Islands of Now

Islands of Now: no one is an island.

In this exhibition we once again present a diverse collection of works created by students in furniture design, photography, film, fashion & interior design and future engineering. Each work reflects strong engagement with contemporary challenges. Students are not only trained in their field; throughout their studies they also develop a sharp awareness of the social and societal issues that occupy us today. The projects show their reflection on the world and their place within it, emphasizing sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and innovation.

1. Collaboration & learning in realistic contexts

At KW1C we deliberately educate a new generation of professionals who move easily across boundaries: makers and thinkers who master their craft and switch smoothly between disciplines, roles, and perspectives. Society and the labor market are changing rapidly; professions are becoming more hybrid, teams more diverse, and issues more complex. In this context, collaboration is not a side note but the core of professional and human practice—both interdisciplinary, where knowledge areas intermingle, and multidisciplinary, where different expertises create value together.
Students work on real-world assignments with real clients and questions. They develop project skills such as alignment, planning, critical thinking, and handling feedback—both giving and receiving—building professional confidence and an eye for quality and impact.

2. AI Lab as catalyst

Inquiry-driven work with AI is an essential element. We invite students to use AI as a tool for exploration, analysis, design, and reflection. This sometimes rubs against more traditional methods and language, yet that tension is fertile: it demands precision, explicit choices, and a shared language between craft and technology. Students learn to pose clear research questions, assess sources critically, build step-by-step prototypes, and give targeted feedback—skills that make them more resilient and creative.
KW1C’s AI Lab serves as an open workshop and safe learning environment. Students and teachers jointly explore what new tools can do, compare methods, build workflows, and set clear ethical frameworks. We already see results: faster iterations, sharper analyses, richer concept development, and better mutual alignment. Craft does not disappear; it gains depth as digital possibilities and craftsmanship reinforce one another.