How does design influence our dining culture? The special exhibition "The new dramaturgy of eating - design beyond the plate", a cooperation between Porzellanikon, the state museum for porcelain and The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR), which can be seen in the museum in Hohenberg an der Eger from 16 May 2026, is dedicated to this question. The exhibition runs until 10 January 2027 and presents current works from the Ceramics, Porcelain and Glass Design faculty of the HSNR's Faculty of Design, headed by Professor Lisa Freyschmidt, on around 300 square metres.
On display are five design projects with more than 150 designs created between 2024 and 2026. The exhibition is complemented by works by students from Communication Design and the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology at HSNR.
The projects were created in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration with professors Anna Koch and Nora Gummert-Hauser from the HSNR and Professor Uli Budde from Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. One project was closely supported by Architektur & Wohnen magazine, others by gourmet chef Christian Krüger. All projects focus on food and table culture as a research field of design. The exhibited works examine how design can influence, structure and reinterpret dining situations.
"The exhibition shows that design is far more than just designing objects. Food and table culture become social spaces that can be consciously changed through design," says Professor Lisa Freyschmidt from the Faculty of Design at The Hochschule Niederrhein. "Close collaboration between different disciplines was particularly important to us."
One of the exhibits is the "Mæna" project by student Johanna Feinendegen. The ensemble of objects made from coloured porcelain is inspired by so-called "Wishing Stones". "Wishing Stones" are stones with symbolic meaning. Their organic shapes and natural colour nuances make each object unique.
"I was fascinated by the idea of creating objects that are not only functional, but also have an emotional and symbolic level. The inspiration from Wishing Stones combines nature, ritual and light to create a shared experience," says Johanna Feinendegen.
The Hochschule Niederrhein also conceived and designed the exhibition itself together with Professor Lisa Freyschmidt and academic staff member Kerstin Froch in close collaboration with chief curator Dr Jana Göbel (Porzellanikon). The team was supported by design student Christina Morskoj and the students on the exhibition specialisation course.
Further information on the exhibition can be found at: https: //www.porzellanikon.org/ausstellungen/sonderausstellungen/die-neue-dramaturgie-des-essens-gestaltung-jenseits-des-tellers/
Exhibition: The new dramaturgy of food - design beyond the plate
Period: 16 May 2026 to 10 January 2027
Location: Porzellanikon Hohenberg an der Eger, Schirndinger Straße 48, 95691 Hohenberg an der Eger
