Tonica Hunter is a curator, cultural producer and DJ from London, based in Vienna since 2014. Tonica has a BA in French and German Studies from the University of Warwick as well as a MSc in Migration Studies from the University of Oxford. Her work spans institutions such as UNESCO Austria, Weltmuseum, Tanzquartier Research Lab, Stand129, MDW and CIVA festival to name a few. Since 2021, she sits on the Beirat for Frauen Domane as an expert for Arts and Culture and on the BMKÖS Beirat for Kulturinitiativen.

Florentina Holzinger is a choreographer and performance artist who consciously plays with the shifting boundaries between high culture and entertainment. Since her early works, she challenges different modes of representation and explores the full potential of human physicality. Her work is intrinsically linked with the aim of exploring modes of embodiment in relation to ones identity and the development of practices to support a physical life in action. Since 2021, she is an associated artist of the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin. 

Marc is a graphic designer who focuses on strong visual languages ​​and context-based design methodologies. He graduated from the Angewandte in 2014 with a published research project on design in commissioned work for which he was interviewing three generations of alumni from the class. Currently as senior designer of Bleed—a leading design consultancy with offices in Norway and Austria—he works for clients such as EXPO 2020 Dubai, ORF, NRK P3 and the Vienna Museum of Technology.

Evi Romen studied camera and editing at the Vienna Film Academy. She has been an editor since the early 1990s and a screenwriter since 2017. She is known for her work on Casanova Variations (2014), Komm, süsser Tod (2000) and M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (2019). The film Hochwald in 2019 was Evi’s debute as a director. Evi's work was received several awards such the Diagonale Prize (2011), the Austrian Film Prize (2016) and the Carl Mayer Screenplay Prize (2017).

Conny Runner, author of the Critical Campaigning Manifesto, founder of the Peng collective and a political scientist, researches new tactics and strategies of political influence using the means of art, hacking and activism. His works can be seen at the Berlin Biennale and the Athens Biennale, among others, 2018 he was awarded the Aachen Peace Prize together with Peng. He regularly teaches at universities such as the Filmhochschule Babelsberg or the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.

Manfred R. Hecker is one of the most important experts in criminal handwriting investigation. Hecker was employed by the German Federal Criminal Police Office from 1970, and from 1974 onwards, he was the head of the handwriting division, from 1981 until retirement as Senior Scientific Director. 1996 Doctoral thesis on Dr.jur. at the Humboldt University Berlin. In 2000, he received his Habilitation from the University of Breslau. Publications i.a.: Handschrift und Gender (2003); Treatise on the scientific claim in the forensic correspondence (2000); Forensic Handwriting Investigation (1993)

Oliver Heiss is managing partner and lead strategist at Brainds in Vienna, one of Austria’s leading brand and design consultancies. With an eclectic background in investment banking, music journalism and corporate development, his focus for the last 11 years has been on the development of innovative brand identity and design concepts for large corporations as well as for i.e. museums or start-ups. He worked with the class on exploring and developing identity concepts for the project "Wiener Grätzln".

Vitus Weh is an author, museum planner, exhibition curator and 2016’s guest member of our diploma jury.
In his lecture »Ein Flyer ist ein Ausstellungsraum, ein Buch ist ein Museum« (“A flyer is an exhibition space, a book is a museum”),  he  discussed the historic origins of museums, what it means to be curating exhibitions today, and what are the charms of micromuseums.

Tina Frank is a graphic designer and media artist as well as professor for graphic design at The University for Art and Industrial Design in Linz, Austria. Her roots are in webdesign and cover designs for experimental electronic music during the mid 1990’s when she also started to work with digital realtime-visualisation, video & multimedia. The focus of her work lies in Print, Corporate Design, Signage Systems and within the experimental field of music visualisations. We were happy to have her as our diploma jury guest.

Eike König is founder and creative director of HORT, a small Berlin beased design studio made up of a mixed bag of uniquely selected, creative and spirited people. HORT is all about work & play for life and working environment is a creative playground. Once a household name in the music industry, now, a multi-disciplinary creative hub. Eike König visited for a three-day workshop called "Klasse Kartak wants me", as the students voted for him to come.

Stefan Sagmeister, Applied Arts graduate and a star on the graphic design scene, first returned to his alma mater in July 2008 to hold a lecture on “Things I have learned in life so far” (“Dinge, die ich bisher im Leben gelernt habe”). Sagmeister founded his agency Sagmeister Inc. in New York in 1993 and has been managing it together with designer Jessica Walsh since 2012. Two-time Grammy winner Sagmeister is best known for his CD cover designs, for artists including Lou Reed, the Rolling Stones, David Byrne and Aerosmith.

Oded Ezer visited the Class to work with students on the semester theme “Eerie” (“Das Unheimliche”) in a two-day workshop. The Israeli typographer has a highly experimental creative philosophy and is internationally known for his spectacular projects, such as his bandaged “Tortured Letters” or the sperm alphabet “Typosperm”, on display at the Museum of Modern Art NY. Oded Ezer’s “A Poem For The 21^st Century Typographer” was produced in the basement of the University of Applied Arts. Enjoy!

Andreas Koller of Vienna design studio Strukt was a guest member on the diploma jury in the winter semester 2009/2010. In his lecture “Extended Canvas” he presented current examples of projection and interaction techniques that allow designers to think outside the canvas box. Strukt specializes in interaction design, visual event design, motion and graphic design. Since its formation in 2007 Strukt has worked for renowned clients, realizing media installations and animations for presentations, exhibitions and corporate and cultural events.

Patrick Pulsinger is one of the best-known protagonists on the Austrian electronic music scene and an internationally successful music producer and DJ. In addition to his work in electronic music, various musical collaborations and several film soundtrack productions, he also specializes in Jazz and improvisational music. Patrick Pulsinger visited the Class as a guest member on the diploma jury in the winter semester 2010/2011 and also gave a lecture on modular sound synthesis.

Jianping He, member on the diploma jury in the summer semester 2014, lives in Berlin and works as a graphic designer, professor, and publisher. His work has received numerous awards worldwide; his solo exhibitions were shown in Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia, amongst other places. He is a member of the Professional Examination Association, the ESAG design school in Paris, and AGI, Alliance Graphique Internationale. In his lecture »In Between« he presented a selection of his works.

Dennis Elbers is the Creative Director of the Graphic Design Festival Breda (Netherlands), which takes place every two years and comprises public exhibitions, lectures and workshops. He also works as a free-lance curator, editor, author and lecturer. Dennis Elbers visited us from Amsterdam to serve as a member on the diploma jury in the summer semester 2013 and to give the lecture “Search/Find/Like/Share”, a title that reflects Elber’s approach to curatorial work.

Carlos Lascano, guest member on the diploma jury in the summer semester 2012, works in animation films, a genre that allows him to combine his many facets and artistic talents. He uses a mix of various techniques to tell enchanting stories. “The Legend of the Scarecrow”, his best-known work, was included in the Oscar Preselection in 2005 and has won many awards all over the world. In his lecture “The use of mixed media in film” he offered us a look behind the scenes of his projects.

Elfie Semotan lives and works in New York, Vienna and Jennersdorf. She is a fashion, advertising and portrait photographer and her works have been published in various magazines, including Vogue, Elle, Interview, ID and Harper’s Bazaar, and exhibited at the ART Basel Miami Beach (2005), at the Galerie für Modefotografie (Berlin, 2009) and at the Museum der Moderne Rupertinum (Salzburg, 2010), among other venues. On the occasion of her exhibition “Elfie Semotan”, staged in Vienna in the spring of 2012, Elfie Semotan talked to the Class about her projects.