Student Assistant (Prototyping and Visual or Product Design)

03.06.2025, Studentische Hilfskräfte, Praktikantenstellen, Studienarbeiten

The Chair of Design and Transdisciplinarity is part of the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED) and centrally located in the heart of Munich. We teach and research approaches to design that center societal value and consider regenerative impact through participation, utilizing a sophisticated understanding of systemic approaches, a reframing of power dynamics in design, and a focus on equitable outcomes. We create spaces where wildly creative ideas for a hopeful future can emerge through close collaboration with other disciplines. 

For an upcoming research project, which will include working with professors across the TUM and collaboratively turning ideas into prototypes, we are looking for a student assistant who will work with our Chair. You will be supporting our work with the following tasks:

• Support Creative Workshops: Take part in workshops with professors and brainstorm and explore ideas from their research that could be turned into prototypes.

• Propose Mockups: Help turn first versions of ideas into tangible mockups, using either physical, like paper/cardboard prototypes or digital tools, to show how something might work.

• Utilize Various Prototyping Tools: Use a mix of tools, such as Arduinos, 3D printing, laser cutting, etc. to build and test different kinds of prototypes.

• Visualize Concepts and Refine Prototypes: Using a mix of visualization techniques, illustration, and model making skills, create more refined versions of prototypes and visualize concepts at higher fidelity.

• Think About Who It’s For: Co-develop ideas for different types of outcomes (like for schools, citizen science projects, or industry) and think through how to present them to different audiences.

• Test and Gather Feedback: Try out prototypes with citizens or other users to see what works, what doesn’t, and gather ideas for improvement.

This is a great opportunity to learn about ongoing research projects and utilize design to turn ideas into tangible outcomes to explore how these could become societally relevant. You will be working in close collaboration with Dr. Regina Sipos, Postdoctoral Researcher, who has 15 years of experience in participatory and grassroots design, critical making, social innovation, and international development (UN).

Contract duration 12 months, 8 hours per week, onsite, starting in July 2025. 

This role is for you, if you:

• Have strong prototyping skills and love making

• Have experience using microcontrollers, such as Arduinos or Raspberry Pis

• Demonstrated visual or product design skills

• Are a self-starter who knows how to take initiative, likes to work independently, and proactively identifies opportunities without needing constant direction 
• Are organized, pay attention to detail and know how to meet deadlines 

Kontakt: application.dat@ed.tum.de