
SOCIAL Design
We use design as a tool to create a social and sustainable society.
Education
Project – Design as a bridge to vocational training
Displaced young adults (18-27 years), who live in Bremen with a temporary suspension of deportation status or rather with a permission to reside, often don’t have access to suitable educational programs (such as German language courses) or the training market due to structural conditions, a lack of qualifications or rather the corresponding certificates as well as uncertainty concerning their prospects to remain.
weserholz poses the concept of a holistic and privately initiated training preparation to that dilemma – brought about by the government.
The young adults design their (vocational) future by means of co-creation processes and an education program (design, craft, German language & mathematics). During this we focus on the individual potential and promote the creativity of the person.
Since fall 2017 six young adults per year – >>trainees – go through a curriculum at weserholz preparing them for vocational training or rather the preceding introductory training.
Curriculum
– Courses usually start in September/October
– Duration: approx. 10 months, depending on individual needs
workshop for design & craft 16 hrs./week
language workshop 15 hrs./week
mathematics training 6 hrs./week
career guidance & job application training individually
Manufacturers and companies in Bremen looking for motivated young people find a reliable partner in weserholz. We support both parties concerning formal questions (e.g. financial aid) and also when facing other challenges such as the introductory training or dual education systems.
Read more about the trainee approach in our >>blog.
The education project „weserholz – bridge to vocational training“ is funded by:
Workshops with international artists and designers are funded by:

References
The following workshops were facilitated by us:
We shared our expertise at the following workshops amongst others:
- Designing Futures „Can social companies change the future of refugees and migrants?“
- urban development process: former Waller Rangierbahnhof
Workshops
From prototype to urban planning
We facilitate workshops and support you with the following topics:
- developing designs in co-creation
- sustainable prototyping
- intercultural cooperation
- developing urban spaces in co-creation
- learning language in creative contexts
- etc.

Speaker
Podium, Keynote and Talks
We attend your event as movers and an example for best practise, as creative people who think outside the box or as social entrepreneurs who do not only conceive sustainability ecologically.
We look forward to your requests concerning:
- Social entrepreneurship
- co-creation
- new educational concepts
- migration & participation
- urban production
- female founders


References
- Designing Futures „Can social companies change the future of refugees and migrants?“
- FALL SESSION 2020: Presentation/talk: Social Entrepeneurship and Co-Creation Burg Giebichstein University of Art and Design Halle
- The Productive City. Perspectives for employment and economy | Chamber of employees Bremen
- Good day!Students in conversation with society, politics and economy about Bremen as a hub for professional positioning |University of the Arts Bremen
- Auftaktveranstaltung der Senatorin für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Europa zum „GEP 2030“ | Senatorin für Wirtschaft, Arbeit & Europa
- 12Min.Me
On >>our German blog you can read about some of what we had to say at the conventions.
INTERESTED IN A COLLABORATION
IN SOCIAL DESIGN?
We look forward to your request:
> concerning education
> for workshops
> as speakers
> for further ideas in the area of social design
Lobby 4 good – Let's work together
As part of a bigger network weserholz helps create public awareness for topics such as right of residence, causes of migration, future prospects, need for action. We develop projects in cooperation with our partners and produce furniture and interior with an added social value.
Manufacturers & Creative partners
- factory
- Kalle Co-Werkstatt
- Tischlerei Gardewin | Produzent kekendo
- Caspar Sessler | freelance fotografer
- Claudia A. Cruz | freelance fotografer
- Nikolai Wolff | Fotoetage
- Cabinet Gold van d’Vlies | Communication design
- mirasamira | Webdesign
- Webdesign DieAndere | Webdesign & Programmierung
- Webtical | Online Marketing
Social entrepreneurship & creative industry
- Meret Nehe | Beratung, Coaching
- Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND)
- Social Entrepreneurship Akademie (SEA)
- Kultur- & Kreativpiloten Deutschland