In 2026, the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region, as the World Design Capital 2026, will serve as a global stage for exploring how design can shape social, cultural, and democratic change. Under the overarching theme “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life,” numerous projects, workshops, and events will focus on the further development of our democracy and the sustainable shaping of our living environment. Design is understood here not merely as an aesthetic discipline, but as a formative force for public spaces, infrastructure, and social participation.
Against this backdrop, a voting booth was created, designed and built by students from the Master’s program in Advanced Architecture at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. The starting point is the critical question of who can actually participate in democratic processes—and who remains excluded. For despite the central importance of elections as a cornerstone of democracy, many people are effectively excluded from them or encounter them in spatial settings that show little respect. The students view design as democratic infrastructure: Their mobile voting booth translates central principles such as free elections, transparency, separation of powers, and participation into an architectural form. The goal is to build trust, enable participation, and make democracy spatially tangible.
At the same time, the project explores the importance of inclusion and asks under what conditions people feel included or excluded. The installation is conceived as a democratic tool whose impact extends beyond its specific location: based on assembly instructions developed by the students, the voting booth can be set up and used worldwide. In this way, the project also serves as a call to actively create and rethink democratic spaces. The modular and reusable structure made of wood, metal, and recycled materials also highlights the responsible use of resources and the need for sustainable solutions. The project combines research and practice, making the entire development process—from concept to implementation—tangible.
The voting booth invites you to actively experience democracy: Step inside. Your vote counts.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Julian Busch
julian.busch(at)fra-uas.de