Democracy thrives on participation – the moment when citizens cast their vote in an election is one of the most central expressions of democratic participation. But how does the act of voting affect us? And how appropriate is the current design of ballot boxes for this performative act that embodies our democracy?
Currently, there is often a gap between aspiration and reality: in some places, simple containers, sometimes converted garbage cans, serve as ballot boxes. It is high time to rethink the meaningful act of voting and its context – in terms of design, space, and performance.
The HFBK Hamburg invites all designers, artists, students, researchers, and interested parties to take part in the Redesign Democracy – Reimagine Voting competition. The aim of the competition is to develop appropriate and visionary concepts that enhance the democratic act of voting.
What is it about?
- Start with your own observations: Look at the election with heightened senses and record the experience. In Germany, federal elections will be held on February 23, 2025, but past elections or mail-in votes can also be insightful. Please note: photography is not permitted at the polling station without the authorisation of the electoral board, more on this in the appendix.
- Rethink the ballot box: Develop proposals for what a ballot box of the future could look like – as a physical object, as a digital interface, or in hybrid form.
- Stage the election as a performative act: Consider how the process of voting can be shaped and developed as a symbolic act.
- Create new spaces for democracy: Explore what new spaces – real or virtual – could provide a framework for the democratic act of voting.
From disruptive visions to tangible product ideas: The proposals can be abstract, conceptual, or practically oriented. The focus is on opening up new perspectives on such a crucial process.
General conditions and prizes
A high-profile jury made up of representatives from politics, society, and design will select the best designs. A total of 3,000 euros in prize money is available, which will be distributed among the winning entries.
The best entries will also be presented at the 2026 World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain and honored at an award ceremony at the HFBK Hamburg in June 2025.
All entries will be evaluated as part of the Redesigning Democratic Representation (Re-De-Re) research project and will be incorporated into the further work of the project. In this collaboration between political and design science, an interdisciplinary team is investigating our current understanding of democratic representation in Germany and looking for new interpretations.
Jury
- Prof. Dr. Stephan Bröchler (Berlin State Election Commissioner, Professor of Political and Administrative Science)
- Prof. Dr. Emma Crewe (SOAS, London)
- Thomas Hadamek (Head of Parliamentary Services in the Bundestag)
- Prof. Daniela Hensel (Professor for Social & Public Design, HTW Berlin)
- Benedikt Kuhn (State Secretary, Head of the Hessian State Chancellery)
- Barbara Lersch (Programm Director World Design Capital 2026)
- Peter Müller (former Federal Constitutional Court judge, former Minister President of the Saarland)
- Dara Sepehri (board member of the German Design Club)
- Hanna Steinmüller (Member of the Bundestag, Bündnis 90/Grüne)
- Armand Zorn (Member of the Bundestag, SPD)
Submission
- Deadline for entries: April 14, 2025
- Award ceremony: Beginning of June (date to be announced)
- Submission: Possible online from February 17, 2025
The following documents are required for entries:
- Observations of the last election: Describe experiences and impressions during the last election (max. 2,000 characters).
- Visual portrayals of the last election: Attach 1-2 images showing, for example, the ballot box or the polling station (photos, drawings, renderings, etc.; max. 5 MB).
- The counter-design: Explain your design proposal for the future ballot box and/or the election process (max. 2,000 characters).
- Strengthening the importance of democracy: Explain how the design emphasizes the symbolic and practical importance of voting and strengthens democracy (max. 1,500 characters).
- Visualize the design: Present the design proposal using 3-5 images (sketches, renderings, models, etc.; max. 20 MB).
The information listed above (text and images) must be submitted as a bundled document that describes the entire submission. Images must also be submitted as originals.
The competition is part of the research project ‘Redesign Democratic Representation’, which is jointly led by Prof Friedrich von Borries (HBFK) and Prof Sven T. Siefken (Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration). It is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
Submission FormWho can participate?
The competition is open to everyone – designers, artists, architects, students, public administration professionals and anyone who wants to contribute to the future of our democracy. Individual works are permitted, but group works are also possible.
Why should I participate?
Your designs actively shape the future of democracy. They contribute to redefining the relevance and symbolism of voting. Be part of this forward-looking project and help to make the act of voting a visible expression of democracy!
Redesigning Democratic Representation
Democracies are in crisis. The representative function of parliaments in particular does not play a sufficiently relevant role in the current discourse. The research project Re•De•Re - Redesigning Democratic Representation aims to shed light on the processual and performative dimension of this representation through interdisciplinary cooperation between political science and design. The aim is to enable an iterative and constructive research process that develops concrete recommendations for action. Current phenomena are not only recorded, but interventions are planned and tested during the course of the project. The project is based at the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Hamburg in cooperation with the Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung. The project is scheduled to run for 5 years and started in January 2025.
The project team is dedicated to this democratic challenge with the aim of understanding the mechanisms of interaction between elected representatives and citizens and thus developing practical ideas for citizen-oriented models of political representation. The team accompanies three members of the Bundestag from different parties for a total of 100 days to various activities in the constituency, in the party and in Berlin in exchange with committees, ministries and interest groups. Together with them and the practice partners, the participating researchers will develop an experimental model of political representation.
The transdisciplinary team combines artistic and creative research perspectives with political science knowledge and ethnographic methods. Exchange formats for citizens with the specialized practice partners are part of the research method in order to include citizens' expectations of political representation in the design process.
Re•De•Re - Redesigning Democratic Representation is a joint research project of Prof. Dr. Friedrich von Borries (HFBK Hamburg) and Prof. Dr. Sven T. Siefken (Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung).
Research assistance: Juliane Baruck, Philipp Cartier, Christian Ignorek
Contact
If you have any questions about the competition and the research project, please write to: redesign-democracy@hfbk-hamburg.de
Press contact: Beate Anspach | HFBK Hamburg | Lerchenfeld 2 | 22081 Hamburg | Phone +49 40 42 89 89 405 | beate.anspach@hfbk.hamburg.de
We have set up a newsletter for the research project, which provides information on an irregular basis: Registration
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A project of the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg and the Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung. In cooperation with the German Design Club e.V. (DDC) and Demokratie Innovation e.V. Supported by the Volkswagen Foundation. Co-operation partner: World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026
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