Heyho! I’m Viv.

My background is a bit of a hybrid: I started with a focus on Physics and Graphic Design, which pretty much set the tone for my career. I don’t just want things to look good; I want to understand the mechanics underneath. That’s why I teach myself to code my own projects and why I’m currently obsessing over the analog craft of silversmithing. It’s all about that balance of high-level precision and creative experimentation.

I’m a big believer in immersion. My design practice has been shaped by a "nomadic" lifestyle—moving between the tech-heavy energy of the San francisco Bay Area, the raw landscapes of Norway, and the emerging creative scene in Tirana, Albania. I’ve spent the last few years freelancing from all over and figuring out how to make "minimalism" feel human.

What I’m doing right now: I’ve traded the Bay Area fog for the glacier vibes of Iceland. I’m currently finalizing my thesis — a deep dive into vinyl records and the materiality of sound.

If you want to talk about UX, interactive art, or the best hiking spots in the North, let's connect.

education & Residencies

ba communication design

current gpa: 1.1 (excellent, german grading scale)

university of applied sciences mannheim, germany

2022 – present

exchange semester in the bay area

ma interactive art & design

gpa: 4.0 (excellent, us grading scale)

california state university east bay

08 2025 – 12 2025

artist in residence

fish factory creative center

stöðvarfjörður, iceland

10 2025 / 04 2026 – 07 2026

scholarship & certification

fulbright travel grant

08 2025 – 12 2025

german Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship for study abroad

08 2025 – 12 2025

daad scholarship for international bachelorthesis

04 2026 – 07 2026

c1 english / toefl test

11 2024

mannheim scholarship

06 2024 – 05 2025

Mannheim Department of Economic Development
Awarded for academic excellence and social engagement

press

Komma 30 – Aus dem Verborgenen, 
featured on slanted
06 2025

academic excellence — abitur 1.1

featured in karl kübel schule, bensheim, germany

07 2021

© vivian gölz, 2026