JOHANNA DEHIO

www.johannadehio.de
huhu@johannadehio.de

Website built by Romuald Dehio

Johanna Dehio (*1984) is a German designer living and working in Berlin. Starting from a background in product design, her practice and research investigates the knowledge embedded in materials, objects and everyday practices. Through experimental design processes she explores how improvisation, handwork and collaborative making can open alternative ways of working with resources, infrastructures and environments.

Her work explores design as a cultural and spatial practice that shapes and negotiates the conditions of everyday life. Rather than focusing on the production of objects, she approaches design as a process-oriented field in which material experimentation, spatial practice and social interaction intersect. Through objects, spatial interventions and collaborative formats she develops experimental situations in which design becomes a tool for exploring social, ecological and spatial transformations.

Many of her projects unfold as participatory research situations in which design becomes a framework for collective inquiry. Temporary spatial structures, kitchens or experimental building processes function as shared platforms where practical knowledge, local resources and social relations are brought into dialogue.

Her early work as a product designer explored the relationship between material, handwork and open-ended processes of making. Projects such as Hockerbank (2010–2013), produced by Neue Wiener Werkstätte, translate everyday improvisational practices into a modular seating system derived from the spontaneous assemblage of stools and boards; the work received several design awards. Material-based investigations such as Undefined Object (K.I.T. Dubí, Czech Republic, 2016) further developed this interest by introducing openness and improvisation into conventional porcelain production processes.

Building on these explorations of material knowledge and improvisation, Dehio’s practice expanded towards spatial and collaborative formats addressing relationships between people, objects and environments. A recurring conceptual figure in this work is the kitchen as a spatial and social infrastructure — a place where ingredients, labour, energy and social relations converge. Projects such as Construisine I (Vienna Design Week, 2013), Construisine II (Bauhaus Dessau, 2013) and Firekitchen (Vila Itororó / Goethe-Institut São Paulo / 11th Architecture Biennale São Paulo, 2017) created temporary communal kitchens in public space that invite participants to cook, build and exchange practical knowledge collectively.

More recent projects extend this approach to questions of urban transformation and ecological transition. Baking Futures (Haus der Statistik / Rathausblock Berlin, 2019–2022) accompanied urban development processes through collaborative building interventions testing prototypes for collectively used infrastructures. The ongoing project Fiumicina – an open kitchen by the river (curated by Lungomare Bozen) explores the kitchen as a civic infrastructure situated within the river landscapes of Bolzano. Through an experimental solar cooking installation, workshops and public gatherings, the project connects questions of food production, renewable energy use, care work and urban commons while making alternative resource practices visible in everyday public space.

For the participatory space Freiraum at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (2020), Dehio developed a process-oriented design framework exploring new forms of accessibility, dialogue and engagement between museum institutions and urban society.

Johanna Dehio works in different collaborative constellations, including long-term collaborations with Constructlab and other recurring project partners.

Since 2024 she has been Professor for Introduction to Artistic Practice – Design at HFBK Hamburg. In her teaching, practice-based and process-oriented design work forms the core of the curriculum. Students explore an expanded understanding of design through observation, experimentation and collaborative projects addressing questions of ecological and social transformation in everyday life and urban environments. In collaboration with external partners, they develop projects connecting craft production, daily life and urban space. Prior to her appointment in Hamburg, Dehio taught for many years at Universität der Künste Berlin and at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, and regularly leads interdisciplinary workshops and lectures at universities and cultural institutions.

february 2019
winning project of “creative food cycles”
european research project by LUH, UniGe and IAAC

september – october 2017
Residency, Workshop & Exhibition “FireKitchen”
Vila Itororó, Sao Paulo, Goethe Institut SP
11a bienal de arquitectura SP

october 2016
1st Price for project FireKitchen
Erste Bank MehrWert Preis 2016

september/october 2016
Fire Kitchen, Public Intervention,
Vienna Design Week 2016, Stadtarbeit

september 2016
‘Undefined Object’ Exhibition, lecture and workshop
international porcellain symposium Dubi, CZ

august 2015
residency & workshop „jardin suspendus, mons diffusion“
Mons, Belgium, cultural capital 2015, Constructlab

april 2015
„Vila Itororó, cantiero aberto“ with Constructlab
Sao Paulo, Brazil, Instituto Pedras

august 2014
„mercato dei frutti minori“ residency with Alexander Römer
Free Home University, Lecce IT

june – july 2014
bentwood workshop with Thonet and Constructlab / Atelier BowWow
Darmstädter Architektursommer, Summer School, Osthang Project Raumlabor

december 2013 – february 2014
„Construisine“, Exhibition
Dessau, Meisterhaus Schlemmer / Muche

september – december 2013
Designer Residency Stipend
Dessau, Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau

september / october 2013
„Construisine“, Public Intervention
Vienna, Vienna Design Week, Stadtarbeit

august – november 2013
„Casa do Vapor“, Intervention with ConstructLab
Portugal, Architecture Triennale Lisbon

may – june 2013
„Assembling“, Solo Show
Vienna, Vienna Design Week, Window Gallery

may 2013
„Meta-Mobilität“, Hockerbank
Graz, designforum Steiermark, Kunsthaus Graz

may 2013
ICFF, NWW – TRADITION, CRAFTSMANSHIP & DESIGN
New York, Hockerbank Edition

april 2013
Austrian Design Details
Milan, group show, Hockerbank Edition

february 2013
Galery S. Bensimon „Berlin 2.0“
Paris, group show, Hockerbank

october 2012
NWW Design Award
Vienna, 3rd Price, Hockerbank

september – october 2012
Artist Residency
Museumsquartier Vienna, quartier 21

october 2011
Lucky Strike Junior Designer Award
Hamburg, special mention

august 2011
Form# Preis 2011 for „Kleiderstiele“
Frankfurt, Tendence Frankfurt fair

june 2011
Transalpino „made in between“
Berlin, DMY Flughafen Tempelhof

february 2011
„Talents show“
Frankfurt, Ambiente Frankfurt fair

january 2011
„Drahtbank“ solo exhibition
Berlin, BERLIN-WEEKLY gallery

october 2010
„Applaus 2010“ group exhibition
Potsdam, Fachhochschule Potsdam

september 2010
„working title“, solo exhibition
Berlin, erstererster gallery

june 2009
„Transalpino: open progress“
Berlin, DMY 2009, gallery ersteretsrer

april / june 2008
„Trattoria Transalpino“
Milano, Bar Basso
Berlin, DMY 2008, Schlesisch Blau

april / may 2007
„Transalpino: solutions with a hook“
Milano, studio dotdotdot
Berlin, Designmai 2007, Gallerie erstererster

may 2006
„60 m3“
Berlin, Designmai 2006

april 2006
„draw a chair“
Milano, studio dotdotdot

HFBK Hamburg (Hochschule für bildende Künste)
professorship for design basics / eco-social transformation
since 2024 ongoing

Free University of Bolzano IT, MA eco-social design, 2024
“project 3” / group projects with local partners
guest lecturer, project lead “Objects-Spaces-Services”

UdK Berlin, basislabor Design, 2022/23
“warm up”, “Durch die Bank”
künstlerische Mitarbeit, with Prof. Robert Scheipner

HFBK Hamburg (Hochschule für bildende Künste)
industrial design / free design / social design
Klasse “Projektküche”, 2019/2020
guest professorship

“TABLE TALKS” lecture series, 2019-2020
during guest professorship at HfbK Hamburg

Hfbk Hamburg – WERKstube Gerswalde
“spekulative Eintöpfe”
Excursion + Workshop 2019

Leibnitz Universität Hannover –
Institute of Urban Design and Planning
Food Cycles Pop-Up Workshop
“Cooking and Process” / lecture

Free University of Bolzano IT, MA eco-social design, 2018 – 2019
“thesis preparation project” /
cultivating experimentation and exchange
guest lecturer, project lead “Objects-Spaces-Services”

Vienna Design Week 2018
SOWIESO SOZIAL! – Social Design im Dienst der Gesellschaft
Talk / Jury / Preisverleihung

UdK Berlin, basislabor Design, 2019
“Haus-Agenten”
künstlerische Mitarbeit, with Prof. Robert Scheipner

Ecole de design UQAM, Montreal, CA, 2018
“public production”
Sèmaine de Design Internationale

Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, 2018
“WISSEN IM DESIGN” / Praxisakademie Papenburg
with Dr. Daniel Klapsing

UdK Berlin, basislabor Design, 2. Semester, 2018
“gut sitzen”
künstlerische Mitarbeit, with Prof. Robert Scheipner

UdK Berlin, basislabor Design, 2. Semester, 2017
“Stadtgestalten”
project lead

Ateliér Design Keramiky FUD UJEP, Dubi CZ, 2016
KIT international Porcelain Meeting, Lecture and Workshop
Prof. Antonín Tomášek

IKKM Weimar 2016
“Aggregatszustände der Erkenntnis”
Workshop for Prof. Karen van den Berg

UAD Montevideo/Uruguay / UdK Berlin,
Instituto Cervantes Berlin 2016, “Food Dialogue”
with Federico Lagomarsino

UdK Berlin 2016
“Clay+Fire”
Workshop with LB Valentina Karga, Prof. Susanne Stauch

Darmstädter Architektur Sommer, Summer School
Darmstadt 2014, “Osthang Project”
bent wood workshop with ConstructLab and THONET

Mons Diffusion 2015
“Sour dough talks”
Constructlab

UdK Berlin, Kollisionen 2016
“Tisch – Kulturen” with Hanna Wiesener
interdisciplinary workshop in Cooperation KPM Berlin

UdK Berlin, Künstlerische Mitarbeit
since 2014, basislabor Design
1st year product- and fashion design

ESAAA
Annecy 2014, “Cooking-line”
1st year applied arts, with Alexander Römer

Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau
Dessau 2013, “Schlemmerküche”
experts and neighbours

Universität Mozarteum
Salzburg 2013, “Object Improvisation”
exhibition architecture and scenography students

Museumsquartier
Vienna 2012, “Furniture – Improvisation”
public workshop within artist residency

Raumgestalt
Bernau 2012, “Improvisation”
internal motivation workshop

Museum der Dinge
Berlin 2012, “Vom Provisorium zum Produkt”
Marcel Breuer school for product design

"Wo die Menschen sind" Jasmin Jouhar über die Arbeiten von Johanna Dehio für das Lerchenfeld 72

"making futures", hg.: Bader/Kafka/Schneider/Talevi, spector books 2021

"how together", Constructlab, chicago architecture biennial, dpr-barcelona 2019

domus 2016

"Social Design – Public Action"; Eds: Falkeis, Feireiss, Birkhäuser EDITION ANGEWANDTE, 2015

Projektküche Atlas, selfpublished, HfbK 2020

disegno daily 2013

domus 2013

Case da abitare 

february / march 2013

Zeit Magazin
Nr. 11 march 2014

Form 
january / february 2011

DamN°

april / may 2011

10 + 1, 11 Years of young Design in Process

Hrsg. Hansjerg Maier-Aichen

10 + 1, 11 Years of young Design in Process

Hrsg. Hansjerg Maier-Aichen

Schöner Wohnen

may 2011

Das Designbuch, Zitty Berlin

may 2011

Das Designbuch, Zitty Berlin

may 2011

DamN° 30

october / november 2011

DamN° 30

october / november 2011

Baunetz 

Shortlist 2010

Baunetz 

Shortlist 2010

Hise Slowenia

december 2010

Hise Slowenia

december 2010

selected press

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