The Morning Studio

The Morning Studio explores design as a tool for social change and collective action, using society and everyday surroundings as a field of exploration. Students design for concrete situations and engage with a real audience, analysing the structures and systems that shape our daily lives. The studio encourages a hands-on approach, pushing students beyond theoretical frameworks into real-world applications. Central to this process is intrinsic motivation—students must be driven by a desire for change and an attentiveness to the extraordinary in the mundane. 

Collaboration is fundamental. Collective research provides a shared foundation, allowing students to build upon each other’s work. Street-level experiments force engagement beyond the studio, while real project partners introduce critical perspectives that challenge assumptions. Shared frameworks offer structure and clarity, fostering both an easier reading as well as a deeper understanding of each other’s work. In doing so the studio shifts its focus from creating the perfect design towards embracing the process of learning, valuing iteration, reflection, and exploration. 

Students work on both individual and group projects, learning through interaction in mixed-level groups where more experienced students take on teaching roles. Everyday practice is carefully considered, ensuring that the process itself is as important as the outcome. Feedback is structured horizontally, requiring active participation and engagement from all students. Presentations serve not just as final showcases but as moments for exchange, discussion, and learning. 

By the end of the semester, students take full ownership of their learning, organising their own end-term assessment. The studio creates a space where students shape their education, engage critically with the world, and explore how design can drive meaningful change. 

Tutor team

The studio operates with a compact team of essential tutors alongside an extensive network of invited guests. Core tutors serve not only as guides but also as navigators, offering consistent support week by week while also injecting excitement by arranging outings and inviting external experts. 

Rather than being perceived as all-knowing authorities, tutors are regarded as reservoirs of knowledge to be tapped into. Their selection isn't solely based on their achievements but also, and perhaps more importantly, on the enthusiasm and vitality they contribute.