Becoming Beginners

Is a research-based design initiative that began during a stay at the biodynamic farm Hofgut Rimpertsweiler in southern Germany. There, students were invited to rethink the design process through direct engagement with place and materials.

The on-site workshops were led by designers Lise Ertel and Anne-Sophie Oberkrome from the Berlin-based Studio OE.Together with the designers, the participants became wanderers, exploring the local genius loci. Equipped with “Charlottenburgers” (traveler’s fabrics), they gathered impressions and materials. Using found objects from the farm, they constructed a platform that reflects their experiences and insights.The outcome is a public space that invites the local community to share stories and knowledge. Leaves and flowers collected during the process are embedded in the fabric, preserving traces of the place and moment.