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is a platform for parametric design in graphic design. It documents the work of students and teachers at the Department of Design at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), who are investigating the significance of the system as a conceptual model and design method under the title “Parametric Design in Graphic Design.”

Design is less about intuitive, even ingenious “strokes of genius” and more about a holistic and rule-based (systemic and systematic) process of gaining knowledge and shaping form. It is becoming increasingly important to be able to design dynamic systems that both guide and inspire the design process.

Parametric design refers to this design in and of systems—with rules, their modes of operation, and systematic manipulability. The research project, led by Prof. Heike Grebin, is an integral part of teaching and aims to raise awareness of design as a performative process.

Play the System brings together selected study projects in which the system plays an important role as a design method – whether analog or digital. The works are created in a fruitful symbiosis of theory, design, and technology. Socially relevant issues and positions from philosophy, art, and avant-garde design from around 1900 to the present day are repeatedly discussed.

Play the System is an invitation to become aware of the systemic competence of graphic design and to gain the maturity to use the tools of digital design critically.

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Manifestos. Deconstruction. Analog

w29 / Manifestos. Deconstruction. Analog

Construction as Commentary

w8 / Construction as Commentary

Manifestos. Construction. Analog

w27 / Manifestos. Construction. Analog

A Bit of a Workshop

w1 / A Bit of a Workshop

Typography With Attitude

w55 / Typography With Attitude

Fan Scans for Scan Fans

w13 / Fan Scans for Scan Fans

Hands on Tools. Kinetic Typographic

w18 / Hands on Tools. Kinetic Typographic

Verbal Intervention

w57 / Verbal Intervention

Line System

w24 / Line System

Poster Studies. Analog

w37 / Poster Studies. Analog

Found Poetry

w14 / Found Poetry

Humboldt and the Wrath of God

w19 / Humboldt and the Wrath of God

Get Fast and Loud!

w16 / Get Fast and Loud!

System Font

w45 / System Font

w20 / Karl’s Box

Chances. Risks. Side Effects

w5 / Chances. Risks. Side Effects

Courage to Rage

w9 / Courage to Rage

Potential Poem

w38 / Potential Poem

Algorithm with Turbo Pascal

w2 / Algorithm with Turbo Pascal

w41 / Show the Flag!

w34 / ParaMat (Karl’s Kasten)

Repetition. Rhythm. Pattern

w40 / Repetition. Rhythm. Pattern

Mount Everest

w31 / Mount Everest

w10 / Deconstruction and Feminism

On Democracy

w33 / On Democracy

Planned Work

w35 / Planned Work

Poster Series

w36 / Poster Series

Sound’n’Type

w42 / Sound’n’Type

w21 / Kinetic Experiments

w28 / Manifestos. Construction. Digital

Collage as Commentary

w6 / Collage as Commentary

Type. Space. Motion

w49 / Type. Space. Motion

Manifestos. Affirmation. Analog

w25 / Manifestos. Affirmation. Analog

Sweet Sixteen

w44 / Sweet Sixteen

w30 / Manifestos. Deconstruction. Digital

Typo Out Loud. Affirmation

w56 / Typo Out Loud. Affirmation

Type Out Loud. Construction

w50 / Type Out Loud. Construction

A Workshop for a Workshop

w4 / A Workshop for a Workshop

Group Picture. Studio

w17 / Group Picture. Studio

w11 / Dis(Order) of Knowledge

Color. Form. Grid.

w7 / Color. Form. Grid.

w47 / Transformation

Structure & Movement

w43 / Structure & Movement

Theme-Centered Interaction

w46 / Theme-Centered Interaction

Layer It!

w22 / Layer It!

Light. Layers. Typography

w23 / Light. Layers. Typography

Dream Spaces

w12 / Dream Spaces

Print or So

w39 / Print or So

Type & Politics

w48 / Type & Politics

Type Out Loud. Deconstruction

w51 / Type Out Loud. Deconstruction

From 2D to 3D and Back

w15 / From 2D to 3D and Back

A Poem as You Like It

w3 / A Poem as You Like It

w32 / Moving Type. First Steps

Visual Systems

w58 / Visual Systems

Typography in Space

w54 / Typography in Space

Typo Basis 3D

w52 / Typo Basis 3D

w26 / Manifestos. Affirmation. Digital

w53 / Typography As an Event