University of Art and Design Offenbach

Offenbach is the Hessen State University of Art and Design. Its tradition stretches back to the year 1832 when it was established as a craftsman’s school. Shortly afterwards it became a school of arts and crafts, a place where both practical arts and crafts and theoretical subjects were taught at the same time. In 1970, the school was transformed into a higher education establishment with university status (HfG Chronology).

Taking its lead from the educational and research models adopted by the Bauhaus and Hochschule für Gestaltung, the University of Design at Ulm, the teaching at HfG Offenbach is future-oriented and largely based on individual supervision and mentorship. Fine Art, Media and Design are taught using a modular structure, culminating in a Diplom, a degree. The course of studies lasts ten semesters and can be taken in one of two Schools – School of Art (with its four subject areas: Communications Design, Media, Fine Art and Stage & Costume Design or School of Design. The work in both departments is complemented by a comprehensive range of theory. Additionally, graduates from the fields of Fine Art, Design, Media and the associated sciences are offered the opportunity of studying for a PHD.

The Executive Board is responsible for all those matters that are not assigned to a different body by law. It runs the university and, supported by the Advisory Council and other bodies, the departments, members and their relatives, promotes the university’s purposeful inner and outward development. The Executive Board concludes target agreements, allocates budgets, conducts economic planning and approves the structural plans of the individual departments.

Library currently has a collection of artistic and academic works totaling more 46,000 media units. The collection is based on the university’s classes, research areas, and artistic themes. The collections main emphases, art/history of art, architecture, visual communication, product design and theater studies are complemented by basic literature from the fields of philosophy, sociology, media theory and cultural history.

The library is located on the 3rd floor of the main building at Schlossstrasse 31. During opening hours it serves as a reference library to all those with an interest in the subject. Only members of the university can take material out on loan. For further details please refer to the rules governing the use of the library.

The HfG-library/media library has ten individual reading and work stations, and 14 group work stations. Catalog and Internet research is possible at five stations.