Design Reach Impact
When design becomes visible—videography as a tool in the design process
The work explores how videography and design influence one another and how this interplay transforms the design process. Video is no longer merely a tool for documenting finished objects but becomes an integral part of the design itself.
It shapes form, material choices, production methods, and the context in which design is perceived making visibility a central design tool in the digital public sphere.
| student: | Friedrich Gerlach |
| mentored by: | Prof. Mareike Gast |
| year: | 2025 |
| level: | Master Thesis |
The project explores how videography and design influence one another and how this relationship transforms the design process in the digital age. Video is no longer used solely to document finished works but is understood as an active part of the design itself.
It shapes form, material choices, manufacturing processes, and the context in which an object exists. By making designs visible, explainable, and narratable, video becomes a design tool in its own right turning visibility into a resource that can be consciously shaped.
Through three experimental design processes, developed in collaboration with three companies, the work investigates how design evolves when the camera is considered from the outset.
The camera not only documents but also poses questions, sets emphases, frames meaning, and creates narratives.
In doing so, the process itself becomes part of the design made visible through concise videos created for digital platforms.
The result is three stools made from three recycled materials: plastic, leather, and glass. The project positions itself at the intersection of design, storytelling, and digital publics. It understands design not merely as material form but as a communicative act and asks how the role of designers shifts when their work is increasingly negotiated through visibility, media presence, and digital relevance.