What should I say – About Valparaìso (BA Thesis)
The Bachelor's project "What should I say" from the field of Visual Communication at the Köln International School of Design, supervised by Prof. Iris Utikal, focuses on documenting the international creative scene.
In a world marked by political unrest and social change, the role of art and design as a critical mirror of society and a means of expression is becoming increasingly important. Examining how young creatives deal with local political and social challenges and how these influence their work is not only relevant but also urgently necessary.
The documentary format "What should I say," initiated by me, was created with the aim of providing insights into the international creative scene. The successful start with Vol. 1, "What should I say – About Seoul," which has already been published in its second edition by the design publisher "slanted," laid the foundation for continuing this work. The current part of the project focuses on young, emerging artists, creatives, and designers from the city of Valparaíso in Chile.
The unique charm of this port city has historically attracted many famous poets and artists. At the same time, it has been the scene of many historical events, most recently the uprisings of the "Estallido Social" revolution in 2019. During a study visit, I began an investigation of the creative scene, documenting works, visiting studios and ateliers, conducting interviews, and holding workshops in Germany. This approach aimed to provide a comprehensive impression of how designers are influenced by their environment, history, and the tense political situation, and how these factors are reflected in their creations.
The results of the project have been compiled in a magazine that includes interviews with Chilean creatives, portfolio works, and photo documentation. The response to the project has been consistently positive. Contacts have been established with numerous committed and influential designers. "What should I say – About Valparaíso" was selected from over 90 thesis projects from KISD/TH Köln for the Cologne Design Award and will be exhibited at the MAKK (Museum of Applied Art in Cologne) in November 2024. A publication of the magazine is planned for 2025, and the publisher "slanted" has again expressed interest.︎︎︎
What should I say? (art direction, photography) Website, Instagram, Book
Indipendent book project which consists of photography, critical and diverse articles and a exhibiton.
How could visiting Seoul be described in a way that allows someone else to feel like they are right there? What to say? What perspectives to choose?
What Should I Say—About Seoul takes the reader on a path less traveled: The work and daily-life of Korean designers; but not just as a spectator. The book gives a glimpse into South Korean society that is not so common after all: Some of the insights into the Seoul work experience appear grim at places, colored by the ongoing pandemic that forced people to cut down on social interactions.
The experiences of Korean-German designers are also included in the book, and as a result, one could see that there is really no reason to think of Germany as a country that “has it all figured out.” The modern workplace can be a very mixed bag at times and bad working conditions plague the creative industry worldwide. Speaking about these experiences allows us to feel less isolated and work towards change—so it is not all doom and gloom.
noplace (co–founder) Website, Instagram
NOPLACE is a corporate concept for new work that is all about social relationships. On a 200qm loft in Cologne we hold a print/ textile workshop, conference room and a darkroom. A main room with up to 12 private office desks and a kitchen area can also be transformed into a photo studio or exhibition gallery. Since december 2021 we have organised lectures, workshops and exhibitions on a regular basis and continue to do so.
manifest mashine (research & design ) PDF
Our way of doing business is destroying our livelihood, while we are currently sliding from one crisis to the next; wars are raging, we are in the midst of a pandemic, and climate change is progressing faster than ever. At the same time, inequality within society is worsening, and democracy is in a notable crisis. This raises the question whether our society and our economic system is sustainable. Questions about a regenerative economy are getting louder, but how can we create it? When we talk about our society, the topic of work plays an incredibly important role. It provides us with meaning and gives us identity. The research of this interemediate reaches from the concept of work historically, over Marx‘s concept of alienation. It concludes with a visualization of the problems through an installation, the „Manifest Machine.“ This intermediate work, and also the resulting installation, will not present any final solutions to the current social problems. However, it will highlight some of the problems and provide reasons why it is worth trying out new ways of working and experimenting for our future.
