Winner of DSW's 37th poster competition

• Jennifer Heil from Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences wins first prize in the 37th poster competition of Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW).
• Theme: I'm getting involved!
• 808 posters submitted from 50 universities, 10,000 euros in prize money
• Online public voting for the four most popular posters until 25 June 2023.

Berlin, 19 June 2023. A black and white typography: "Statt unbezahlter Arbeit, Arbeit, die unbezahlbar ist" ("Instead of unpaid work, work that is priceless"). Illustrated with two fists ready to fight (unpaid) and two clasped hands (priceless), the statement puts the focus on the social and personal added value of volunteering. With this poster, design student Jennifer Heil from Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences wins first prize in the 37th poster competition of Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) on the theme "I get involved!"

The topic of social, volunteer or civic engagement moves students: A total of 422 design students, at whom the competition is aimed, from 50 universities submitted 808 poster designs. A jury of five experts selected the best posters.

In addition to the winner Jennifer Heil, who can look forward to prize money of 3,000 euros, there are two second places, who each receive prize money of 2,000 euros, and three third places, each with 1,000 euros.

The prizes were awarded at Museum für Kommunikation in Berlin on 19 June 2023. The museum is also a cooperation partner of the competition, as is the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which has been sponsoring the competition for 37 years now.

How, where and why do students get involved today, in their university, in politics, in civil society? How important is social and civic engagement for them? Do students today still have time for voluntary work? These were the questions that the DSW asked design students nationwide.

Many of the design students' poster designs visually address challenges such as the climate crisis, the pandemic or the energy crisis and call for action.

Prof. Dr. Beate Schücking, President of the DSW, comments: "Crises challenge creativity - we can see this in the poster designs submitted. I am impressed by the diversity of the selection. I am pleased with the message of the winning poster, which gives hope, inspires commitment and elegantly shows an alternative for the internship generation."

Public votes can be cast online until 25 June 2023, to determine which four posters will be printed. In addition, the best 29 posters will be on display in a traveling exhibition in the student unions as well as in the Science Center in Bonn from fall 2023 to spring 2025.

Online voting and all winning posters

Online overview of the posters of the touring exhibition

Prize winners:

1st prize, 3,000 euros
"Unbezahlbare Arbeit"
Jennifer Heil
University of Düsseldorf,
supervised by Prof. Wilfried Korfmacher

2nd prize, 2,000 euros
" Überforderung "
Verena Mack
University of Design Offenbach am Main

2nd prize, 2,000 euros
"SOCIAL OHNE MEDIA"
Phillip Tran
Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences,
supervised by Prof. Andreas Uebele

3rd prize, 1,000 euros
"Ein guter Tag"
Sebastian Heß
State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart,
supervised by Prof. Gerwin Schmidt

3rd prize, 1,000 euros
"AStA ist da!"
Julius Geyer
State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart,
supervised by Prof. Gerwin Schmidt

3rd prize, 1,000 euros
" Ausreden Streichen "
Susan Hösl
State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart,
supervised by Prof. Gerwin Schmidt

The jury:

Prof. Richard Jung, professor of communication design and corporate identity at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences

Prof. Andrea Nienhaus, professor of communication design in distance learning at the IU International University and consultant for digital topics

Prof. Charlotte Schröner, Professor of Conceptual Design/Advertising, Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Dietrich Wolf Fenner, Head of the Public Relations Department at the Museum of Communication Berlin

Thomas Schmalz, Managing Director of the Studentenwerk Freiberg, Chairman of the Culture Committee of Deutsches Studierendenwerk