Material – advancedMaterial –

Course content.
In the “Materials – advanced” minor, you will expand the idea of material to include alternative perspectives beyond standard production conditions of materials in confrontation with current sociopolitical debates. Moreover, you will research materials on an explorative-experimental basis and consolidate your theoretical and practical knowledge of biological agents such as fungi, algae and microbial ecologies. You will learn how designers, producers and materials complement one another and interact in the collective creation process in a series of interactive, systematic experiments. Materialities and material issues become the platform for a critical enquiry into current and future challenges in the area of sustainable raw material use. The knowledge and experience gained from the “Materials – basic” and “Materials – advanced” minors are bundled to transfer economic-environmental disparities, material issues and material cycle utopias to discursive interventions in the public sphere, where they reflect socially relevant issues in a materially engaging manner.

Skills acquired in the course.
You learn to:
–  evaluate the potential and challenges of materials at the interface between social and creative trends from transdisciplinary perspectives.
–  hold critical discussions on material and design, position your own stance in scientific discourse, and transfer it into design practice. 
–  investigate materials systematically in experimental terms, and transfer their characteristics to speculative, future-oriented scenarios.
–  understand materials in both a historical and a current context, and apply creative-artistic methods and formats of instruction to impart the resulting knowledge to society. 

Admissions requirements.
Z-Tech-Workshop-Pass (low-level workshop) with confirmation is required or has to be acquired by the start of the minor module (calendar week 2). Previous experience/knowledge in theory, design or artistic practice with living organisms.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  German and English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  German or English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  German and English: to understand a text
–  German or English: to write a text

Benefits of studying this minor.
The minor reacts to material discourse in society, the arts, design and politics, and leads to innovative material developments and instructional scenarios. 
It includes excursions to centres of expertise, research institutions, workshops and current exhibitions on the topic of material. Lectures and talks with external experts from materials science, design and artistic production are also planned. Students combining both the “Materials – basic” and the “Materials – advanced” minors will gain a deeper understanding of materials, their origins, and their cycles.

Time structure.
The minor takes place as a full-day course in the minor weeks in week 2 to 4 and week 8 to 10 and continues on Friday afternoons during the semester.

→ Semester dates ZHdK
→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.