EMMA Designers in Residence 2027

EMMA Designers in Residence is a fully funded residency for young designers at EMMA – Creative Center Pforzheim in Germany. Three designers are selected to work on their own projects from 1 April to 30 June 2027, with free accommodation, equipped workshops, co-working space, a monthly stipend of €1,000, travel costs and a materials allowance. The deadline is 2 November 2026.

Pforzheim is known as Germany's "Gold City", with a long tradition of jewellery and watchmaking, and EMMA is the city's creative hub. The residency is open to many design disciplines, including jewellery, fashion, accessories, industrial and product design and graphic design, and ends with an exhibition of the results at EMMA.

It is a rare residency aimed specifically at early-career designers rather than fine artists, and there is no application fee.

Who Can Apply for EMMA Designers in Residence?

Applicants need a completed degree from a university or university of applied sciences, and must be either 35 or younger, or have graduated no more than two years before applying. Working knowledge of German or English is required, and the application is written in English.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Jewellery and accessories designers
• Fashion and textile designers
• Industrial and product designers
• Graphic designers
• Recent graduates developing their first independent project

What Does the Residency Offer?

• Free accommodation in Pforzheim
• Use of equipped workshops and co-working space at EMMA
• A monthly stipend of €1,000
• Travel costs to and from Pforzheim
• A materials allowance
• A final exhibition of the work at EMMA

Application Fees

There is no application fee.

Submission Requirements

Applications are made in English through the official EMMA page. Prepare a description of the project you want to develop during the three months, a portfolio and a CV that shows your degree and graduation date.

Important Rules

• A completed university degree is required.
• Applicants must be 35 or younger, or have graduated within the last two years.
• The application must be in English.
• Residents are expected to be in Pforzheim for the residency period.

When Will Applicants Be Notified?

The selection is expected in mid-December 2026, giving successful designers time to plan for an April start.

Why Apply to EMMA Designers in Residence?

Most funded residencies are built for fine artists, with studios but no machines. EMMA is different: it is a design centre with workshops, so residents can prototype, test materials and finish objects during the three months. For a recent graduate, that combination of time, equipment and a stipend is hard to find.

The programme is also small. With only three designers each year, residents get attention from the EMMA team and the local design community, and the final exhibition gives the work a public outcome to add to a portfolio.

Things to Consider

• Use the workshops. Explain which facilities you need and why the project depends on them.
• Connect with Pforzheim. The city's jewellery and watchmaking heritage can strengthen a project in materials, metal or accessories.
• Plan an outcome. The residency ends in an exhibition, so describe what you will show.
• Join the Q&A. The online session on 15 October is a good chance to ask about facilities.
• Check your dates. Eligibility is based on age or graduation date, so make both clear in your CV.

Apply for the Residency

Interested in applying?

Apply for EMMA Designers in Residence

For the full call, eligibility details and application form, visit the official EMMA – Creative Center Pforzheim website.

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Last verified: October 13, 2026