Guest Lectures: Josua Roters

On October 20, 2025, designer Josua Roters visited the Design Campus of Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle to talk about his work, his path through his studies, and what good design means to him. Open and approachable, he shared what he has taken from his time as a student and how curiosity, experimentation, and joy in making continue to shape his practice.
Roters emphasized that studying design means having the freedom to try, to fail, and to learn from it. For him, it’s not about perfection but a conscious attitude toward making: a prototype doesn’t have to be flawless but should clearly communicate its idea. Within a limited timeframe, it’s about setting priorities and asking where can I simplify without losing the essence? This way, results stay coherent and achievable. Equally important is remaining open to new tools and techniques—sometimes learning something unfamiliar works better than holding on to what feels safe.
Through his projects – including the Maßbandleuchte, the On-Off Light Switch, and his master’s project Cable Mania – Roters showed how everyday observations can evolve into distinct design concepts. The Maßbandleuchte merges the mechanism of a measuring tape with a flexible light source, combining function and interaction. The On-Off Light Switch rethinks energy use and attention through a simple physical gesture.
His lecture highlighted design as a balance between idea and form—and as an attitude grounded in openness, communication, and genuine enjoyment.