In 1995, Merz Akademie’s New Media pathway was one of the first institutions in Europe to educate Interaction Designers. In 1999, it was the first to offer an Internet Art and Web Design curriculum.
Next to Web Design and Application development, we offer courses on Computational Design, Immersive Environments, Spacial Interaction, Interfaces for Mobile devices and Physical Computing. Our students get advanced and up to date technical training, theory courses in Digital Aesthetics, the History and Perspectives of Computer Culture, along with seminars on the principles of visualization and interaction.
Project work is centered around actual network and interaction concepts, based on current research, reflecting visions and ideals of design and networking pioneers. Open Source ethics, Do It Yourself principles and respect for computer users and their culture play an important role in the process of education.
Students can participate in interface design and art research projects in cooperation with German and international partners. Established connections to local and European art institutions enable our students to take part in exhibitions and festivals, get involved in the work of core media art events and individual artists.
Among our teachers are acknowledged theoreticians, designers, developers, musicians and artists: Johannes Auer, Aram Bartholl, Manuel Bürger, Dragan Espenschied, Sabiha Ghellal, Yunchul Kim, Jörg Frohnmayer, Johannes p. Osterhoff, Beat Suter, Hans Peter Wyss, and many more. Studies are guided by Prof. Olia Lialina, net artist and digital culture researcher, and Prof. Mario Doulis, interface designer and Virtual Reality expert.
Our graduates are known for mastering their media. They can see over hypes and trends, they know how to narrate in digital environments, how to script users, engage with online communities and stage interactions.
Internship possibilities: design, web, game and interaction design agencies around the globe, scientific labs (like Fraunhofer Institute), new media art institutions, software companies, design agencies.
Job perspectives: interface designer, web designer, media strategist, information architect, media artist, researcher.
Academic perspectives: MA in Digital Culture, Interface Design, Media Art.