Eike König's 2018 After School Club will discuss gender equality within the design industry

Following on from smashing its Kickstarter campaign, Eike König’s After School Club, a week-long creative boot camp exploring design, will take place on 30 July — 4 August. Applications to take part in the event, which will examine social questions by artists, designers and students from across the globe, are now open too.

The 2018 edition of ASC, which has been running every couple of years since 2012, will focus on gender issues within the design and art industry. In turn, Eike and his team of students at HfG Offenbach, have curated a line-up of female-only participants. This includes illustrators Stefanie Leinhos and Anna Haifisch, conceptual designer Na Kim, graphic designer Isabel Seiffert (one half of It’s Nice That’s Ones to Watch 2018 Offshore studio), performer and theorist Franziska Aigner, photographer Maren Keller, media artists Pussykrew and Billy Bultheel, from performance artist Anne Imhof’s team.

On this year’s chosen topic and line-up, Eike König explains that the decision developed from a belief that “conferences are far too often dominated by men, and this is why we would like to set an international example for equality with our event.”

The week, comprising of workshops and lectures is organised by Eike’s students at HfG Offenbach. During the week, gender equality within the creative industry will be explored through visual and vocal discussions on “gender diversity, equal pay, or the representation of female and male teaching staff at universities,” says ASC, “and, of course, they will learn from specialists in their creative field.”

Affordable education is a strong belief regularly voiced by Eike and therefore ASC remains at the reasonable price of €40 for the full week. “We strongly believe in the principle of free education. We do not want to make money with our After School Club, rather we want to promote great talent.”

To apply to be one of the 120 lucky creatives part of the After School Club class of 2018, you can submit your application here before the deadline of 26 June.