Together, we are developing the studio as a place that is as free as possible, where there are no assignments or control. We operate on the principles of autonomous and peer-to-peer learning and free sharing. We strive to recognize, both collectively and individually, what truly interests us, what we consider important and meaningful. We cultivate our design thinking and work collectively and individually on projects that are based on our needs and ideals—often touching on topics such as free access to resources (commons), self-sufficiency and sustainability, (self-)education, open-source, (in)dependence on social systems and corporate products, and collectivity. We operate on the principle of a floating hierarchy. We make decisions together and create working groups in which we are responsible for topics that resonate with us, that we understand, or that we want to understand. We have developed a methodology and tools that allow us to function in such a way that we can all be full-fledged parts of a larger organism. We deal with graphic design mostly in the context of our projects when it makes sense. We have long used the unofficial designation AGDX for our studio and its members.

We are a free space

The studio operates on principles similar to those of a hacker space; it is a laboratory, workshop, playground, kitchen, and garden. There are no assignments, supervision, or tasks to complete in the studio; there is no single person or group of people who dictate the topics or pace. Everyone does what interests them, what they feel like doing or need to learn. We do not compete with each other. We inspire and support each other and learn from each other.

We are truly present

Our only condition is genuine presence. In physical, mental, and online space, within ourselves, in our projects, and in our working groups. It is not enforced through control or conditions, and everyone is responsible for it themselves. If it is not possible to be truly present in the long term, it is time to consider whether it makes sense to be part of the studio.

We are members of the studio. The teacher is a student, the student is a teacher

Together, we make decisions and set the direction of the studio, contributing our individual experience, knowledge, and skills in the areas of teamwork and design. In our daily practice, we do not distinguish between the year we are in or our status at FaVU. Members with the status of teacher are primarily an interface that enables smooth communication between the school and our collective. During our studies, we consciously work to ensure that we can continue to collaborate even after our relationship with the institution has ended. Graduates have the opportunity to continue to join in joint activities and share their practice.

We move across disciplines, topics, tools, and forms

Over time, we have naturally and consciously crossed the boundaries of graphic design, dedicating ourselves to complex topics and projects. Graphic design may be present in these, but not necessarily.

Everyone is a designer. We cultivate our design thinking and practice

We are convinced that every person is a designer—they make conscious decisions that affect them and their surroundings. In our studio, we cultivate and jointly develop our decision-making processes—our design practice.

We develop our own methods and processes

Design practice takes place every day. We gradually try and search for ways to work (together) on our projects and how to function as a collective with a fluid hierarchy that shifts between individuals and work groups that organically arise and disappear depending on the situation. We do not automatically adopt practices and theories developed by others, we do not follow “best practices,” but develop our own.

We redesign, we question, we search

The point is not to be satisfied with the status quo, to comfortably slip into existing structures, or to be a trained cog in the labor market. We want to question the established, unlearn the automatic, and discover alternatives to the status quo in our field and in society as a whole.

We inhabit both offline and online spaces

Both spaces are equally valuable. The online space currently consists of a closed Discord server, where we continuously share and discuss our resources, opinions, ideas, and procedures as needed. The offline space is a physical studio at FaVU, where we meet to spend time together, discuss topics in person, cook, eat, talk, work, relax, and develop ourselves and our projects.

We live our values

In the studio space, we want to function the way we want to function anywhere and anytime outside of it—to self-organize without having to follow a single authority, to collaborate, to devote ourselves to what we ourselves discover to be a meaningful topic. We want to cultivate our inner motivation and sense of common purpose.