Two students from the Communication Design course at the Münchberg campus of Hof University of Applied Sciences have been honored with the DDC Award 2025 this year. Celina Jahn impressed with her bachelor’s thesis “Stepping Into History”, while Michelle Likkej was honored for her semester project “Eye Know”. The prize, awarded by the German Design Club, is one of the most prestigious awards in German design and recognizes design quality as well as social relevance.
The DDC Award is presented annually by the Deutscher Design Club e. V. (German Design Club). It is recognized throughout the industry and highlights projects that represent innovative, responsible and future-oriented design. The award is presented in a two-stage process by an expert jury and an impact jury, which assesses the social added value of the submitted work. The award ceremony took place on November 14, 2025 in Wiesbaden. For Celina Jahn, the prize is her third award after the German Multimedia Award and the Art Directors Club Award.
Award-winning projects
Stepping Into History – Celina Jahn
Celina Jahn’s bachelor thesis is dedicated to the culture of remembrance and the question of how this can be experienced anew in the digital age. Her project “Stepping Into History” uses augmented reality, 3D models, AI-based portrait animations and a GPS-supported map interface to make the stories behind the well-known “stumbling blocks” emotionally accessible. Users can call up historical information on site and immerse themselves in the lives of the victims. The work combines technological innovation with social responsibility.
“Celina Jahn has shown the courage to tackle a sensitive historical topic and at the same time accept the technical challenges of new media. Her project shows how new possibilities can be used to create relevant and responsible content,” says Prof. Michael Zöllner from the Interaction Design department.
Michelle Likkej received the award for her semester project “Eye Know”. The project combines various disciplines – including AR, VR, UX design and print – to create an integrated communication concept. The work shows how immersive technologies and classic design methods can work together to convey complex content in an understandable and appealing way. “‘Eye Know’ is an example of how contemporary communication design works today: not in individual disciplines, but in the interplay of print, UX and immersive technologies. This interdisciplinarity is at the heart of our degree course,” says Prof. Norbert Diedrich, Head of the Communication Design degree course, praising the work.
Unique teaching concept in Münchberg
The two awards underline the future-oriented focus of the Communication Design course at Hof University of Applied Sciences. The Münchberg model is characterized by the combination of creative practice, technical expertise and scientific foundation. “Both projects show how complex topics can be communicated coherently. It is precisely this interplay of theory, technology and creativity that distinguishes our degree course,” says Prof. Dr. Claudia Muth, Applied Design Sciences.
Hof University of Applied Sciences focuses on an education that encourages students to use digital technologies responsibly, work on socially relevant topics and develop interdisciplinary solutions.
