Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) Offenbach is the Hessen State University of Art and Design. Its tradition stretches back to the year 1832 when it was established as a craftsman’s school. Shortly afterwards it became a school of arts and crafts, a place where both practical arts and crafts and theoretical subjects were taught at the same time. In 1970, the school was transformed into a higher education establishment with university status. Taking its lead from the educational and research models adopted by the Bauhaus and Hochschule für Gestaltung, the University of Design at Ulm, the teaching at HfG Offenbach is future-oriented and largely based on individual supervision and mentorship. Fine Art, Media and Design are taught using a modular structure, culminating in a Diplom, a degree. The course of studies lasts ten semesters and can be taken in one of two Schools – School of Art (with its four subject areas: Communications Design, Media, Fine Art and Stage & Costume Design or School of Design. The work in both departments is complemented by a comprehensive range of theory. Additionally, graduates from the fields of Fine Art, Design, Media and the associated sciences are offered the opportunity of studying for a »PhD«.