Newcomer Katharina Düing

Katharina Düing was born in Koblenz in 1999. After her A-levels, she completed a bachelor’s degree in the field of sustainable design at ecosign/Akademie für Gestaltung (Academy for Design) in Cologne and has been working on her master’s degree since 2022. Within her design work, Katharina Düing focuses chiefly on social sustainability, translating current social issues such as discrimination, diversity, feminism, social justice, and mental health into graphic novels and other formats. In doing so, she functions as both an illustrator and a graphic designer. Katharina Düing lives and works in Cologne.

Interview with Katharina Düing

You are a »Finalist« for the German Design Award 2023 – Newcomer. What does this award mean for you and your work?

Being a German Design Awards 2023 – Newcomer »Finalist« encourages me in my decision to be a designer and makes me happy.

The project you prefer is called »Back on top in June«. Can you briefly specify what exactly is behind it?

The title of the graphic novel comes from Frank Sinatra's That's life. The statement embodies the fact that, as the psychologist Thomas Bock says, any help can only start with the inner hope, with the »unravelling« that this mood will also pass again. The aim of the work is to strengthen this hope.

What role does the colour blue play in this?

A dark blue is calm, appears trustworthy and protective – it radiates security overall. Together with a violet, which is considered sensitive and intuitive, among other things, it creates a melancholic and calming atmosphere with a strong inward effect.

What constitutes »contemporary design« for you? Which criteria would have to be fulfilled in particular?

For me, »contemporary design« is that which questions existing structures and power relations, expands spaces for action, offers new forms of representation and is always anti-fascist. Particularly important criteria are accessibility, language appropriate to the target group, diversity and inclusivity.

What are you currently working on?

At the moment, I am busy with the publication of »Back on top« in June, preparing my master's thesis and working on paintings.

Source information to Project "Pretext": Text: Article on demographic genocide by Axel Dorloff, no longer online // Bild: Kevin Frayer / Getty

Text: Süddeutsche Zeitung: Das ist kultureller Genozid, 25.11.2019,
last accessed on 28.10.2022 // Picture: pictures alliance / dpa / Stephan Scheuer

Further Newcomer Finalists 2023: