Matthias Görlich is a Darmstadt- and Zurich-based communication designer, educator and researcher. In 2000, he set up his design studio as a platform for research, education and critical design practice. Matthias currently teaches information visualization at the University of Darmstadt and directs a postgraduate programme on the development of design-strategies for a new Civic City based at the University for the Arts, Zurich. He also initiated “White Spots Black Holes”, a research-project on the role of mapping in political contexts which is located at Institute for Designresearch Design2Context at the University for the Arts, Zurich.
With his studio, he is focussing on the the development and implementation of communication strategies, the visualization of complex information and the design of exhibtions and signage systems. The studio works internationally in close cooperation with architects, curators and writers.
For more information and work samples, please contact the studio.
recently:
06.2009
“CIVIC CITY TALK”, DMY BERLIN
Jesko Fezer together with Matthias Görlich in conversation with architect and author Markus Miessen about the role of design in the social city. Part of “Mapping Designresearch” installation by Institute Design2Context at DMY, International Design Festival Berlin.
05.2009
“INSTITUTION BUILDING, ARTISTS, CURATORS AND ACHITECTS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR INSTITUTIONAL SPACE,” EDITED BY NIKOLAUS HIRSCH, PHILIPP MISSELWITZ, MARKUS MIESSEN AND MATTHIAS GÖRLICH. TO BE RELEASED IN MAY BY STERNBERG PRESS.
With contributions by Shumon Basar, Andrea Phillips, and Jan Verwoert
more information.
04.2009
WELTWEIT WOHNEN (WORLDWIDE LIVING), INSTITUT FÜR AUSLANDSBEZIEHUNGEN (IFA), STUTTGART / EXHIBITION-DESIGN
We have just been commissioned for the design of the furthcoming exhibition “Weltweit Wohnen”, curated by Urbanist Eckhart Ribbeck. On display from July, 4th at IFA Stuttgart and later at IFA Berlin.
03.2009
CAMP DEVELOPMENT PILOT RESEARCH PROJECT, UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST, AMMAN JORDAN / CONSULTING
Studio Matthias Görlich has just completed a three-years research and publication-project for the UNRWA, the United Nations Research Commitee in Amman Jordan. Products include a series of mappings, appendices, research-documentation and reports aswell as a bi-langual manual with guidelines for the urban development in Palestinian Refugee Camps.
02.2009
REHABILITATING CAMP CITIES: COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PLANNING FOR URBANISED REFUGEE CAMP / BOOK-DESIGN
A 450 pages publication by urbanist Philipp Misselwitz. Design by Studio Matthias Görlich.
01.2009
“REFUGE URBANISM”, ISTANBUL / WORKSHOP
“Refuge Urbanism” is a project initiated by Urbanists Philipp Misselwitz and Can Altay from Istanbul investigating the pheonomon of “gated communities” in the middle east. Matthias Görlich has been invited to join the first international workshop as an external consultant for information visualization and mapping. This project is part of the International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam in October 2009. Participants during this workshop at Istanbul Bilgi University were Rami Farouk Daher (Amman, Jordan), Jasser El-Sheshtawy (Dubai), Martina Rieker and Dina Shehayeb (Cairo), Mona Fawaz (Beirut), Murat Güvenç and Tansel Korkmaz (Istanbul).
12.2008
“DAS SANDMÄNNCHEN IST DA”, MUSEUM FOR COMMUNICATION / EXHIBITION DESIGN
We have been commissioned to develop an exhibition design for a small exhibition on the well-known german children's bedtime programme “Sandmännchen”. On display until March 22nd, 2009 at the Museum for Communication in Frankfurt.
10.2008
KULTURLANDSCHAFT KLOSTER HEISTERBACH / SIGNAGE
The studio has been invited to participate in a competition for the development of an exhibition and signage concept for the “Siebengebirge”, a tourist-region in Germany. In collaboration with Knüvener Architekturlandschaft, Cologne. Unfortunately not won.
10.2008
“MAPPING CONFLICTS”, UNIVERSITY DARMSTADT / TEACHING
Matthias Görlich now holds a teaching position at University Darmstadt, Faculty for Design. Main focus will be the visualization of complex information, mapping-techniques and the development of orientation concepts and its visualizations.
10.2008
“HIGH NOON”, UNIVERSITY DARMSTADT
A lunchtime-lecture-series at the Faculty for Design / University Darmstadt initiated by Professor Frank Philippin and Matthias Görlich. Please visit www.high-noon.eu for more information.
09.2008
“DESIGING POLITICS, THE POLITICS OF DESIGN”, IFG ULM
Matthias Görlich has been invited by IFG Ulm to join the advisory board
for this years “Designing Politics, the Politics of Design”competition. This competition is based on the principal ideas and values of the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm.
09.2008
CIVIC CITY–THE ROLE OF DESIGN IN THE SOCIAL CITY, DESIGN2CONTEXT
Coordination of a new postgraduate program on the Role of Design in the development of a new social city. Based at Institute for Designresearch Design2Context, University for the Arts Zurich.
For more information visit http://civic-city.zhdk.ch
06.2008
“AUSGEPACKT”, GOLDSMITH MUSEUM HANAU / EXHIBITION GRAPHICS
Exhibition Graphics and Poster for the exhibtion “Ausgepackt” (unpacked)
for German Goldsmith's House in Hanau. Hurry to see it. Finissage is on September 18th. In cooperation with Katzkaiser Architects.
05.2008
GOETHE UNIVERSITY FRANKFURT / LECTURE
Matthias Görlich was invited by Johann Wolfgang Goethe University,
Frankfurt am Main to give a lecture on the role of Graphic-Design
in Exhibition Design.
03.2009
WHITE SPOTS BLACK HOLES
Matthias Görlich initiated a research-project investigating the role of mapping in political decision-making processes based at Institute for Designresearch Design2Context, University for the Arts Zurich. For more information please visit www.whitespotsblackholes.com
03.2008
“ABSOLUT PRIVAT”, MUSEUM FOR COMMUNICATION FRANKFURT, NURNBERG, BERLIN / EXHIBITION DESIGN
The studio of Matthias Görlich develops the exhibtion-graphics for
“Absolut privat”, an exhibtion about the development of diaries
throughout history on display in the Museums for Communication in Frankfurt, Nurnberg and Berlin. The exhibition space is dominated by a printed felt-floor indicating each day of the year. Architecture by HirschMüller Architects, Images by Norbert Miguletz.
12.2007
URBAN RESEARCH STUDIO / VISUAL IDENTITY
We have been commissioned to develop the overall graphic concept for the Urban Research Studio / ETH Zurich including a poster-series, website and collateral.
12.2007
“DEAR HENRY…”, BIENNALE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS LYON
Matthias Görlich was invited to participate in the Lyon Biennale for Contemporary Arts. “Dear Henry” is based on the famous remark
by Henry Kissinger (“Who do I call if I want to call Europe?”). Contribution to the installation “The Violence of Participation”.
10.2007
“EUROPEAN KUNSTHALLE 2005 2006 2007” / CONTRIBUTION AND BOOK-DESIGN
Colognes’ European Kunsthalle complets their initiation phase with their publication “European Kunsthalle 2005 2006 2007” offering an indepth
look at the thoughts, concepts and research during their first two years.
Contribution by Spaces of Production (Hirsch, Misselwitz, Miessen, Görlich).
Book-design by Studio Matthias Görlich with Miriam Rösch.
04.2007
“BOOKMAKING”, RWTH AACHEN / WORKSHOP
Matthias Görlich has been invited by the Faculty for Architecture
at RWTH, Aachen for a lecture and workshop on graphic-design
and bookmaking for 2nd year students.
03.2007
“MODELS FOR TOMORROW: COLOGNE”, EUROPEAN KUNSTHALLE / CONCEPT AND VISUAL IDENTITY
From March, 1st to April, 28th 2007 the exhibition titled “Models for Tomorrow: Cologne” will take place on various sites in Cologne City.
A project by curator Vanessa Joan Müller of European Kunsthalle in close collaboration with Spaces of Production. Exhibiting artists include Lawrence Weiner, Liam Gillick, Tobias Rehberger, Michael Beutler, Olaf Nicolai among others.
09.2006
UNIVERSITY DARMSTADT AND WIESBADEN / TEACHING
From October 2006, Matthias Görlich will be lecturing at University Darmstadt and University Wiesbaden. The field of work will include typography-basics, book design and the use of type in three-dimensional space for first and second year students.
09.2006
“HAVE FUN TODAY (APPLAUSE.)” FEATURED IN VOLUME-MAGAZINE
“Have fun today. (Applause.)” is featured in the current issue of dutch magazine “Volume” on Architecture and Power. This visualization-project
by Matthias Görlich and Charalampos Lazos deals with George W. Bushs’ defintion of rogue states and the axis of evil. His argumentation is con-fronted with statistical information reacting to his definitions.
09.2006
WORLD USABILITY DAY 2006 / VISUAL IDENTITY
Supported by the German Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association, the 14th of November 2006 will be enirely dedicated to user-interaction, physical and digital interfaces and the latest trends in user-centred-design. Matthias Görlich joined the curatorial team and took over the development of a visual concept for the Darmstadt event. For more information, please check this webpage: www.worldusabilityday.org
03.2006
“UNDER CONSTRUCTION”, EUROPEAN KUNSTHALLE COLOGNE / TALK
Presentation and discussion of the research project Spaces of Production together with Shumon Basar (author and curator, London) and Ole Bouman (culture- and architecural critic, Amsterdam).
Part of the “Under Construction” event series initiated by curators Nicolaus Schafhausen and Vanessa Joan Müller (European Kunsthalle, Cologne).
03.2006
“MAPPING CULTURAL SPACES ”, RWTH AACHEN / WORKSHOP
As an initial part of the research project “Spaces of Production” we will
be holding a Workshop at the Faculty for Architecture at RWTH Aachen
to generate an overall view of the current situation in cultural production throughout Europe.
01.2006
SPACES OF PRODUCTION, RESEARCH
“Spaces of Production” is a study that conceptualizes, tests, and practically applies the spatial strategy for the European Kunsthalle in Cologne. The investigation does not result from purely theoretical, conceptual considerations but is rather the result of the activities incorporated into the European Kunsthalle founding phase’s two-year work practice from 2005 to 2007. The spatial strategy for the European Kunsthalle is therefore the direct result of “applied research” – an iterative investigation informed by resonances between theory and practice.
Spaces of Production are Nikolaus Hirsch, Philipp Misselwitz, Markus Miessen and Matthias Görlich. For more information, click here.
12.2005
JAMES ENSOR—SCHIRN KUNSTHALLE, EXHIBITION GRAPHICS
Exhibtion Graphic concept for the extensive James Ensor exhibtion
at Schirn-Kunsthalle in Frankfurt. Open from December 17th, 2005
to March 19th, 2006. Architecture by HirschMueller Architects, Image by Norbert Miguletz.
2006
UNIVERSITY DARMSTADT, TEACHING
Matthias Görlich will be teaching at the Faculty for Design, University for Applied Sciences in Darmstadt. Focus will be Typography for first and second year students.
12.2005
DOCUMENTATION CENTER HINZERT, EXHIBITION GRAPHICS
(WITH ADE HAUSER LACOUR)
There was only a cemetary for french military left on the site of the Concentration-Camp memorial in Hinzert/Hunsrück. Since Dezember 2005 a permanent exhibtion in the Documentation-Centre shows the whole
story of this place. Inside the builing by Wandel Hoefer Lorch and Hirsch
is a total of 350 sqm exhibtion inscribed into the triangular inner space.
Not contrasting or even competing with the story of this place or with the architectural statement. Clear graphical elements reacting at and acting with the triangular grid of the interior shaping the builings interior.
Video, Sound, Images and texts are integrated into the walls. Large scale headlines and restrained color-fields separate the chapters but also conntect the structure of the exhibitions content. A second content-level is offered to the visitor through the introduction of drawers. There more in-depth information is accessible. An audio-guide system in french and english language translates the german texts printed on the walls of the builing. Architecture: Wandel Hoefer Lorch+Hirsch, Saarbrücken; Images: Norbert Miguletz. Realized while working for Ade Hauser Lacour, Frankfurt
03.2005
“UND KEINER HAT FÜR UNS KADDISCH GESAGT… ”, CATALOGUE (WITH ADE HAUSER LACOUR)
Accompanying the exhibition, the Jewish-Museum, Frankfurt published this 568 page catalogue. Awarded IF Communication Award and ADC Silver Medal. Realized while working for Ade Hauser Lacour, Frankfurt
03.2005
“UND KEINER HAT FÜR UNS KADDISCH GESAGT… ”, EXHIBITION DESIGN (WITH ADE HAUSER LACOUR)
This exhibtion at Jewish Museum Frankfurt is the first to cover the Deportation of Jews from Frankfurt between 1941 and 1945. With the help of information on chosen victims,
the main exhibtion-space exemplarily presents the course of 8 deportations from Frankfurt to concentration camps recunstructing the dramatic fate of the victims in these camps and ghettos. The exhibtion spaces enclosing the main exhibtion space present the beginning of the discrim-ination and violence before 1937 and the reconstruction of the jewish community in Frankfurt after the end of WW2. The exhibition design had to deal with two major challenges: the mass of information and the diverse media-sources. Not only papers, photographs and biographical information had to be included, but also personal objects. A strict grid system using
the entire height of the exhibtion-space allowed us to present the numerous textual information aswell as the exhibition objects in an adequat and comprehesible way. The exhibtion objects such as Video, Sound, show-cases and original documents are integrated into the grid units. exhibit-drawers, filled with personal belongings of the victims contrast the fully printed wooden surface. Realized while working for Ade Hauser Lacour, Frankfurt. Exhibition Architecture by Wandel, Hoefer, Lorch und Hirsch, Saarbrücken, Image by Norbert Miguletz, Frankfurt.
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