PressEagle, Cross of Merit, Ballot Box Redesigning Democratic Representation

28 August 2026 – 21 February 2027

Graphic: Gihong "Kiki" Park

Design and architecture have always helped to make societal ideas visible and open to discussion. However, rather than relying on grand, monumental gestures – as has often been the case historically – or, conversely, limiting itself to small niche projects, the research and design project Re-De-Re (Redesigning Democractic Representation) pursues a third, more understated approach: a design-based exploration of individual, very concrete objects of our democratic representation.

Three of these objects are at the center of the exhibition Eagle, Cross of Merit, Ballot Box. The ballot box, which in many municipalities remains to this day a simple, repurposed trash can – practical, but hardly befitting the solemnity of the election process. The federal eagle, whose symbolic significance as a bird of prey dates back to a time long before democracy. And the Federal Cross of Merit, with which the state honors civic engagement, but whose design is strongly influenced by Christian symbolism and, above all, military tradition. Drawing on these three examples, designers have developed new concepts that take a more contemporary and open-minded approach. The exhibition aims to show that democracy is not only administered but also designed and it invites visitors to collectively engage with this design process.

Re-De-Re (Redesigning Democratic Representation) is a project of the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg and the Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung, funded by the VolkswagenStiftung.

Press release

Curator: Friedrich von Borries

Exhibition design: Friedrich von Borries und Philipp Cartier

Exhibition graphics: Gihong “Kiki” Park

Research team: Sven T. Siefken, Friedrich von Borries, Juliane Baruck, Philipp Cartier

Participating Artists and Designers:
Rozbeh Asmani, Uri Barnea, Moritz Bendl, Nehora Chajes, Maciej Chmara, Kadijatou Dahaba, Neta Magda Dror, Petra Esveld, Kane Tank, Agata Germain, Gestaltungszentrale Politik, Santiago Gomez, Esra Gülmen, Juan Guse, Jianping He, Jarek Kozakiewicz, Nadine Kolodziey, Pauli Muszi, Itay Noy, Ingo Offermanns, Krzysztof Oleksiak, Stanislaw Orlowski, Daniel Afriyie Owusu, Oxa, Haim Parzon, Peter Post, Emma Rahe, Anna Rosinke, Kaj Schlicht

Press Images

Sculpture of a stylized eagle made of light material on a metal table in a room with metallic walls and round openings.
Sculpture of a stylized eagle made of light material on a metal table in a room with metallic walls and round openings.
Two men stand in a bright industrial-looking room with gray floor and walls, a pedestal with an object is visible in the background.
Several small, irregularly shaped, brown and grey particles on a yellow, transparent surface with an orange cross shape in the background.
Glass plate with various mold samples surrounded by cables and blue plastic parts on a white surface.
Several different mold samples lie in a glass petri dish next to a white device with wires and a small propeller.
Laptop displaying a 3D model, next to medals, a drawn map, and a petri dish with minerals on a table.
Two dark red trapezoid leather pieces with black buttons on a white background.
Two dark red trapezoid leather pieces with black buttons on a white background.
Two dark red trapezoid leather pieces with black buttons on a white background.
Dot pattern that forms an abstract image.
Dot pattern that forms an abstract image.
Dot pattern that forms an abstract image.
Dot pattern that forms an abstract image.
Dot pattern that forms an abstract image.
Metal ribbon-shaped pin with a square center featuring a stylized eagle.
Metal ribbon-shaped pin with a square center featuring a stylized eagle.
Sculpture of silver-colored, organically shaped elements arranged on a thin rod.
Upper body of a woman with long hair wearing a white shirt with two chest pockets and a narrow vertical necklace.
Man holding a round wire shape with a spiral extension in front of his eye.
Woman with tied-back hair wearing a dark green shirt with two chest pockets and a large round brooch on the left chest.
Upper body of a man with short beard and earring wearing a black blazer with a round brooch.

Exhibition Images

Please note that the image material may only be used in conjunction with a report on the exhibition and with the citation of the exhibition title in its entirety.