Cultural and academic inspiration

For over a decade, the Faculty of Design has maintained close ties with several Colombian universities. In addition to traditional student and staff exchange programmes, the range of exchange opportunities also includes extensive research and collaboration projects. The Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (UPB) in Medellín and Bucaramanga, as well as the Universidad del Rosario and the Universidad de Medellín, offer, amongst other things, a wide range of programmes focused on interdisciplinary collaboration and double degrees. 

A key focus is on the innovative minor programme ‘Multi-Perspective Societal and Nature-Centred Engagement’, which awards students a total of 30 credits, as well as on the certificate programme ‘Certificación en Creative Intercultural Works UPB – HAWK’. The collaboration promotes intercultural exchange in key areas such as colour and product design, metalwork and jewellery, interior design and communication design.

As part of the exchange programme, Prof. Markus Schlegel from the Colour Design research group ran a total of seven workshops on the topic of ‘Biophilic Colour Schemes & Biomaterials’ during the summer term. Over 60 students and lecturers took part in the workshops, which were held at the universities in Bogotá and Medellín. The workshops aim to strengthen collective knowledge about the connection between colour design, biomaterials and sustainable use of space. The events covered fundamental principles.

The Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá and HAWK celebrated their collaboration by opening the exhibition ‘HAWK Werkschau at UDR/IIT Bogotá’ at the Creación (FaCrea) Faculty. Here, they presented projects such as ‘Redefining Coca’, ‘BodyrelatedColour’ and ‘BiophilicColourSchemes’, which highlight the creative link between theory and practice.

The projects form the basis for joint studies, Master’s theses and research initiatives, such as the Master’s thesis ‘Biophilic Colour Schemes in Interior Spaces’, on which Sanja Krömer is working during the 2026/2027 winter semester at the Universidad El Bosque in Bogotá. In addition, the universities are collaborating closely in the field of biomaterials, including at the “Biomaterial-LAB” at the Universidad de Medellín, to develop new applications for “skin tones” and biomaterials.

The exchange programmes play a key role in broadening cultural and academic perspectives in colour and product design, metalwork and jewellery, interior design and communication design in the long term. They strengthen international networking and promote innovative approaches that enrich both the local and global design and research communities.

The Colombia Teaching Exchange was funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).