WDC Campus 2026 Turns Frankfurt Museum of Applied Arts into Planet-Centric Design Lab

The WDC Campus, part of World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, is set to transform the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Arts into a practical laboratory focused on planet-centric design. From July 3 to August 9, 2026, the campus will showcase a summer exhibition featuring over 150 interdisciplinary projects from more than 20 universities worldwide, along with engaging workshops. The initiative, themed 'Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a Better Life,' emphasizes a shift from human-centric to planet-centric design, investigating a carbon-neutral circular economy. Roland Lambrette of Design FRM GmbH highlights the campus as a hub for innovative creators. The exhibition will present award-winning designs from Hessen Design, RIMOWA Design Prize, DDC Award, and Red Dot Design Award. A three-day festival will kick off the campus from July 3-5, 2026, and will be free for all. Workshops at the WDC Hub will begin in mid-April 2026, featuring 'Design with Attitude' by Diana Tayo Osobu and 'CorpseCraft No. 6–7 – Bauhaus Future Fiction series' led by Prof. Markus Weisbeck and Vera Kunz, connecting students, start-ups, and research institutions to tackle social and ecological issues.