Tiago Krusse: Apart from the work and production of the Creative Industries Styria: Which institutions provide fundamental support for the Design Month Graz?
Eberhard Schrempf: The Graz Design Month follows a slightly different concept than most design festivals. We create a context of content and create a platform of visibility for all partners. In addition, Creative Industries Styria, as the organizer, is responsible for the marketing and communication of the festival and thus also for all content, program items and contributions that come with a mission. The main difference to other festivals is that the partners deliver a finished program item into an umbrella system, which is checked by curators for quality and relevance. For example, the design institutes of the FH JOANNEUM, University for Applied Sciences, or the architecture faculty of the Graz University of Technology are important partners, if not accomplices. Curator Alice Stori-Liechtenstein, the operator of the Hollenegg Castle for Design, also contributes great program items every year through her initiative and exhibitions. This is important because the design month is “supported” by several partners. Design Month is seen as a period of time, the fifth season for design. The financial support from the state of Styria, the city of Graz, the tourism company and the sponsors are of course a crucial prerequisite for our access to design and creativity as relevant drivers for innovation or for the so-called triple transition. This means making significant contributions to digital, green and social transformation and giving designers the chance to offer their solutions for a sustainable and livable future. Design Month also does not follow a cash cow policy. We want to offer local creatives as well as international ones a platform for visibility, international exchange and relevance. If only studios and companies that pay for it can afford it, then we will become a design fair. That’s okay too – but that’s something completely different.
Under what economic conditions did Design Month Graz 2024 take place?
We are constantly faced with new challenges when it comes to financing. Although the Graz Design Month is the most important event of the year, its realization is still a challenge every year.
Has the challenging financial situation affected the level and quality of the program and exhibitions?
Not allowing that is a balancing act. Of course – we always have to reach for the ceiling. At the same time, demands are becoming ever higher and it is becoming more difficult to meet your own quality standards. At some point you find yourself in a paradoxical situation: a high reputation goes hand in hand with high standards and expectations – which are offset by consistent financing with high inflation. Usually the good advice comes with the stupid sayings “Necessity is the mother of invention” or “You just have to get creative”. I don’t think so – we’ve always been creative, otherwise we would never have gotten this far.
After so many successful editions with proven benefits for the community, how can it be that you continue to struggle every year to get the financial support to organize a festival of this size?
Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that it has apparently not been possible to anchor the relevance of what we do and the benefits that come from the design and creativity sector deeply enough in people’s minds. This means that those responsible cannot argue and defend the investments in the creative industries and their events – they prefer to take the easier route and not subject themselves to this strenuous discussion because they believe they can make better “political change” by doing so.
As we take a closer look at Design Month 2024, what were the biggest differences in this year’s edition?
In 2024, Designmonat Graz had a designated festival center for the first time in its 15-year existence: the former Hornig area behind Graz main train station. The abandoned industrial site, formerly the production site of a well-known Austrian coffee manufacturer, was the hub of events this year and, to a certain extent, the home base of our community. The program focused on the festival center and from here extended across the entire city and into various corners of Styria.
Has the fact that you are considered the driving force and main initiator of Designmonat Graz led to opponents or envy?
Of course there is always envy and resentment. To be honest, I’m a little happy about that too. Why? I’m really not a masochist – although I sympathize very much with Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who wrote his key work “Venus in Fur” in Graz, to which the concept of masochism can be traced back – but you have to get rid of envy and resentment first earn. If you are successful and have created something, you can, with the necessary humility, be a little proud of it. And those assholes who attack me for this usually have nothing adequate to show for themselves. They only see the flashlights and the media exposure – not the sweat and work.
What are your expectations for the future?
For the sake of the creative community, I hope that the design festival will be preserved. Perhaps Design Month will become a Design Biennale – the course has been set. Of course, the festival will have to continually reinvent itself in line with dynamic social developments. But I think one thing is extremely important: that you always take moments, spaces and time to give new developments and trends in design a platform of visibility and discourse. Including the experiment. So work optimistically, curiously and critically towards a better future.
How does Design Month Graz balance its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility while facing financial constraints, and what are the potential consequences of underfunding for future events?
Here’s an interview plan, incorporating your request for open-ended questions, thematic flow, and diverse viewpoints:
## World Today News Interview: Design Month Graz
**Guests:**
* **Eberhard Schrempf:** Main initiator and driving force behind Design Month Graz.
* **[Guest 2 – to be determined]:** Representative from a Graz-based design studio or creative institution, offering a different perspective on the festival’s impact and challenges.
**Introduction by Host:**
* Welcome viewers to the interview and introduce Eberhard Schrempf and the concept of Design Month Graz.
* Briefly highlight the event’s significance and its unique approach.
**Theme 1: The ‘Fourth Season’ for Design – Funding and Sustainability**
* **Host:** Eberhard, you mention Design Month being a “fifth season” for design in Graz. What does this concept represent, and how has it evolved over the years?
* **Host:** [Guest 2], from your perspective as a local creative practitioner, how significant is Design Month for Graz’s design scene?
* **Host:** The interview mentions the continual challenge of funding. Eberhard, why do you think securing consistent financial support is difficult, despite the event’s success and demonstrable benefits?
* **Host:** Eberhard characterized the festival as not being a design “fair,” aiming for inclusion rather than a for-profit model. [Guest 2], what are your thoughts on this approach, and how essential is inclusivity for fostering a vibrant design community?
**Theme 2: Design Month Graz 2024: Innovations and Reflections**
* **Host:** This year’s Design Month had a designated festival center for the first time. Eberhard, what was the thinking behind choosing this location, and how did it influence the program and overall experience?
* **Host:** [Guest 2], did the centralized festival area change the way you or other studios engaged with Design Month?
* **Host:** Eberhard, you mentioned the paradox of high reputation and expectations alongside financial constraints. How does the Design Month team balance these competing pressures, and what are the potential consequences of underfunding?
* **Host:** [Guest 2], what are your observations on how Design Month Graz has navigated these challenges, and what suggestions do you have for ensuring its long-term sustainability?
**Theme 3: Looking Ahead: The Future of Design Month Graz**
* **Host:** Eberhard, you express a vision of Design Month possibly evolving into a biennial event. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a change?
* **Host:** [Guest 2], what are your hopes and expectations for the future of Design Month Graz? What role should it play in the evolving landscape of design and creativity?
**Host**: Eberhard, you’ve described facing both praise and envy for Design Month’s success. How do you approach that criticism, and what message would you send to those who doubt its value?
* **Host:** Final thoughts from both guests on the importance of design and its potential to contribute to positive change in society.
**Closing:**
* Thank both guests for their insights.
**Additional Notes:**
* **Visuals:** Utilize relevant images and footage from past Design Month Graz events to enhance the viewer experience.
* **Audience Engagement:** Encourage viewers to share their thoughts and experiences with Design Month Graz on social media using a designated hashtag.
