker sheets were designed like standard sticker sheets you’d buy anywhere, with multiple icons arranged on one sheet. They were straightforward and familiar, easy to understand and use. The vinyl foil stickers were a different approach: individual cut-out shapes. I plotted the vinyl, removed the negative parts by hand (which took forever, you love and you learn to not do this ever again! haha), and applied transfer paper so that only the shapes remained. This made them suitable for sticking onto laptops, bottles, notebooks, and other surfaces.

Most of the production work was done by me. I chose the paper and vinyl materials, checked the print quality, sent and discussed for plotting and weeded the vinyl, and applied the transfer paper. The print workshop team was extremely helpful and supportive throughout. The merch was sold in the DDS shop during the event, and the response was encouraging. The Bauhaus chair and Monoblock chair stickers were particularly popular and sold very well. I’ve also started seeing the university logo stickers appearing on people’s belongings around campus and beyond, which feels like a clear sign that the idea landed.

KIOSK: Concept, Design, and Communication

The KIOSK is a student-run initiative: a small display corner on the street a couple blocks away from uni that looks like a stand or stall with two large display windows. It’s located on the corner of two busy streets, so it’s seen constantly by both cars and pedestrians. It’s an eye-catcher in itself, and because it constantly shows different content, it naturally attracts attention. I coordinated directly with the KIOSK team, obtained the keys, and mounted everything.

My goal for the KIOSK was to create a space that would inform people that DDS is an open event for everyone, explain what we do at the university — especially to people unfamiliar with it — and create a playful, bold, eye-catching display that invites people to come and look around. In short, I wanted to inform, attract visitors, and create atmosphere all at once.

For the window design, I used the current DDS key visual and poster and deconstructed it onto the windows using vinyl foil. The design included the key visual motif, the event dates, and the location. By breaking the poster down and placing it directly on the glass, turning the windows themselves into a communication surface — bold, graphic, and impossible to ignore from the street.

Inside the KIOSK, printed past student projects were displayed to give people a sense of what actually happens at the university. Works were selected by asking students directly whose projects were visually interesting, and by browsing the university’s documentation platform, Incom, where all projects are archived. The prints were hung in layers with no particular order, so they looked as if they were floating or flying around the space. This created a dynamic, slightly chaotic, but inviting atmosphere that matched the playful tone of the window design. The KIOSK ended up looking exactly as I had hoped: a visible, welcoming point of contact that communicated DDS clearly to passersby and played a strong role in marketing the event.

Key Visual Proposal for Next DDS?

It was an assignment for all students to create key visuals for the next DDS. I developed one key visual, and from that single concept I explored many poster options. In the end, I had three poster directions that I really liked. The proposal was strong enough for it to be suggested that I take it forward into the next semester. It is, again, currently a proposal, and it will now be my responsibility to build a team to develop the project further. (if anyone reading this is down for it then text me!)

The core idea behind the key visual is rooted in cultural identity, seasonal contrast, and diversity of practice. The poster is inspired by traditional Mexican rótulos, a hand-painted lettering style that is widely recognized and culturally significant, particularly in Mexico City. These works are known for their expressive character, bold use of color, and strong connection to everyday urban life. Referencing this visual language introduces a sense of warmth, personality, and human presence into the design.

The use of vibrant colors is also a deliberate response to the seasonal context. As the upcoming semester takes place during winter in Germany, a time often associated with gray tones and reduced visual energy, the poster aims to create contrast and bring a sense of liveliness. The color palette helps the design stand out while making it more inviting and approachable.

The interpretation of the key visual focuses on variety and diversity as a core concept of the design. This reflects both the wide range of projects created at the university and the diversity within its creative community — different perspectives, processes, and visual languages coexisting. Instead of resolving into a single aesthetic, the design embraces multiple approaches. This concept is deeply personal to me as someone with Mexican heritage living and studying in Germany, and it felt important to bring that perspective into the visual identity of DDS.

Reflection

I’m genuinely proud of all three areas. The stickers were a hit and clearly resonated with people. The KIOSK looked amazing and fulfilled its communicative purpose. The key visual proposal is strong enough to be taken into the next semester as a serious direction.

This and last semester have been particularly hard for me creatively. I felt like I was in a strong creative slump, and working in teams felt more draining than usual. It became clear that I need to be careful about how much I rely on others for the outcome of a project. A lot of decisions need to be made, from what paper to use for the stickers, which icons to include and which to make in vinyl versus sticker sheet format, how the KIOSK windows would look and how the projects would be arranged inside, and the overall concept and visual language of the key visual proposal.

Two main lessons stand out. First, I realize (like in every project hahaha) I need to let go of some perfectionism in order to keep moving. Second, I learned that if I want a certain quality or outcome, I have to be prepared to take responsibility for it. These insights don’t make teamwork impossible for me, but they do clarify the conditions under which I work best: when I have clear ownership, can make decisions quickly, and can trust my own judgment, but also I think it is key to know your team and chooose the people that are working with you with careful attention.

Conclusion

This semester’s DDS work was a significant moment in my development as a designer and organizer. I pushed myself to take on visible, public-facing responsibilities and to follow them through from idea to installation. The merchandising and KIOSK concepts were well received and clearly contributed to the event’s visibility and success. The key visual proposal feels like a strong foundation for the next DDS, and I’m motivated to develop it further with a team.

Most importantly, I learned how I work best under pressure and in collaborative contexts — and I’m taking that knowledge into the next semester with a clearer sense of my own process and boundaries.