UX VIENNA at home with Arnold Schönberg

Arnold Schönberg (1874–1951) was one of the most significant figures in the creative world in the first half of the 20th century. Following in the tradition of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler, the Austrian (and, after his immigration to New York and later Los Angeles, also US-American) composer, music theorist, teacher, and writer reshaped the practice of harmony in classical music. Some of Schönberg’s most famous contributions were the development of his twelve-tone-method and his attention to sound color (Klangfarbe), both of which strongly influenced generations of composers up until today.

But Schönberg’s creative world goes beyond music. He was a designer, painter, inventor, and systems thinker: building tools and furniture, binding books, designing stage sets and costumes, inventing machines, and even building his own chess set, for four players.

In this meetup, we explore Schönberg through a UX lens: what can his way of thinking, making, and problem-solving teach us about design, tools, and user experience today? We will also look at the museum and concert space as an experience that unfolds through the perception of an audience.

The Arnold Schönberg Center is a repository of Schönberg's archival legacy. Director Dr. Ulrike Anton will provide an introduction to the Arnold Schönberg Center. User researcher Dr. Franziska Brunner will give us a guided tour and lead a discussion of the exhibition. Arnold Schönberg's estate is on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, recognized for its global importance as a documentary heritage.

After an afternoon in the museum space from 3:00–6:00 p.m.. We also invite you to attend an in-house concert at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner. 🎻 🍽️

• The €18 concert price includes entrance to the exhibit. (Entrance to just the exhibit without the concert costs € 6.)
• Admission for both the museum and the concert is free for those under 26 years old.
• Dinner afterwards is optional, and everyone will cover their own meal.

Photo: Replica of Schönberg's study room © Johannes Böck