The merchandising project team at Furtwangen University: Lena Meister, Leonie Mohr, Prof. Dr. Zydorek, Selina Kieninger, Amelie-Sophie Stärz, and Hannah Schneider. The new HFU merchandise items are not just souvenirs, but also an expression of modern campus lifestyle.
Student project develops concept
As part of a project study at the Faculty of Business, Design & Media at Furtwangen University, a project group supervised by Prof. Dr. Christoph Zydorek has developed a new university merchandise collection. In collaboration with the university's marketing department, a comprehensive rebranding was carried out with the aim of developing the university merchandise into an independent, modern brand that combines identification and style. The students focused on clear typography, subtle branding and a contemporary colour palette that lends the HFU corporate design a new freshness and picks up on current streetwear trends to create a connection between university identity and urban fashion.
At the heart of the first basic collection are two motifs that were identified and tested in a university survey − the Black Forest design with the coordinates of the HFU locations and the HFU outline lettering, implemented in several colourways. The range includes T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, caps and bags.
The products are available through the online retailer “Spreadshop.” The shop concept is based on sustainable “print-on-demand” production, which avoids overproduction and enables fair prices.
Link to the shop: HFU Merchandise
Besides the design, the student team also planned the content for the new products on social media as well as targeted flyer and poster campaigns at the university locations. The project is a prime example of how practice-oriented work and interdisciplinary collaboration can contribute to the further development of the university's identity. The new HFU merchandise items are not only intended to be souvenirs, but also an expression of a modern campus lifestyle.
