Prof. Dipl.-Des. Stefan Theiss

Born in 1967 near Stuttgart; studied at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, specialising in communication design. Has been teaching internationally since 2001, specialising in identity design, information design and transcultural design.

Teaching since 2001

_Delivering seminars and lecture series on theory and practice

_Interdisciplinary university seminars and projects

_Collaborative projects with external partners

_Planning and running workshops and real-world projects

_Supervision of student project work

_Supervising final-year projects (diploma, bachelor’s)

Since 2017, Dresden University of Applied Sciences

Professor of Graphic Design in the fields of

- typography, information design, visual identity

Since 2020, Dresden University of Applied Sciences

2013–17 HTW University of Applied Sciences Berlin

Industrial Design degree programme

Lecturer in

_Fundamentals of Design: Colour, Form, Material

_Typography and Layout

_Design Documentation and Presentation

2013–17 HMKW University of Media, Communication and Business, Berlin

Graphic Design and Visual Communication degree programme

Lecturer in

_Fundamentals of Design

_Design Process and Creativity

_Typography and Layout

_Design Documentation and Presentation

_Visual Identity

_Symbol systems, information design

2012–16 GUC German University in Cairo – Berlin Campus

Graphic and Product Design

Lecturer in

_Sign Systems, Information Design

_Global Communication

_Advanced Design Studies (interdisciplinary project-based course)

2011–12 HDM Stuttgart University of Media

Audiovisual Media degree programme

Lecturer in

_Fundamentals of Visual Communication, Screen Design / Type in Motion

2010–11 GUC German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

Graphic Design degree programme

Head of Department

_Fundamentals of Visual Communication

_Typography and Layout

_Editorial Design

_Symbol Systems, Information Design

_Global Communication

_Advanced Design Studies (interdisciplinary project-based study)

2003–07 HTWG University of Applied Sciences for Technology, Business and Design, Konstanz

Communication Design degree programme

Lecturer and artistic-academic research assistant for

_Image Design: Visual Conceptualisation and Design

_Typography and Layout

_Experimental and conceptual design

2001–02 Merz Academy, Stuttgart

Graphic Design Pathway

Lecturer in

_Image Design: Visual Conceptualisation and Design

Projects (selection):

_Open House Verlag, Leipzig; book design, 2015–16

_Hotel Borje’ Fars, Shiraz/Iran: Corporate design
– graphics, fashion, interiors, 2011–12; art direction, consultancy, project management

_Tehran Mall, Tehran/Iran
: Visual identity, 2011; art direction, consultancy

_Heinrich Böll Foundation Baden-Württemberg
: Visual identity/information design, 2000–11; art direction, consultancy, planning, implementation

_FES Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Berlin: Editorial Design, 2012; Art Direction, Implementation

_Design Centre Stuttgart; visual identity, information design and exhibition design

for various exhibitions, 1994–2002; Art Direction, Project Management, Planning, Implementation/Production

_Staatsgalerie Stuttgart: Wayfinding and information system for the new building housing the Graphic Arts Collection, 2003; Concept, planning, design, implementation

_Stuttgart City Gallery/BBK Württemberg/GEDOK: ‘xhoch2’ exhibition series: visual identity, information design, editorial design, 2000–04; art direction, consultancy, implementation

_Town of Vaihingen an der Enz, Cultural Affairs Office: Visual identity and information design for event series, 1998–2003; concept, design, implementation/production

_Ludwigsburg Film Academy and Atelier Brückner Stuttgart: Exhibition graphics for EXPO 2000 Hannover – _Theme Park: City-Country-Forest, 1999–2000; Art direction

Selected agencies, design studios and projects:

welcome.net, Stuttgart

2014–2016

_Mercedes-Benz launch campaign for the E-Class, 2015 (Creative Direction competition)

_ebm-papst corporate event 2014, Mulfingen (art direction, event design, print)

Xailabs GmbH, Berlin

2012–2013

_Zuversicht – Interactive online plays, funded by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Art Direction, Media Design)

Liganova GmbH – The Brand Retail Company, Stuttgart

2006–2008

_Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, DTM/Formula 1 motorhome and motor show (art direction: event architecture, exhibition design)

Uniplan CH, Basel

2007–2008

_UEFA Euro 2008 (Art Direction: Print, Competition, Event)

Neue Dramaturgie, Munich

2004–2008

_Organic Farming, BMVEL Special, Eurotier 2004 (Art Direction: Print, Exhibition Design)

Milla und Partner Ateliers, Stuttgart

1991–2005

_Biovision – German Pavilion, IGA 2003 Rostock (Art Direction Print)

_Ideas Workshop in the German Pavilion at Expo 2000, Hanover (Project Management for the Competition)

_Nautica – Expo by the Sea, Wilhelmshaven, 2000 (Art Direction: Print)

_Oceanis – German Pavilion, Expo 1998, Lisbon (Junior Art Director, Exhibition Graphics)

_Mercedes-Benz “New Eyes” brand event, 1995 (Junior Art Director, media design)

SeidlCluss Corporate Design, Stuttgart

1998–2003

_Staatsgalerie Stuttgart: Exhibition graphics, visitor guidance and information system (Art Direction, Implementation)

Atelier Brückner, Stuttgart

1995–1997

_Expedition Titanic, 1997, Hamburg (Junior Art Director, Exhibition Design, Print)

Publications (selection):

_Exhibition catalogue

Interscriptual. A multilingual Poster Design Workshop; BAU International, GUC Berlin Campus, ed. Alexander Tibus and Stefan Theiss, Berlin, 2016

_Catalogue contribution

Processes. Catalogue accompanying the HMKW Berlin retrospective; ed. HMKW Berlin, Berlin, 2016

_Online platform

http://www.stefantheiss.com/migrationundkommunikation/

Migration and Communication. Communication Aids for Global Migration Movements; Edited by Stefan Theiss, Berlin, 2016

_Book design

Intercorporeal Splits. Artistic research into the mediality of voice, skin and rhythm, Edited by Daniel Fetzner and Martin Domberg, Publisher: Open House Leipzig, 2015

_Book design

Election Fallout: Iran’s Exiled Journalists on their Struggle for Democratic Change; Edited by Marcus Michaelsen, Publisher: Hans Schiler Berlin, 2011

_Book design

The Kayser Collection. A Private Collection; collection catalogue, self-published, Stuttgart, 2008

_Catalogue design

The Land of the Blue Sky. Companion volume to the exhibition ‘The Land of the Blue Sky – Fritz Mühlenweg and the Mongols’; Edited by the Communication Design programme at Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, Libelle Verlag, Kreuzlingen, 2005

_Online platform

http://www.stefantheiss.com/filmwinter04/

Stellefrei: A critical-artistic communication project centring on a mayoral election campaign without an opposing candidate, Edited by Stefan Theiss and Michael Salzbrenner, Stuttgart, 2004

_Catalogue design

Marcia Hafif. Ready-made Glaze Paintings; artist’s catalogue, edited by Gedok Stuttgart and Galerie Michael Sturm, Stuttgart, 2001

_Poster design

Series of posters for the ‘animato e expressivo’ event series, Cultural Department of the City of Vaihingen an der Enz, 1998–2003

_Book design

Annie Wu. cargo cults, merkens & navigators; artist’s catalogue, self-published, Hong Kong, 1999

_Catalogue design, poster design

‘Werktage/Tagewerk. Design in Craft’, Karl Reuss Prize 1998; ed. Design Centre Stuttgart, 1998

Exhibitions (selection):

_Interscriptual: multiscriptual poster design, BAU Berlin and GUC Campus Berlin, 2016

_stellefrei: Candidate promotion and election campaign consultancy for the 2004 Stuttgart mayoral elections

Political performance, at mediaspace, 18th Filmwinter Stuttgart

_The Dark Gate, sound-to-image converter

Multimedia installation, at mediaspace, 14th Filmwinter, Stuttgart, 2000

_The Moving Chamber

Spatial installation, camera obscura in a long-distance train, Zukunst
Projekt in collaboration with Deutsche Bahn, 1993

Reviews in the specialist press:

_Cultural Mediators. Design for Refugees; Page 11.16, page-online, Emerging Talent

_How exchange students promote integration in Germany; page-online 11 October 2016, Industry & Careers

_Interscriptual. Such imaginative ways to work with type; Page-online, 19 May 2016, Typography

_Generation Revolution. Political design from Cairo; Page 10.11, page-online, Creation

_Teaching is like an expedition. Interview; page 10 November, Creation