Alina

Q%Studying always requires a very deep interest. How did your interest in design develop? And how did you end up at KISD?

A%For me, decisions have always come from my current situation. I just took things as they came. That’s how it was with design as well.

After I dropped out of school, I started working at a club. Over time, I took on more responsibilities there: I took photos and videos of the bands, managed social media, and even developed a corporate identity for the events. Back then, I didn’t even know what a CI was – I just did it.

My boss was the one who pointed out that I was basically doing the work of a media creator or designer. That’s when I knew that I wanted to go in this direction.

So I did an apprenticeship as a media designer. But even though I enjoyed the job, it always felt like I was working on other people’s ideas. That’s when I understood how important it is for me to be creative and develop my own ideas.

Around that time I heard about the program at KISD and thought, ‘I’ll give it a try.’ And that’s how I ended up here.

Q%It sounds like you’ve already done a lot and have a wide range of interests. Do you feel that your studies allow you to explore all of these interests, or do you also develop some beside uni?

A%Of course, I already have some skills in film and photography from my apprenticeship. But I don’t use them that much anymore.
That doesn’t mean KISD can’t help me further develop these skills. For me, it just makes more sense to use the university’s resources and context for areas where I can still learn something new – to focus on developing in areas where I still need input.

I already feel very confident in film and photography. That’s why I usually work independently in these areas and don’t need much guidance. Nowadays, I mostly use these skills outside of university, either for personal projects or to earn money.

Still, I would say that KISD offers plenty of opportunities to learn whatever you want. The equipment might not always be the best, but there’s always someone you can ask for help. For almost any skillset, you’ll find someone who can support you.

Q%You just mentioned that you earn your money in the film and photography field. How important is this work for you? Is it something you do to finance your studies, or do you see it as a chance to prepare yourself professionally for life after graduation? What does having a side job during your studies mean to you?

A%Well, I’m extremely dependent on my jobs. I’m an orphan, so I don’t have any family support. On top of that, my path in life hasn’t been very straightforward, which is why I started studying relatively late. My living expenses are much higher—many support systems and insurance options simply don’t apply to me at my age.

That’s why I’ve always had to work a lot alongside my studies. Lately, it’s a bit less because I’ve started charging higher rates for my work. That means I don’t have to take on as many low-paying jobs anymore. Still, there’s not much time left for personal or professional projects. My side job is more about survival (laughs). It allows me to pay for my studies.

If you want to really establish yourself in this industry, you often have to take unpaid or poorly paid jobs—like internships. But I’m in a position where I prioritize taking the jobs that pay me the best.

Q%You mentioned that you adjusted your hourly rate. Was that related to your studies, or were there other reasons for the change?

A%The key moment for me was when I started talking about money. I should mention that I come from a working-class family and I’m the first generation to go to university. Because of that, I didn’t have many people around me who could advise me on this.

Over time, I got to know more and more people who were already freelancing. That’s when I was finally able to have real conversations about it. I quickly realized I was charging way too little. Today, I know what my work is worth. That naturally brings more confidence with it. But I’d say it works both ways.

And I think that I’m perceived as more professional now. Because since I’ve started charging more, I’ve been getting a lot more jobs.

Q%It’s so important to talk to others about what you do and how much you’re getting paid for it. Was it the same when choosing your design practice? Did anyone advise you, or was there a particular situation that led to your decision?

A%I’ve been interested in political and socially critical topics for a long time, especially feminism. That’s why Gender Design immediately caught my attention. I got along really well with Professor Iris Utikal from the start—it just clicked. So, I began doing more and more projects in that area. The field fascinated me, and I felt supported there.

Through Gender Design, I came across the topic of bias in technology and started exploring AI for the first time. This intersection led me to connect with Laura Wagner, with whom I had many insightful discussions. That’s how I gradually began engaging with interaction design and coding—something I never would’ve considered for myself before. But I realized how much it interested me.

That’s how this connection between Gender Design and AI came to be. Even if it might not seem like an obvious match at first. Now, I work on projects that are quite niche and not really mainstream. It’s definitely a challenge because you have to think about where this path will take you in the future. But I’ve decided to focus on what I’m truly passionate about instead of constantly worrying about future job prospects.

At the same time, I believe this topic is becoming increasingly relevant in society, so I think there will be space for it in the professional world.

Q%Were there other people besides those you’ve mentioned who helped you get started on your topic? Or role models who inspired you?

A%I have to say that I’m lucky to have an incredibly strong group of female designers in my close circle of friends. They’re huge role models for me. Seeing how hard work and passion pay off really inspires me. It also takes away a lot of my fear and motivates me to pursue what I’m passionate about.

In a way, my ex-boyfriend was also a role model. He was already a designer when I was thinking about applying to KISD. Coming from a non-academic family, I had so many doubts about the financial burden and the career uncertainty. He helped take that fear away and encouraged me to follow the path that felt right for me.

And of course, there are many more designers I would consider role models. I’m especially inspired by strong women in the creative industry. Vivienne Westwood used to be a big influence for me in the past. Right now, I’m really impressed by Mindy Seu and her Cyberfeminism Index as well as her work in general. There are plenty more, but listing them all would take too much time for this.

Q%Earlier, you mentioned how your topic developed over time. Do you feel like you’ve already built confidence and professionalism in this field? Was there a key moment for you, or was it more of a gradual process?

A%In the beginning, it was definitely hard for me to build confidence in this area. I was scared I wouldn’t understand the technical side—especially the coding—well enough. But by now, I do feel like I know a lot about my niche. Especially because I’m working at the intersection of topics that aren’t usually addressed together.

A big moment for me was when I was invited to exhibit and present my project at the ‘Transform Conference’ in Trier. It was something completely new for me, and I was so nervous. At first, I even thought they might’ve invited me by mistake! But I ended up receiving incredibly positive feedback and was encouraged to keep working on my project. And that feedback came from people with much more experience in the AI world than I have.

Hearing that what I’m doing is valuable gave me a lot of confidence. I left that experience with such a good feeling—it’s definitely a moment that has stuck with me.

Q%Would you recommend other students to take their projects beyond the university to get feedback?

A%Absolutely, 100 percent. The feedback you get at university is just different. You know most of the people there, and they’re often your friends. Even if they mean it seriously, it can’t always be completely objective. I think you only truly start believing in the quality of your work when strangers from the same industry give you similar feedback.

Beyond that, it’s also a great way to network. In the design, art, and creative industries, you need to meet people outside the university. It’s also a chance to gain your first experiences in real-world projects. For example, I had the opportunity to work with Schauspiel Köln. It really introduced me to a completely different environment. These kinds of experiences are incredibly valuable, and if you get the chance, you should definitely take it.

Q%Are there valuable experiences or insights you’ve gained at university that you could share – whether for others or for self-reflection?

A%I think it’s very important that we have to present our projects so often. Personally, it has helped me so much. My advice would be not to sit back and let others do all the talking. You should see it as an opportunity and use it to practice. It gives you a completely different level of confidence – and presenting is something we’ll have to do over and over in our careers.

I’d also recommend taking advantage of every opportunity to talk to people. For example, at events like the KISDtalks. If there are people there who are relevant or could potentially open doors for you, don’t hesitate to ask questions or strike up a conversation after the event. Even if you feel like someone is too big or unreachable to contact. Just write them an email. Sometimes people actually reply. That can lead to opportunities to collaborate with them, interview them, or just have a conversation. You might think it’s not possible, but it is. It’s so important to take that step and push past your own limits. That’s where new opportunities often lie.

Q%That sounds like you’re speaking from experience. When you’re looking back, is there anything, where you’d say, ‘I missed that opportunity’ or ‘I could have done that differently’?

A%I think I used my time at university as best as I could, given my capacities. But I do wish I had had more time to work on projects just for myself. The freedom to try something new, without any pressure. For example, I always wanted to do a ceramics project but never did it. Maybe I would have discovered a new side of myself and even explored something like ceramics or jewelry design further. I also would’ve liked to experiment with 3D printing, just for fun. It’s such a shame I didn’t. But with the time and stress I had, it just wasn’t possible. In the end, I stayed within my design area.

That said, I do feel like I used every opportunity that I could. Still, if you have the chance, I’d definitely recommend doing something every now and then that isn’t directly career-focused – just for the joy of it and to gain new experiences.

Q%Let’s wrap up the interview with a look into the future: How do you envision your professional life after graduation? Do you already have a direction in mind?

A%I actually have a meeting with an NGO this week, and I could really see myself working in that kind of context. I’m also considering whether I might even start my own NGO as part of my thesis. It’s just a rough idea for now, but I plan to discuss it with the NGO. Maybe they’ll be interested in collaborating on the project with me. I’m curious to hear their advice.

I could also imagine working in a research setting, perhaps within a university context. Assisting a professor on projects or even teaching later on.

I don’t think sitting full-time in an agency, focusing only on corporate identity, advertising, or similar things, is the right fit for me. It’s important to me that my work engages with political topics, stays challenging, and remains varied rather than falling into a monotonous routine.

I could also see myself working in a 20-20 model: 20 hours in a field that generates more income, like an agency. And then spending the other 50% of my time on something that fulfills me on a deeper level—something political or creatively stimulating.