Recap: DIVE’25

From May 8th to 10th, the FAT CAT in Munich transformed into a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary exchange under the title DIVE’25 – Design trifft Politik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Erster Bundeskongress Design. For three days, keynotes, panels, workshops, and roundtables explored how design not only shapes but also assumes responsibility.

With over 80 speakers, DIVE’25 offered an exceptionally broad platform for perspectives, visions, and concrete courses of action. At its core was the question: What role can and should design play in shaping our future? The following impressions show only a small excerpt of a program whose scope and diversity reached far beyond. DIVE’25 began with an open arrival—over coffee, tea, and conversation. Fittingly, the theme of the opening speech was: “Before you dive, you must jump.”

On the second day, Boris Kochan, President of the German Design Council and co-organizer of DIVE’25, encouraged attendees to shape the day themselves rather than just being swept along by the program. An interaction wall collected thoughts, wishes, and criticism—with direct implementation: real-time improvement instead of rigid structures.

The talk Shaping Memory—What Does Remembrance Culture Have to Do with Design? by Prof. Dr. Mirjam Zadoff was originally scheduled to open the second day. However, due to the reopening of the NS Documentation Center Munich the day before, she swapped slots with Thilo von Debschitz The day began instead with a powerful reading: Robert Dölle from the Munich Residenztheater recited selected poems by Curt Bloch—an emotional prelude to the following lecture Creativity as a Survival Strategy—Curt Bloch and His Underwater Cabaret.

The day continued with presenter and designer Julia Peglow, who guided the audience through the transitions between topics and brought seemingly disparate perspectives into dialogue. Her introduction paved the way for a sharp thematic shift—from memory culture and political narratives to the world of design and fashion. This deliberate contrast underscored how design operates across cultural boundaries and aesthetic domains. 

Further into the program, the session The Revolution of Inclusion—Design Between Diversity and Exclusion in the Carl-Orff-Saal explored the role of design in the tension between participation and exclusion—a central question for presenter Universal Design.

Things got especially interesting in the Best Cases KI session in the Black Box, which showcased practical applications of artificial intelligence. Vincent Powell and Florian Rabl from Ice Space Studios emphasized that creative AI solutions depend primarily on asking the right questions. Lukas Cottrell from Peter Schmidt Group presented projects in which AI creates personalized and connected brand experiences—going beyond mere efficiency gains. Ivana Radovanovic from Mutabor shared insights from her work and advocated for cultivating an environment where mistakes are dealt with transparently and constructively as well as a conscious use of AI, removed from pressure to cut costs or optimize efficiency. A concluding panel discussion brought together perspectives from design, law, and strategy.

On Saturday, Marina Bräm spoke about infographics and disinformation. She offered a deep exploration of design as a precise tool in decision-making processes. Another highlight of the program: the keynote by climate activist Luisa Neubauer, who joined live to talk about civil engagement and the courage to create change: “Courage is a muscle. The first step is the hardest.”

The event concluded with a conversation featuring Karin Wolff, Prof. Lutz Engelke, and Prof. Dr. Sandra Groll—a multifaceted exchange about design as a political language and its role in a changing society. With DIVE’25, a significant start has been made—for new alliances, bold ideas, and a confident design mindset. We celebrate that it was made possible and look forward to more DIVES to come.

© Photos: Samira Niedermayer, Peer Koop, Norman Posselt