Residency program “Visa Paris - Munich” - international design exchange between Munich and Paris
Visa Paris – Munich is a forward-looking residency programme that enables an exchange between designers from Germany and France, initiated by Kreativ München and the Bureau du Design, de la Mode et des Métiers d’Art – Les Ateliers de Paris (BDMMA). The programme offers creative professionals the opportunity to work in the partner country for several months, engage with local design ecosystems and establish sustainable international networks.
Launched in 2025, Visa Paris – Munich emerged from the RUFFINIHAUS Creative Hub, Kreativ München’s incubator for the cultural and creative industries. The programme deliberately focuses on curated workspaces, personal encounters and close connections with local institutions, workshops and companies within the design sector.
Exchange on Equal Terms: Paris ↔ Munich
The project began with French industrial designer Julien Gorrias of Studio Carbone14, who worked as a Guest Resident at the RUFFINIHAUS Creative Hub in Munich from March to May 2025. In return, Munich-based product designer Aurelia Pleyer was selected as a Guest Resident and took up a workspace at the Parisian incubator Les Ateliers de Paris from September to November 2025.
The selection of the Munich residents was carried out through a jury process, with Nadine Vicentini (Managing Director, Bayern Design), Matthias Harbeck (Board Member, Art Directors Club) and Dr Olaf Kranz (Head of Kreativ München) serving as jurors.
Julien Gorrias in Munich: Networking and a European Perspective
During his residency, Julien Gorrias immersed himself deeply in Munich’s creative scene. The RUFFINIHAUS Creative Hub, home to around 30 companies from architecture, design, film and fine art, provided an interdisciplinary environment that actively encouraged exchange and collaboration.
Reflecting on his time in Munich, he said:
“The RUFFINIHAUS Creative Hub offered an inspiring and supportive ecosystem. The diversity of creative disciplines encouraged dialogue and opened the door to promising collaborations with local artisans, cultural institutions and design companies.”
With the support of Kreativ München, Julien and his studio Carbone14 not only gained workspace and access to professional networks, but also public visibility – including a lecture at the Institut Français on ecological challenges in design.
For Julien, the residency marked an important milestone:
“This Munich experience marks a significant milestone and paves the way for future international collaborations on the European design stage.”
Aurelia Pleyer in Paris: Working Through Dialogue
Munich-based product designer Aurelia Pleyer creates functional everyday objects characterised by a clear, context-driven design approach. During her residency in Paris, she lived at the creative residence Les Récollets and worked at Les Ateliers de Paris / BDMMA – a key hub within the Parisian design scene.
Speaking about her residency, she said:
“I am looking forward to getting to know the Paris design scene, discovering local workshops and further developing my design approach in a new environment.”
In her personal reflection, she described the experience as both intense and formative. Daily exchange with international designers, the support of the Les Ateliers de Paris team, and connections with organisations such as Le FRENCH DESIGN by VIA, FORMÆ Magazine and Monoprix significantly expanded her professional network. Major events including MAISON&OBJET, Paris Design Week and Paris Fashion Week further enriched the residency, alongside a table ronde on design and international connections, jointly organised with Julien Gorrias.
“The most valuable aspect for me was the close exchange on site – because good design emerges through dialogue. This openness was something I experienced in Paris every single day.”
A Model for the Future: Open to New Cities and Partners
Visa Paris – Munich is conceived as a pilot project with strong potential for replication. It demonstrates how effective bilateral residency programmes can be when they are locally rooted, carefully curated and internationally oriented. The positive experiences on both sides make it clear that the added value extends beyond the participating designers to include the cities, institutions and networks involved.
Links
BdMM Paris