Our mission
With us, design is at the centre. In the heart of Hamburg's HafenCity, we offer design promotion and space for exhibitions, events, projects and exchange both within and with the industry.
Design Zentrum Hamburg
The Design Zentrum Hamburg is the city's initiative for the promotion and visibility of the industry. On the way to the ecological-social transformation of the economy and society, design is considered one of the key competences. The Design Zentrum Hamburg makes the significance and potential of the design industry and its actors visible. With our funding programmes, discussions and further education formats, we create offers for young designers, solo self-employed people and established agencies or companies with an affinity for design. As a network and incubator for new ideas, we promote interdisciplinary exchange at eye level with designers, universities and business. Through our exhibitions, events and experiments in HafenCity, we open ourselves up as a citizen-friendly ideas space for the city.
Since 2018, we have been part of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, the location initiative for the creative industries of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. As the former designxport, since its opening in 2014 we have taken over the previous tasks of urban design promotion of the hamburgunddesign° initiative founded in 1995 by the then Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and are supported accordingly with funds from the Ministry of Culture and Media.
Design in Hamburg
We are a contact point and hub for over 12,000 designers who live and work in the Hanseatic city. As freelancers, in design offices, in international agency networks or in companies, they make Hamburg a lively design metropolis. With an annual turnover of around 3 billion euros, the design industry is one of the relevant economic sectors and thus shapes the face and character of the city, not only in terms of design. We support the design industry in its growth, further development and transformation processes and act as an intermediary between industry, business and the design sector.
Team
As director of the Design Zentrum Hamburg, Frances Uckermann is responsible for the conceptual orientation. She positions the interdisciplinary and internationally oriented centre as a network, incubator for concrete projects and debate venue. She studied Fine Arts and Visual Communication and worked as a creative director for major media brands.
Annika Fitz oversees events, is responsible for talent development and building interdisciplinary networks in the areas of young talent, innovation, sustainability and transformation. She studied Industrial Design at the HFBK Hamburg. Her design spectrum ranges from product and interior design for agencies to process design.
Miriam Hinternesch ist im Design Zentrum Hamburg Ansprechpartnerin für den Bereich Kommunikation. Sie ist verantwortlich für die Sichtbarkeit der diversen Veranstaltungen und Programme, kümmert sich um neue Content-Formate und betreut die sozialen Kanäle des Design Zentrums. Kreativen Themen widmete sich Miriam Hinternesch bereits zuvor, sowohl in journalistischer Arbeit als auch im Agentur-Umfeld. Ihr Weg führte nach einem Bachelorstudium im niederländischen Enschede und Stationen in Dänemark und Berlin schließlich für einen Master in Journalistik und Kommunikationswissenschaft nach Hamburg. Zuletzt schrieb sie Nachrichten in der Redaktion der Deutschen Presse-Agentur.
Christoph Umhau ist Ansprechpartner für Veranstaltungen und Vermietung im Design Zentrum Hamburg. Er absolvierte eine Ausbildung zum Veranstaltungskaufmann bei einer Konzertagentur in Berlin und studiert jetzt Kultur der Metropole an der HafenCity Universität. Freiberuflich ist er außerdem als Redakteur und Projektmanager für verschiedene kulturelle Institutionen wie Haus der Kulturen der Welt und Körber-Stiftung tätig. Er bewegt sich beruflich also zwischen Veranstaltungen, Kultur, Politik und Musik.
Philipp Götz kommuniziert für das Design Zentrum Hamburg, das FABRIC – Future Fashion Lab und das Programm Frei_Fläche der Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. Seit seinem Studium an der Universität Hamburg und der Leuphana Universität bewegt sich der Kulturwissenschaftler an der Schnittstelle von Kommunikation, Architektur und Stadtentwicklung. Ob Gruner + Jahr, Internationale Bauausstellung oder Denkmalschutzamt – beruflich hat Philipp die Stadt bereits aus unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln kennengelernt. Zuletzt war er im Bereich PR für den Bildungsbau der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg tätig.
Beirat
Arne Schultchen
As founder and creative lead at design for human nature responsible for the design of brands, products, packaging and spatial concepts for renowned national and international clients.
Website
Katrin Oeding
Multi-award-winning designer and jury member of the largest international creative festivals, founder and managing director of Studio Oeding.
Website
Partner
Partner
