Lecture: Michael Leube · INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

The Department of the Future Designer
Michael Leube
MODERATED BY Tina gregoric
THU, 11.12.2025, 18:00 – Hörsaal 17, TU Wien

Michael Leube, Ph.D., is a design anthropologist, professor, author, and consultant specializing in social innovation and humanitarian design. He integrates anthropology, ethics, and sustainability to shape forward-looking, resilience-focused design education. Leube has taught at leading universities across Europe and the U.S., spoken at top design consultancies like IDEO and Fjord, co-authored two books on the circular economy, and delivered a TED talk titled “Why designers should urgently listen to anthropologists.”

The Department of the Future Designer
Architecture has always been about more than shelter; it is the stage on which human life unfolds. Today, in an age of ecological and social challenges, the built environment can do more than reflect desire—it can shape resilient, thriving futures. Anthropologist Michael Leube—professor, consultant, and author of The Future Designer—calls for a new approach to design education: a curriculum that teaches how to create sustainable systems, design for real humans rather than abstract models, and practice architecture as applied ethics. If we shift architecture’s purpose from prestige to value, architects can become choreographers of flourishing communities and regenerative cities. The opportunity before you is clear: to build futures that matter, for people, for society, and for the planet.

anthropologylens.com

APR 27, 2022

18:00

LECTURE: X=(T=E=N)

APR 29, 2022

10:00

Symposium: 300 Years EntwurfF

OCT 4, 2022

18:00

EXHIBITION: REVIEW ‘22

NOV 7, 2022

21:00

LECTURE: Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Snøhetta

FEB 16, 2023

11:00

EXHIBITION & SUPERCRIT: UMBAU IN DER LEHRE

MAR 9, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: GABU HEINDL

MAR 21, 2023

18:00

HOUSING TALKS: PIPPO CIORRA, MAXXI

MAR 22, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: JÖRG HEISER

APR 18, 2023

18:00

LECTURE: CARLES ENRICH

APR 19, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: HEIKE MAIER-RIEPER

APR 26, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: BERNHARD LEITNER

MAY 3, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: LUISA ZIAJA

MAY 11, 2023

18:00

SYMPOSIUM: MATERIAL REUSE STRATEGIES

MAY 16, 2023

18:00

HOUSING TALKS: SANDI HILAL

MAY 23, 2023

18:00

HOUSING TALKS: FLORENCIA ANDREOLA, AZZURA MUZZONIGRO

MAY 24, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: KIM TROGAL & ANNA WAKEFORD HOLDER

MAY 25, 2023

18:00

LECTURE: AVENIER CORNEJO ARCHITECTS

MAY 31, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: HEIMO ZOBERNIG

JUN 6, 2023

18:00

HOUSING TALKS: JOCHEN BECKER, METROZONES

JUN 20, 2023

18:00

HOUSING TALKS: SASHA PIRKER

JUN 26, 2023

18:00

LECTURE: JOSEP RICART, HARQUITECTES

JUN 28, 2023

16:30

EXHIBITION: VIENNESE CAFÉS: PUBLIC INTERIOR, URBAN SALON

JUN 28, 2023

18:30

LECTURE: GREGOR EICHINGER

SEP 27, 2023

18:00

EXHIBITION: Bioregionale Strategien der Wieder- verwendung

OCT 11, 2023

18:00

PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION: WEBSITE LAUNCH & TALK ON PUBLICATIONS

OCT 12, 2023

18:00

EXHIBITION: RESHAPING STRUCTURES

NOV 7, 2023

18:00

LECTURE:
X=(T=E=N)

Symposium:
300 Years EntwurfF

EXHIBITION:
REVIEW ‘22

LECTURE:
Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Snøhetta

EXHIBITION & SUPERCRIT:
UMBAU IN DER LEHRE

LECTURE:
GABU HEINDL

HOUSING TALKS:
PIPPO CIORRA, MAXXI

LECTURE:
JÖRG HEISER

LECTURE:
CARLES ENRICH

LECTURE:
HEIKE MAIER-RIEPER

LECTURE:
BERNHARD LEITNER

LECTURE:
LUISA ZIAJA

SYMPOSIUM:
MATERIAL REUSE STRATEGIES

HOUSING TALKS:
SANDI HILAL

HOUSING TALKS:
FLORENCIA ANDREOLA, AZZURA MUZZONIGRO

LECTURE:
KIM TROGAL & ANNA WAKEFORD HOLDER

LECTURE:
AVENIER CORNEJO ARCHITECTS

LECTURE:
HEIMO ZOBERNIG

HOUSING TALKS:
JOCHEN BECKER, METROZONES

HOUSING TALKS:
SASHA PIRKER

LECTURE:
JOSEP RICART, HARQUITECTES

EXHIBITION:
VIENNESE CAFÉS: PUBLIC INTERIOR, URBAN SALON

LECTURE:
GREGOR EICHINGER

EXHIBITION:
Bioregionale Strategien der Wieder- verwendung

PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION:
WEBSITE LAUNCH & TALK ON PUBLICATIONS

EXHIBITION:
RESHAPING STRUCTURES

HOUSING TALKS:
ARCHITEKTUR-
KOLLEKTIV AKT

EXHIBITION:
PFANN-OHMANN-PREIS 2023

HOUSING TALKS:
IZABELA MOREN, PIETRO AIROLDI

EXHIBITION:
MODERNITY SOUTH SOUTH

LECTURE:
STUDIO MUOTO

LECTURE:
einszueins architektur, PPAG architects

LECTURE:
MARIA SHÉHÉRAZADE GUIDICI

SYMPOSIUM:
RADIKALE SYMBIOSEN

BOOK LAUNCH:
EINE SKIZZENFIBEL

LECTURE:
JULIANE GREB

HOUSING TALKS:
DANIELE KARASZ

LECTURE:
GABRIELA DENK

LECTURES:
DANIEL BELL, CHARLY BLÖDEL, ESTELLE JULLIAN

HOUSING TALKS:
MARINA OTERO VERZIER

LECTURES:
OPEN DESIGN ACADEMY – LEARNING FROM YOUR PEERS

LECTURE:
Marc Barani

LECTURE:
PIETERJAN GINCKELS, KU LEUVEN

LECTURE:
AXEL FICKERT, KNAPKIEWICZ & FICKERT

BOOK LAUNCH:
ENTWURFF EINER HISTORISCHEN ARCHITEKTUR

HOUSING TALKS:
ANGELIKA HINTER-
BRANDNER

LECTURE:
Myrto Vitart

HOUSING TALKS:
EDIT [ALBERTE LAURIDSEN]

LECTURE:
Eva Branscome

EXHIBITION:
DISPLAY & EXHIBIT CASE STUDY HELMUT LANG