Ideas that move
GRIT – An App for Conscious Consumption
Two MultiMediaArt graduates, Bastian Gassner and Florian Weger, asked themselves why we constantly buy things we don’t really need – and whether this behaviour can be changed sustainably. This question became the starting point for their bachelor project “GRIT”, a concept for a shopping platform that analyses purchasing decisions, aligns them with personal goals and interrupts impulsive actions. True to the motto: You don’t need everything – just the right things.
“We wondered what if there was a tool that guided people through the entire purchasing process and ensured they gained the greatest benefit from their decisions?” explains Bastian Gassner. The idea stemmed from the observation that the desire for social recognition often leads to impulsive consumption, amplified by social media and advertising. Long-term goals and values fade into the background. Thanks to the GRIT shopping platform, users receive clear recommendations rather than making poor purchases and can invest the money they save in value-enhancing alternatives such as shares, art, or property.
Rewarding Restraint
“The focus isn’t on the products purchased, but on those consciously avoided,” Bastian explains. For the money saved, the platform suggests options for meaningful investment.
“Grit stands for strength of character, perseverance and control,” adds fellow student Florian We-ger. “People who pursue their goals consistently and with endurance have grit.” The platform helps users gradually regain control over their consumption habits – for conscious consumption that is both enjoyable and meaningful.
Award-Winning Concept
The students were supervised by FH-Prof. Viktoria Schneider-Kirjuchina, Head of Communication Design in the MultiMediaArt degree programme. In their bachelor projects, students are encouraged to address not only technological innovations but also socially relevant issues and critical questions.
For their critical engagement with human consumption behaviour, combined with a professionally developed design concept, Florian Weger and Bastian Gassner received Bronze in the Brand & Communication Design category at the ADCE Student Award 2025 in Barcelona.