»Whether it be the sweeping eagle in his flight, or the open apple-blossom, the toiling work-horse, the blithe swan, the branching oak, the winding stream at its base, the drifting clouds, over all the coursing sun, form ever follows function, and this is the law. Where function does not change form does not change.« (Louis Sullivan)

Even the long version of the famous quote does not really clarify matters: Form follows function? Is that supposed to be a law? What if the form comes first and the function follows? Or what if a spontaneous inspiration gives us both at the same time?

Where does form come from, and where can we already meet it halfway in the design process? Together, we research sources of inspiration and develop strategies for viewing briefings and requirements not as limitations, but as impulses that can be harnessed for our designs.

Introductory research and playful short-term projects open up the topic. The insights gained from this are applied in the second half of the semester in the development of our own product design.

Dominik Harborth is a product and communication designer and represents Prof. Judith Glaser in the field of object and 3D design. As the founder of BUERO HARBORTH, he and his team oversee a wide range of projects, from classic product development to complex sustainable brand communication for large companies. The interactions between product and communication are always at the center of his work. In December 2025, he was a guest speaker at the FGW Lunch Lecture.

He will be happy to answer questions about the course on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. online via Zoom: https://thws-de.zoom-x.de/j/69734841542