Anticipate an enriching experience at the DTI Summer School, blending high academic standards with experimental teaching methods. The program, developed at FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, spans two weeks and offers hands-on workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and excursions facilitated by an international academic team. Set in various locations in Münsterland, Germany, the interdisciplinary course delves into design, technology, and innovation. Participants will gain practical skills, deep insights, and an understanding of the interconnected relationships between these fields. The curriculum explores current trends, future trajectories, societal challenges, and sustainable development, preparing students for a technology-driven future as change-makers.

The Summer School at the University of Applied Sciences Münster is dedicated to providing an enriching, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all participants. We believe that by embracing diversity, we create a stronger and more compassionate community, fostering learning, personal growth, and global collaboration. Join us on this exciting journey of discovery and exploration, where everyone is valued, respected, and cherished.¹⁾

The DTI Summer School traces its origins to Felix Beck’s experiences as part of the Engineering for Social Innovation (EfSI) program at NYU Abu Dhabi, where interdisciplinary collaboration, real-world challenges, and hands-on learning formed the core of education. Inspired by excursions with students across the Middle East, and throughout Asia (The Philippines, Sri Lanka, India), he brought this spirit of engaged, experiential learning and improvisation back to Germany. Driven by his passion to expand traditional STEM education into STEAM²⁾ — integrating art, design, and creativity — he set out to create a space where prototyping, fieldwork, and speculative thinking could complement academic knowledge.

In 2021, Prof. Felix Hardmood Beck and Dr. Sue Rossano Rivero received a 50.000 EUR grant by the FH Münster University of Applied Sciences to develop and host an exciting new summer school. What started as an educational experiment has since transformed into a well-established, compact two-week course packed with multiple learnings on design, technology, and innovation. A roving experience, curated to be held at different locations — throughout its duration — in the beautiful Münsterland area (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany).

For the 2025 edition, Beck received an additional 40.000 EUR in funding from the Global.Connect program of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). To further support the implementation, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (ETI) at FH Münster contributed 5.000 EUR to hire two student assistants for the planning and execution of the summer school.

The DTI Summer School offers a unique platform for experimentation that is often difficult to realize within rigid university curricula. What began as a small weekend initiative called CampX (2022) (see also this YouTube video), integrated into an existing summer school format, has since evolved into a full-fledged, internationally recognized program that brings together students from around the world — participants came from: Belgium, China, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, The Philippines, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam — to co-create, reflect, and build new futures.

Find more information on earlier editions of the DTI Summer School in 2023 and 2024, as well as in the following press article, and watch this YouTube video.

Over the course of several years, the DTI Summer School has grown not only in content and reach but also in its distinctive visual identity. Each edition introduced creative design features that reflect the experimental and hands-on character of the program. From screen-printed T-shirts and silkscreened posters to custom-designed fluorescent lamps and spatial interventions, the visual elements of DTI have become an integral part of the experience. These artifacts are often co-created by students and faculty, serving as both mementos and expressions of the design-led, exploratory spirit that defines the Summer School.

The DTI logo, designed by Agata Trojanowska, is a visual embodiment of the Summer School’s interdisciplinary spirit. Formed by a single, continuous line, the three letters D–T–I represent the seamless transfer between design, technology, and innovation — highlighting their interconnected nature. At the same time, the uninterrupted line functions as a symbolic timeline of the Summer School itself, capturing the flow of experiences, knowledge, and collaboration over the course of the two-week program. The visual language of the logo draws inspiration from simplified technical CAD drawings, subtly suggesting a three-dimensional structure and playfully referencing the engineered, creative, and experimental foundations that define the DTI Summer School.

Set in the scenic and culturally rich region of Münsterland, Germany, the DTI Summer School brings together an international community of students, educators, and practitioners to explore the intersections of design, technology, and innovation. Hosted by FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, this two-week program combines hands-on learning with global exchange to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Participants engage in workshops, excursions, and experimental formats that span disciplines—from design thinking and digital fabrication to sustainability, cultural heritage, and speculative technologies. Each activity is grounded in real-world contexts and fosters collaborative problem-solving, cross-cultural communication, and creative experimentation.³⁾

The DTI Summer School is built on the belief that meaningful innovation happens at the intersection of diverse perspectives. Students from a wide range of academic fields—including design, engineering, computer science, architecture, and the humanities—work in mixed teams to prototype ideas, build narratives, and imagine future scenarios.

This interdisciplinary approach is matched by a strong international spirit: in recent years, participants have come from over a dozen countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The Summer School actively supports partnerships with institutions such as Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design (Jerusalem) and Sulaimani Polytechnic University (Kurdistan Region, Iraq).

What unites everyone at the DTI Summer School is a shared curiosity about the future—and a willingness to shape it. From workshops and lectures to cinema nights and informal gatherings, the atmosphere is one of openness, experimentation, and fun. Diversity is not only welcomed but essential to the program’s success.

The Summer School encourages lifelong connections across disciplines, nationalities, and generations. It is a platform for personal growth, professional inspiration, and collaborative innovation.

Learning at DTI is not confined to lecture halls. The Münsterland region itself becomes a laboratory for innovation and cultural dialogue. Activities take place at multiple locations—including university workshops, rural sites, local companies, and historical venues—offering a unique spatial and intellectual landscape for discovery.

Bicycle tours, site-specific installations, and sustainability camps foster embodied learning and local engagement. These excursions deepen participants’ understanding of how global ideas can be rooted in local contexts—and vice versa.

Whether you’re passionate about sustainable design, emerging technologies, or the future of education itself, the DTI Summer School offers a unique chance to challenge your thinking, expand your network, and engage with real-world issues in creative ways.

What to expect during DTI’25?

• Enjoy an intensive two-week experience filled with fun, teamwork, and a positive atmosphere.
• Dive into practical exercises and hands-on activities, utilizing a range of tools and materials to enhance your skills.
• Explore thought-provoking workshops that tackle today's global challenges, sparking innovative ideas and solutions.
• Embark on enriching excursions across Münsterland, visiting companies, exhibitions, and enjoying scenic bicycle tours.
• Engage in inclusive activities, including the Summer Cinema and CampX—a three-day sustainability camp offering diverse mini-challenges.
• Experience diverse demonstrations, presentations, and talks, featuring stimulating theory units delivered in both English and German.

The following content is covered in the DTI’25 course:

• In-depth insights into design methods, innovation processes, and product development.
• Sustainability topics, delving into concepts like SDGs and the 'cradle to cradle' principle.
• Exploration of historical tools and technologies, highlighting sophisticated cultural and handicraft techniques developed over centuries.
• Examination of current and future tools and technologies, including 3D scanning, 3D printing, and Virtual Reality.
• Introduction to Rapid Prototyping, encompassing elements of electronics and robotics based on Arduino, along with programming.
• Provocative discussions on philosophical questions surrounding forward-looking technologies that significantly impact civilization and influence work methodologies.