From May 12 to 15, 2025, the artist duo POSTER REX—Lars Harmsen and Markus Lange—led an intensive design workshop in Graz. The event was part of the International Design Week 2025, organized by the FH JOANNEUM – University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Communication. The final presentation took place on May 16, offering a glimpse into a collaborative and process-driven exploration of political language, experimental typography, and analog printing techniques.
The workshop began with a deep dive into language—more specifically, into short, politically provocative statements generated using artificial intelligence. These AI-generated phrases ranged from poetic to absurd and served as sparks for reflection, critique, and design. Rather than acting as a passive tool, AI was treated as a co-author—providing raw material to be questioned, reshaped, or embraced.
To visually interpret the texts, participants developed pictograms, symbols, and small illustrations. These graphic elements either reinforced or deliberately contradicted the messages, adding further complexity and nuance.
The group then turned to a range of experimental online typography tools. These platforms allowed for playful, glitchy, and unconventional type manipulations. Screenshots of the most compelling outcomes became raw design material, later remixed and composed according to tone and intent. The process emphasized intuition over perfection, encouraging a design approach that was messy, bold, and alive.
A major component of the workshop was screen printing—a hands-on process that brought the designs into the physical world. Each participant created prints that were unique, imperfect, and expressive. Those designs that weren’t screen-printed were digitally produced and assembled into a large wall collage—a growing archive of visual experimentation and protest.
In parallel, a small editorial team documented the workshop in a printed publication, preserving its energy and ideas beyond the posters themselves.
The results were presented as part of the exhibition “Rebel Prints”, hosted at the Festival Centre, Hornig Areal, from May 9 to June 1, during Designmonat Graz 2025. The show featured the broader work of POSTER REX—an ongoing project that confronts populist propaganda and highlights the political dimension of visual communication. Through live screen printing, large-format visuals, and participatory installations, “Rebel Prints” framed design as a form of resistance, and the poster as a medium of dissent.
More information about the exhibition can be found at:
👉 https://www.designmonat.at/en/event/rebel-prints/
Silkscreen workshop participants from FH Dortmund, Valencia and Graz:
Denise Steinbauer
Melissa Smajić
Julia Núñez
Nele Kreuger
Nick Patzak
Carola Hinojosa
Julia Pfäfflin
Aylin Aktas
Katrin Reder
Isabella Aistleitner (Thanks for the recap which led to this text)
Luisa Pieper
Yara Skamletz
Magdalena Straka
In parallel the workshop led by Prof. Roger Walk invited students to explore the intersection of political narratives, design, and critical discourse through the medium of digital projection. Their projections on our poster walls at Horning Areal where absolutely stunning.
Many thanks to WD20 who helped setting up the silkscreen studio on the Hornig Areal. Thanks to Maria and Illya from Graphprom for joining the PRINT & DANCE sessions.
Thanks to all students who participated in the workshops for the amazing energy. Thanks to Isabella Aistleitner for presenting our project in front of all students!
Big thanks to all the team of FH Johanneum who organized this design week, especially to Andrea Schlacher, Daniel Fabry, Birgit Bachler, Sigrid Bürstmayr,… A very special thanks to Tomislav Bobinec for linking us to Design Monat Graz, for all the suport in logisitcs, food, good vibes and friendship. Thanks to Axel Scheufelen from Meatapaper for paper support. And last but not least a very big thank you to the team of Design Monat Graz for showing our work and making the magic happen. Barbara Nußmüller, Eberhard Schrempf and all the team, thank you so much for having us.
