Rundgang ABK Stuttgart 2021

Utilizing latest tools and technology to create a punchy identity for the annual exhibition of the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design that took place exclusively online.

Due to the fact that the 2021 annual exhibition took place solely online and therefore lacked a crucial aspect – the personal connection between exhibitors and their audience – the students take the leading role in the key visuals, accompanied by a bespoke variable typeface and a playful kinetic system.

The website includes a digital exhibition space showcasing over 1,600 student projects, a platform with an extensive streaming service, and a web shop that offers merchandise designed especially for the event.

Visitors can explore the projects of more than 550 students either at random, reflecting the vibrant unpredictability of the academy, or through a complex network of filters that emphasizes the academy’s interdisciplinary approach.

LiDAR, a technique commonly applied in geographical research or exploratory data analysis, is used to capture the students. By sampling light measurement data, point clouds are generated to create abstract representations of the students.

To complement the 3D captures, a bespoke variable font is developed that combines sharp edges and smooth geometries, allowing for multiple modifications and a playful kinetic system.

To bring the digital exhibition to the physical space, a modified version of the website, which displays the students’ projects in random order, is installed on an LED wall on the campus. 

Additionally, the academy’s own billboard column is covered with tags that are used on the website to categorize and filter the students’ work.

The accompanying merchandise includes a self-referential hint which is also a subdomain to a website where people can interact with the articles in a playful way.

All students were encouraged to participate in the social media campaign to announce the digital exhibition by sharing their own posters with the provided 3D and typographic animations.

In collaboration with the industrial design department, a custom livestream studio was built. The exhibition identity’s main color scheme doubles as a green screen, enhanced by live video processing to showcase all kinds of musical performances by students.