“Designers in Residence” is an international scholarship program of the city of Pforzheim for young designers from the fields of jewelry, fashion, accessory and industrial design, which is announced annually in cooperation with Pforzheim University and the Design Center Baden-Württemberg. A total of three scholarships are awarded by the jury. From April to June 2021, the scholarship holders worked on their projects, facing some challenges this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Naama Levit was unfortunately unable to travel to Pforzheim, and therefore completed her fellowship in her chosen home of New York. Due to entry restrictions and delays in the visa process, Marina Aleksashina was only able to come to Pforzheim one month late, and Caio Mahin was able to arrive at short notice after the entry ban from Portugal was lifted in early April. Therefore, quarantine times, zoom conversations, WhatsApp groups with food pictures, lockdowns and a high degree of flexibility were part of the everyday work of the scholarship holders.

Despite all the difficulties and the physical separation, the result is a joint exhibition by the three fellows. Each room opens up a world in which visitors can trace their experiences as a queer child, their search for their own identity in the midst of prejudices and role expectations, or discover a place created from decontextualized materials and forms from New York streets.

Scholarship holders
Marina Aleksashina, Russia
Naama Levit, Israel/USA
Caio Mahin, Brazil/Portugal

Jury
Sam Tho Duong
Amelie Gaydoul
Stefan Lippert