The success of cross-disciplinary practice is crucially dependent on a number of factors. First and foremost, the development of appropriate and productive frameworks has to be given special consideration in order for a fruitful encounter of epistemologically distinct approaches (with respect to specific themes) to take place. A second, equally important factor is the elaboration of sound and supportive methodological structures tailored towards individually designed cross-disciplinary projects. Finally, work across various disciplines requires the active creation of multi-perspectival settings that are both critical and conscious of their own, sometimes vexed positionality and situatedness. Content-framing, methodological drive and self-positioning thus figure as the most outstanding determinants of work across various domains.

In the Master CDC Lab, we want to practically examine – and implement – all these factors. The primary emphasis lies on the step-by-step development of students’ individual projects, both with respect to their theoretical underpinnings and their prospective practical implementations. Furthermore, the Lab will attempt to provide a contextualizing meeting ground for the various disciplinary strands and vectors at work within particular project designs. By discussing and actively engaging with successful and outstanding examples of interdisciplinary cooperation, we will probe, and hopefully profit from, a manifold “best practice” approach. Above all, the lab will encourage and support project outlines with respect to larger transformational contexts, such as ongoing digitalization, questions of sustainability and looming ecological disasters, increasing societal fragmentation, non-violent forms of coexistence as well as cultural diversity.

Project presentation, written outline, participation in group work