Designer, Dad, Technologist, Researcher and Educator

Felix Hardmood Beck studied Visual Communication with a focus on Media Design and Exhibition Design at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he earned his Diplom Designer degree (equivalent to an MA) in 2007. In 2011, he received the Meisterschüler distinction under the mentorship of Prof. Joachim Sauter.

Since 2001, Felix has built extensive experience in media design and spatial user experiences. He has worked with several prominent German design agencies and architectural studios on projects that have been featured in international art and design publications, as well as in festivals and exhibitions around the world. As a Design Director, Felix enjoys working with both business and cultural clients, creating products, services, and dynamic media environments. His portfolio includes interactive installations for showrooms, trade fairs, exhibitions, and museums.

Felix has a strong passion for sharing his knowledge, which has led him to teach and collaborate with research groups globally. From 2015 to 2020, he was an Assistant Professor of Practice of Design at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) within the Engineering Department, where he taught courses at the intersection of art, design, technology, and innovation. During his time at NYUAD, Felix founded two research labs—the NTSI Lab and the Plastic Lab—where he served as the principal investigator. He also developed internship and volunteer programs, working with over 50 student research assistants on various projects. His research findings have been presented in scientific papers, posters, conferences, art exhibitions, and design festivals.

While living in the UAE from 2015 to 2020, Felix also consulted for several federal ministries and government agencies in the UAE, focusing on design and innovation. In 2019, his contributions at NYUAD were recognized with the WSN Faculty Fellowship from New York University. Even after returning to Germany in 2020, Felix maintained strong ties with NYUAD through his work with the Office of Executive Education and his role as a Visiting Research Professor at NYUAD’s Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES) from 2020 to 2023.

In 2020, Felix was appointed as a full Professor at the Münster School of Design (MSD) with life tenure at the FH Münster University of Applied Sciences. In collaboration with Prof. Daniela Kichlechner, he restructured the Foundations program and primarily taught courses in digital design basics to first-year students. In 2024, he transitioned to the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (ETI) as a Professor of Media Design. In this role, he teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, while continuing his research in the Creative Technologies Lab. His current research focuses on systems, spaces, and the physical properties of artifacts and materials, exploring new possibilities for human interaction through media and narrative technologies.

Throughout his career, Felix has secured over $750,000 in research funding for various projects, including two grants from the Wandelfond (2021–2024) and a DAAD grant for the project “Social Impact through Co-Creation” as part of the “Fact Finding Missions 2024” funding program.

In addition to his academic work, Felix serves as a board member of the IKFM Institute for Construction and Functional Material at Münster University of Applied Sciences (2024–2027), overseeing the institute’s academic management. He also holds affiliations with the HeritageLab (formerly the Dhakira Heritage Research group at NYUAD) and Dharma Life Labs in London/New Delhi.