Hochschule Mainz

What Hochschule Mainz does

Hochschule Mainz (University of Applied Sciences Mainz) is a state-funded German university (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften) under the jurisdiction of Rhineland-Palatinate. Its img – Institut für Mediengestaltung operates as a research institute within the Department of Design (Fachbereich Gestaltung), concentrating on applied research and project-based education in audiovisual and interactive media design, including film/TV, 2D/3D animation, VR/AR/XR, sound design, media facades, 360-degree applications, generative design, and transmedial storytelling. The institute is closely integrated with the Time-Based Media BA/MA degree program, which produces graduates employed at German public broadcasters ZDF, SWR, and ARTE.

The institute's portfolio centers on a series of public exhibitions (Moving Types, Sound of Lisbon, Sound of Amman, Sound of Venice, FLORA), the biennial MOTYF International Festival of Motion and Interaction Typography (rotating across Warsaw, Mainz, Dublin, and Wellington), and digital knowledge-transfer products including the Moving Types Archive (over 800 international moving image works) and the World Texts VR application. Proprietary technical assets include an interactive media facade on the Gutenberg-Museum, a custom iOS/Android Moving Types augmented-reality catalogue app, and 360-degree audio systems developed in-house. The institute operates the LUX Pavillon as a dedicated public exhibition and event venue in Mainz and co-develops projects with partner museums including Gutenberg-Museum, Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz, and Kunsthalle Mainz.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: state institutional funding from Hochschule Mainz, competitive third-party research grants (predominantly from DAAD for international collaborative projects, with additional support from the Auswärtiges Amt and other foundations), consulting and advisory fees for project-based engagements, and modest direct sales of academic publications (€15.95–€29.90 per title). The institute's go-to-market is community-led, relying on public events, exhibitions, festival programming, alumni networking (Future Media Talks), and academic publication rather than commercial sales channels. The operating footprint spans Germany with international collaborative nodes in Poland, Portugal, Jordan, Macao, Italy, Mexico, Ireland, and New Zealand.

Name

Hochschule Mainz

Legal name

Hochschule Mainz

Website

https://img.hs-mainz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hochschule Mainz's img – Institut für Mediengestaltung is a public German university research institute within the Department of Design, focused on applied audiovisual and interactive media design research, public exhibitions, and the Time-Based Media BA/MA program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Applied Media Research

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• University education programs
• Applied media research
• Interactive exhibition design
• Audiovisual production services
• Motion typography archive

Headquarters

HQ city

Mainz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding and Third-Party Project Funding: As a university research institute, img receives institutional funding from Hochschule Mainz and pursues third-party funded research projects with public institutions and industry partners. Projects are co-developed and co-funded with partners including the DAAD, German Federal Foreign Office, and various foundations.
2. Consulting and Advisory Services: The institute offers consulting services based on research results, presented through public lecture series, scientific symposia, exhibitions, and publications. Revenue is generated through project fees for advisory and consulting engagements.
3. Publication Sales: The institute publishes and sells books, catalogues, and multimedia eBooks documenting its research and exhibitions. Publications include the Moving Types catalogue, Sound of Lisbon, and others, sold at price points ranging from €15.95 to €29.90.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hochschule Mainz, through its Institut für Mediengestaltung (img), delivers a publicly funded academic program in Time-Based Media (BA/MA) alongside applied research in audiovisual and interactive media design. Core activities include producing award-winning international exhibitions (Moving Types, FLORA), city-themed Sound of... transmedia projects (Lisbon, Amman, Venice), the biennial MOTYF International Festival of Motion and Interaction Typography, and curated documentary film series. The institute operates the LUX Pavillon as a public exhibition venue and maintains the Moving Types Archive of 800+ international moving image works.

Product overview

Hochschule Mainz's Institut für Mediengestaltung (img) operates as a research and educational institution focused on audiovisual and interactive media. The portfolio centers on exhibition-based experiences (FLORA, Moving Types, Sound of Venice/Lisbon/Amman series), cultural festivals (MOTYF International Festival, Video Poetry Week), and the Time-Based Media BA/MA academic program. These offerings are interconnected through shared themes of sound, typography, and transmedia storytelling, with student projects often feeding into public exhibitions and vice versa. The institute maintains international partnerships and operates the LUX Pavilion as its exhibition venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LUX Pavillon: The exhibition and event pavilion of Hochschule Mainz, located at Ludwigsstraße 2, 55116 Mainz. Used for showcasing student and institute projects.

Products and services

• Time-Based Media BA/MA Program University degree program covering film/TV production, 2D/3D animation, interactive design, game development, augmented and virtual reality, and sound design, closely interwoven with the institute's applied research and practical projects at the Institut für Mediengestaltung.
• FLORA Exhibition Multimedia exhibition exploring the relationship between humans, health and nature, based on the historical herbal 'Gart der Gesundheit' (1485). Weaves together historical knowledge, scientific findings, and current issues on climate change and biodiversity through interactive, artistic and sensory stations.
• Moving Types Exhibition Award-winning international traveling exhibition exploring typography in motion from the beginnings of film to the digital age, featuring an interactive media facade that allows passersby to project SMS messages, augmented reality components, and over 800 international moving image works documenting animated typography.
• Moving Types Archive Digital archive containing over 800 international moving image works documenting the history and development of moving typography across all media contexts, from early film to AR/VR/AI applications, including interviews with international designers and film professionals.
• MOTYF Festival International Student Festival of Motion and Interaction Typography held biennially at rotating locations including Warsaw, Mainz, Dublin, and Wellington, featuring eWorkshops, eSymposium, and international media exhibition bringing together students, researchers, and professionals.
• Sound of Amman International collaboration project with the German-Jordanian University featuring documentaries, short films, experimental works and live concerts exploring Amman's hidden music and soundscapes.
• The Sound of Lisbon Transmedia project exploring Lisbon's sonic identity through short films, installations, and photographs, including a 360-degree audio system and collaborations with Portuguese universities.
• The Sound of Venice Exhibition Audio-visual exhibition exploring Venice's sonic identity through compositions, sounds, films, and experiences with artists, choirs, and the city's acoustic environment, produced in collaboration with Conservatorio Castelfranco and featuring virtual tour capability.
• Future Media Talks Networking event series connecting students, alumni, and media partners from Hochschule Mainz, creating bridges between academic study and professional practice in media industries, featuring keynotes, panels, and speed-dating sessions with industry figures from ZDF, SWR, and independent producers.
• World Texts VR Application Interactive VR experiment using head-mounted displays to create contemplative typographic spaces; the 'Panta Rhei' example features excerpts from meditation texts in weightless typographic environments with interactive controller-based text manipulation and synchronized audio design.
• Video Poetry Week Annual video poetry festival established at LUX Pavillon documenting meetings with poets through videopoetic works.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 works in the Moving Types Archive spanning over 10 years of collection
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant and minor.

• DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Academic Exchange Service provides funding for international collaborative projects between img/Time-Based Media and partner universities in Mexico City (UNAM), Lisbon (Universidade Lisboa), Amman (German-Jordanian University), and Macao (St. Joseph's University). Projects funded include Sound of Lisbon, Sound of Amman, Corona Global Break, and Porto Cartography.
• Gutenberg-Museum, MainzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gutenberg-Museum is a primary exhibition partner, collaborating on major projects including the Moving Types travelling exhibition, World Texts VR installations, and the FLORA multimedia exhibition (2026). The museum and img share a joint museum building with the Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz.
• ZDF – Zweites Deutsches FernsehensignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerZDF participates in Future Media Talks events as a media partner, with ZDF executives delivering keynotes and alumni networking panels. Graduates of the Time-Based Media program are employed at ZDF in production roles.
• UNAM – Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico CitysignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAM's Escuela Nacional de Artes Cinematográficas participates in international collaborative audiovisual projects including Corona Global Break and other transmedial initiatives led by img.
• Universidad Lisboa, PortugalsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidade Lisboa collaborates on the Sound of Lisbon project and international transmedial arts research, with students and faculty from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Multimedia/Art Department participating in joint projects.
• German-Jordanian University, AmmansignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German-Jordanian University collaborates on the Sound of Amman remote directing project, connecting students in Amman and Mainz for documentary and experimental film production.
• St. Joseph's University, MacaosignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Joseph's University Macao participates in the Corona Global Break international collaborative audiovisual project alongside universities in Mexico, Lisbon, Mainz, Rome, and Amman.
• Polish-Japanese Academy of Computer Technologies, WarsawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA founding partner of the biennial MOTYF International Festival alongside img and IADT Dublin. Collaborates on the German-Polish Bauhaus.workshop and Future Text research platform. Prof. Ewa Satalecka serves on the MOTYF Board.
• SWR – SüdwestrundfunksignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerSWR is an industry partner and employer of Time-Based Media graduates. The relationship supports student placement and industry connections for the media design program.
• FUNK – Content-Netzwerk von ARD und ZDFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFUNK, the content network of ARD and ZDF, is listed as a cooperation partner, suggesting involvement in media content collaboration and talent development.
• Naturhistorisches Museum MainzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the FLORA multimedia exhibition (May–August 2026) together with Gutenberg-Museum and Hochschule Mainz, exploring the relationship between humans, health, and nature.
• Deutsche Filmakademie Produktion GmbHsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports scenic film projects led by Prof. Daniel Seideneder, providing professional production infrastructure and connections to the German film industry alongside funding from the Federal Foreign Office.
• Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch GmündcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of the z zg Zentrum Zeitbasierte Gestaltung alongside Hochschule Mainz, a joint teaching, research, and development institution focused on communication, animation, and interaction in real and virtual spaces. Prof. Ralf Dringenberg serves as co-director.
• Haus des Erinnerns – Für Demokratie und Akzeptanz, MainzsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with img on media exhibitions addressing democratic values, remembrance culture, and societal issues, including the 'Rechts. Extrem. Gefährlich' documentary film series.
• Kunsthalle MainzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic partner for exhibitions including 'Virtual Insanity' featured in the Talk on Immersion series, expanding the institute's reach within the Mainz cultural ecosystem.
• Weltkulturenmuseum, Frankfurt am MainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on audiovisual exhibitions and projects documented in the img archive, extending institutional reach beyond Mainz to the Frankfurt museum landscape.
• Film- und Medienforum Rheinland-PfalzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional media industry support organization in Rheinland-Pfalz that works with img on promoting media education and industry development in the state.
• Film- und Medien-Nachwuchsförderung Rheinland-PfalzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional organization supporting young talent in film and media in Rheinland-Pfalz, complementing img's educational mission in the state.
• Conservatorio Castelfranco, ItalysignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on The Sound of Venice exhibition (May 2025), creating works exploring the sonic identity of Venice in partnership with Hochschule Mainz's Sound Design and Film Directing programs.
• IADT – Institute of Art, Design and Technology, DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding MOTYF Festival partner alongside Warsaw and Mainz. Prof. Dr. Hilary Kenna serves on the MOTYF Board. Represents the Irish node of the international moving typography research and festival network.
• descom – Designforum Rheinland-PfalzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional design forum in Rheinland-Pfalz providing a platform for design collaboration and industry engagement in the state where Hochschule Mainz is located.
• ZIRP – Zukunftsinitiative Rheinland-PfalzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRheinland-Pfalz future initiative supporting regional innovation and development, with img contributing media design expertise to the regional innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture: Nordic university merging art, design, and media research with strong audiovisual and exhibition design programmes — comparable as a European research university producing international exhibitions and applied media design work.
• HEAD – Genève (Haute école d'art et de design): Geneva-based arts university with programmes in visual communication, cinema, and digital media — comparable as a European applied arts institution with exhibition-based research and design education.
• ECAL – École cantonale d'art de Lausanne: Swiss art and design school renowned for moving image, typography, and media design — comparable as a European applied arts university producing exhibitions, publications, and applied research in time-based media.
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: German university combining art, design, and media studies with strong faculty of media — directly comparable as a German university with applied media design, exhibition design, and VR/AR research programmes.
• ZHdK – Zürcher Hochschule der Künste: Switzerland's largest arts university with leading programmes in cast/audiovisual media, design, and film — comparable as a German-speaking European arts university with strong media design, exhibition, and knowledge-transfer activities.
• Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK Berlin): One of Germany's largest and most prestigious arts universities, with programmes in film, sound, and design — operates at greater scale than img but covers the same audiovisual, exhibition, and media-design space.
• Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd: Co-founder of zzg Zentrum Zeitbasierte Gestaltung alongside Hochschule Mainz's img institute, with shared focus on time-based media, animation, and interaction design — directly comparable as a German university of applied sciences with media design programmes.
• ENSAD – École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs: French national school of decorative arts with programmes in graphic design, video, and multimedia — comparable as a European applied arts institution producing exhibitions and applied media design research.

Broad incumbents

• MIT Media Lab: World-leading university research lab for media technologies, with deep VR/AR/XR and generative design work — comparable as an academic media research institute but at substantially larger scale and tech-industry orientation.
• Royal College of Art: Premier UK postgraduate design school with programmes in visual communication, animation, and moving image — comparable in research orientation and exhibition output but operates at much larger scale and broader scope than img.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGeaK4QhDtJw9b61sdK0bsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/MovingTypes
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsm.zbm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hochschule-mainz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hochschule Mainz