ZHdK recognizes the necessity and the transformative power of innovation in the arts and is committed to creating a space for creative progress. It undertakes to promote a culture of open cooperation, mindful development, and social change. By doing so, it aims to enable staff and students to become pioneers in the arts and design and in the teaching thereof.
ZHdK is convinced of the power of collaboration and open communication. For ZHdK, open innovation means bringing the various fields of study and society closer together. It creates an environment in which interdisciplinary cooperation is promoted and a variety of perspectives are combined to generate new knowledge. Through cooperation with other higher education institutions, companies, artists, charitable organizations, the public and many others, ZHdK also creates a dynamic network of knowledge exchange, joint learning, inspiration, and growth outside of the institution.
ZHdK recognizes the importance of mindful development based on empathy, creativity, and social competence. For ZHdK, soft innovation means reinforcing the emotional connection to the arts, asking open-ended research questions, and developing creative solutions. It encourages staff and students to use their intuitive thinking and to challenge traditional thought patterns and practices. By promoting an experimental and playful approach, it encourages people to take leaps of faith and discover innovative forms of expression.
ZHdK views the arts as a strong voice for social change. Social innovation means using the arts as an instrument to address social issues, react to societal challenges and bring about positive changes in society. The focus is on topics such as the examination of social justice, environmental awareness, and cultural diversity. ZHdK encourages its staff and students to develop innovative projects and initiatives geared towards social responsibility, community involvement and sustainable development.
By committing itself to innovation in the arts and thus to open innovation, soft innovation, and social innovation, ZHdK forges a creative space in which the future of the arts and the development of society can be shaped. It offers its staff and students an inspiring environment in which they can realize their full potential. It encourages students to surpass their limits, take risks and initiate change. It develops a culture of knowledge in which knowledge is created, shared, preserved, and utilized within a society, a community, or an institution. Working collaboratively, its goal is to enrich the fields of art and design and their teaching, to address social challenges and to create a sustainable, inclusive future.