International Students Testimonies

"The study program opened up new perspectives on visual design for me"

From HMKW to his own photo exhibition: Master's student (and soon-to-be graduate) Farzin Foroutan recently succeded in presenting his works in a gallery in Berlin. In this interview, he talks about his best experiences from his studies in communication design and creative strategies, as well as what he has planned for the time after graduation.

Soon you will graduate from HMKW with a Masters’s degree in Communication Design. We heard that you are already started your career. What’s your current job position? What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently employed full-time as a graphic designer for a Berlin-based female bodywear company named ooia. I'm also working on concept development for my next photographic project.

In June, your first solo exhibition has been opened at Tête Gallery Berlin. First of all: Congratulations! That sounds fantastic. Please tell us more about it.

The exhibition was a part of my thesis presentation, and the concept of it was based on my personal experiences with censorship following my immigration from Iran to Cyprus and Germany.

The idea was to investigate the relationship between humans and the environment after immigration and being surrounded by new environments.

 

Why did you decide to study Communication Design at HMKW Berlin?

First of all, I was looking for an English language master's program in art in Berlin, so when I found HMKW, it was a significant spark in my head; then I applied for the master's program as my second master's degree.

What did you like the most about your studies/the study program in general? And what was the biggest challenge during your studies?

The most important thing I liked the most during my studies at HMKW was the lectures about branding, creative strategies, and design management, which gave me a new perspective on visual designs since my previous education background was mainly about fine art and the artistry aspect of designs.

The biggest challenge for me was studying during the Covid time and having the whole time of the study program in an online mode and not having the campus life experiences and getting in touch with my professors and the students.

How do you get inspired? And what inspires you the most? What are your plans for the future?

Usually, my inspirations come from my life experiences, primarily about social issues, people, and the simple aspects of human life and their relation to nature and the environment.

My next plan is to concentrate on my job more and plan the production of my new photography project for the upcoming autumn.

Thank you very much for the interview. All the best for the future and good luck!