I’m delighted and honoured to have been elected to the designaustria board. One of the oldest design associations in Europe (turning 97 this year, madness), DA encompasses more than 1300 members from illustration, graphic and product design. For the next three years, we’ll work on creating more equitable, sustainable and fair creative practices – for self-employed and employed designers and ultimately, our society and planet.
This November saw the first Open House Worldwide Festival, a digital and global event on architecture, urban design and the future of cities. In addition to on-demand content, the free-to-access festival also included a 48-hour livestream, with more than 120 live speakers and content from more than 40 cities around the world. Let’s dive into the technology that made this event happen.
Open House organisations on five continents met virtually in spring of 2020 and started working on an international Open House festival, the first of its kind. Working groups included content, communication, finances and technology. As the technical coordinator of the OHWW festival, I was responsible for the smooth delivery of the festival to a global audience.
Thanks to the work of an incredibly dedicated, international content team, the livestream programme was curated in the summer of 2020. In October, we started work on the tech runsheet for the event, created in Notion, which included a minute-by-minute schedule for the 48 hours, as well as emergency contacts and technical specifications.
Of course, delivering a 48-hour livestream is impossible to do on your own. We had two tech hubs, one in Brisbane and one in Vienna, that handled the live-streaming during the weekend as well as a wonderful team working behind the scenes on various aspects of the production. As the live director in the Vienna tech hub, I was responsible for 32 hours of streamed content.
Our software of choice for the livestream was vMix, which handled up to eight live video links through vMix Call and additional ones via Zoom, playback of pre-recorded content and delivery of custom graphics, including lower thirds and interstitials, which were based on the visual identity created by V-A in Lisbon. The livestream was distributed via YouTube, which was integral to ensuring a smooth streaming experience for the global audience, including interactive formats via our live chat and social media.
Especially challenging formats included a hybrid in-person and virtual discussion that included four speakers in Zurich and one remote speaker in Vienna, as well as live building tours using mobile phones and very quick changeovers from one live setup to the next in the span of minutes.
More than 40.000 visitors tuned into the livestream, with up to 600 simultaneous viewers during London’s city tour. More than 3.500 live chat messages, 8.700 watch time hours and 1.800 newsletter subscribers during the weekend show that we successfully engaged a worldwide audience. We delivered 75 live video links through vMix Call and an additional 50 through Zoom.
Working on this festival as part of an international team has been a real joy. I felt like I was traveling around the globe while sitting in my living room, which had become the impromptu live control room during the second lockdown in Vienna. A huge thank you to the international team that made this event happen – and our audience around the world.
It’s incredible how these theories that are 25 years old are still as relevant today, perhaps even more so.
In this feature-length documentary, Marilyn Waring demystifies the language of economics by defining it as a value system in which all goods and activities are related only to their monetary value. As a result, unpaid work (usually performed by women) is unrecognized while activities that may be environmentally and socially detrimental are deemed productive. Waring maps out an alternative vision based on the idea of time as the new currency.
I started running exactly two years ago, for a variety of reasons. As I’m training for my first marathon, I’m inspired by this story of a marathon runner who keeps getting faster with age. And, as is often the case with running, there are some great lessons in this about life in general, not just athletics.
As my time as an intern at edenspiekermann_ comes to an end, I wrote a little something about what I was looking for in an internship and how I found it over on their blog. Go give it a read, if you fancy.
«As our manifesto reads, we don’t give quick answers: we really want to explore the question first. And very quickly, I found myself transitioning from constantly questioning myself to seeing questions as an essential tool in the creative process.»
A few days ago I packed my bags, boarded a train in snowy Austria, slowly watched the colours fade from white to green, and arrived in Berlin eight hours later. This is my new home (at least for the next six months).
I’m here because I’m joining edenspiekermann_ as a design intern. This is a design company I’ve long admired for its high quality of work, its talented people and its attitude, so I’m grateful to be working here.
Exciting times ahead.
50 blogposts ago, I told you I was about to move to Graz to start studying Information Design at FH JOANNEUM. Well, over two years later I’m packing my bags and heading off to new adventures. My time as a student has (nearly) come to an end – I still need to finish my bachelor’s thesis, but for now I’m leaving this city and heading to a new one.
It sounds cliché, but when moving to Graz, I really had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect all of the things that ended up happening, including working with incredibly talented people on some wonderful projects, spending five months abroad in London, meeting many of my favourite designers in person and making a living working as a designer professionally. While the things I do have certainly changed, my outlook on life stays the same – taking any opportunity that comes my way and creating new ones when circumstance allows.
I’m excited to share where I’m heading next soon.
Climate change is a reality. It’s not a theoretical danger of the far distant future. It’s changing our landscapes and our habitats right now. As a global community, the damage we’re doing to our environment isn’t just increasing, it’s accelerating. With our current political climate, changing this trajectory seems unrealistic. And it is highly unlikely. But it’s not impossible.
Bhutan is the first, and only, carbon-neutral country in the world. While the entire country collectively produces 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, the immense forest covering 72% of the country acts as a carbon sink, absorbing more than four million tons of carbon dioxide every year. Costa Rica aims to be carbon-neutral in two years. Iceland is moving towards carbon-neutrality. The Carbon Neutrality Coalition is a group of 16 countries, 32 cities and many organisations who pledge to be net zero on emissions by 2050.
The Austrian government, meanwhile, has other priorities. Vice chancellor Heinz Christian Strache suggests that increasing sun eruptions, not human activity, could be responsible for global warming. This is untrue. By 2030, we need to reduce our emissions by 36% compared to 2005, in order to meet the promises we made in the Paris climate agreement. Currently, this seems highly unlikely, without any actionable plan or even honest commitment from people in charge. The problem isn’t just increasing emissions, it’s increasing ignorance. How will we reduce our carbon footprint without a change in mindset?
We won’t. Climate change is overwhelming. But if we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed with all the issues we’re facing right now, we’ll never change anything. For change to occur, we need to make room for it to do so. Changing our mindset is the first step in the right direction, but only if it is followed by action.
In a 2014 study, German scientists confirmed that by 2050, Germany could be emission-neutral, with every citizen emitting no more than 1t of CO2 (or equivalent) per year. Compared to 1990, this would constitute a reduction of 95%. Of course, this is merely a technical possibility, on a national scale. But maybe knowing about this possibility is all we need to take the first step. There is no equivalent study for Austria, but it’s clear the possibility is there.
If we want to make the possibility a reality, we need to start moving. And accelerate on the way. The finish line is moving further away as we speak. So let’s start now, to make sure we don’t lose our breath before we get there.
I don’t know why it took me so long to find this gem. LIFT is a film by Marc Isaacs, who set himself up in a London elevator and slowly wins the trust of the residents, creating a humorous and moving portrait of a vertical community.
When October Books, a small radical bookshop in Southampton, England, was moving to a new location down the street, it faced a problem. How could it move its entire stock to the new spot, without spending a lot of money or closing down for long?
The shop came up with a clever solution: They put out a call for volunteers to act as a human conveyor belt.
Good design. It doesn’t have to be complicated, sometimes the simple ideas work the best. Love this!
Travelling is one of the best ways to keep your creative juices flowing. Whether you’re a photographer, designer, artist or anything in between, Lisbon has some beautiful spots you don’t want to miss.
(I’ve layed them out as a day plan, but feel free to visit them in any order you’d like.)
Start your day with a coffee at Hello, Kristof – a cute little coffee shop that has some inspiring indie magazines on display. Lisbon doesn’t just have one city centre – and if you’re looking for arts & design without all the tourists, you’ve come to the right area. For the authentic Lisbon experience, take the vintage yellow tram to get there (look out for line 28 going to Santa Catarina and get off at the last stop).
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Rua do Poço dos Negros 103
Lisboa, Portugal
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
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Just a quick walk away is Artes & Letras, a beautiful letterpress workshop with unique prints (great place to buy an unusual postcard!). Admire the machinery and chat with the young woman who runs the shop and creates the artworks together with her friends.
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Rua dos Poiais de São Bento, 90.
1200-349. Lisboa
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And just on the opposite side of the street, make sure to check out APAIXONARTE, which features ever-changing art exhibitions and sells posters and other fun gifts.
If you’re into technology and interested in seeing how communication has evolved over time, take a nice and easy 10 minute walk down towards the river (with some awesome street art and vintage signs along the way) and check out the comunication museum, which features a permanent exhibition around communication technologies and the Portuguese postal service as well as temporary exhibitions. It’s likely you’ll be the only one there (and depending on the mood of the receptionist, you might not even have to pay 2,50€ for the ticket). But don’t be mistaken – the exhibitions are insightful and well-made, absolutely worth a visit for anyone interested in the evolution of the tools we use to communicate with one another.
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R. Do Instituto Industrial 16, 1200-109 Lisboa
Open Monday through Saturday
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This former industrial complex houses a wide array of arty retailers and unique restaurants. LxFactory is located below Ponte de 25 abril and a fantastic spot for some lunch and shopping. Buy some books at Ler Devagar and eat some delicious cake at Landeau Chocolate.
For the afternoon, take the tram or the bus out to Belém, where you’ll find many beautiful sights and museums. One prime spot for architecure lovers is the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, which houses thought-provoking exhibitions in a gorgeous space right next to the river Tejo. Head up to the roof (free access) for some great Instagram shots in front of the river and the bridge.
This museum houses a permanent contemporary art collection as well as temporary exhibitions. It is one of the best ways of learning about art of the 20th and 21st century, covering a large variety of genres, cultures and artists.
And for the best sunset views, head up to Nossa Senhora (don’t forget to check out the incredible street art piece on the way there) and admire Lisbon from above. It’s one of the best viewpoints but usually not too busy.
“Blue Man” Street Art
R. Damasceno Monteiro 21A, 1170-252 Lisboa
I hope you enjoy your stay in this diverse, beautiful city. Follow me on Instagram for more creative travel content.
Milton Glaser, designer of the I ❤︎ NY logo, tells the tale of an extraordinary city.
“Soon after, Gilbert was dancing at the Cow Palace with Cleve Jones and, amidst the swirl of colored lights, he was overwhelmed with the diversity of people out dancing and came up with the idea of the rainbow flag. I believe there was LSD involved.”
There are few places more joyful than a pride parade. Its symbol, the rainbow flag, was created by Gilbert Baker, whose story you can read on 99U.
(this last one might not count, but it was too cute not to add)
Most of us have heard about the town in China that replicates oil paintings, usually during a discussion on the value of art, copycats or the like. This beautifully made documentary tells the tale of one of those artists, who spent 20 years painting Van Gogh paintings. See what happens when he travels to Europe to see the originals for the first time.
“We are only painter-workers, you know? To change from being a painter to an artist and to whatever it is is very difficult.”
Are you a painter worker, or a painter? The value of one’s work is based on the difference between the two. What’s your difference?
There’s a small, unmarked beach house in Denmark, alongside two unsuspecting manhole covers by the sea. They are responsible for one of the most important and unusual highways of the world – they carry internet traffic from the US to Europe and back. Meet the man responsible for keeping us connected.
This month, I’ve been exploring Europe by train. In an effort to remember the experiences and locations (and also because some of these train journeys were really f*cking long), I made a playlist with some (for me) new music. Here are my travel companions.
I got invited to join the editorial team at TYPO Berlin 2018. You can read more about my work here.
I'm sat on a train to Copenhagen, packed with inspiration, ideas and energy (and merch!) from TYPO 2018. Here’s an attempt to put some of the things that happened into words.
I used TYPO as an excuse to do a lot of things I wouldn't usually do. So I bought an Interrail ticket and travelled from London to Berlin via Brussels and Amsterdam. After TYPO I'm visiting Hamburg, Copenhagen and Stockholm, before returning to my temporary home London. But even TYPO itself consisted of hopping from one unexpected activity to the next.
In addition to writing for the TYPO newsletter and contributing to the social media channels, I got to interview some of the most influential, forward-thinking designers. Some of them I've known and admired for years (Frank Rausch, Aaron James Draplin, Timothy Goodman and more), while others I had the pleasure of getting to know personally at TYPO for the first time. All of them were incredibly friendly, open and kind.
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In general, it has been very clear that massive egos have no place in the creative industries. We are stronger when we work together, share our process and discuss our values and work ethic publicly. While TYPO is by no means a cheap conference (student prices are still unaffordable for many), this year more talks than ever were livestreamed and all videos were made public within 24 hours, as opposed to only making them available for visitors as has been the case in the past. Props to the organizers for making sure even those who for whatever reason couldn't come to Berlin are still able to follow the conference online.
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Another development that is worth noting (even though in 2018 shouldn’t need any applause) is that there were more female speakers than ever before (about 40%). While TYPO still has some way to go regarding diversity, it is good to see things are developing in the right direction.
One thing TYPO does that no other conference does as well is to create a schedule that will inspire (dare I say “trigger”?) you in ways you didn’t expect. I had watched many of Aaron James Draplin’s talks and knew he was a great speaker (and he was, while also being an incredible human to talk to in person). I had followed Frank Rausch for a long time and respect his opinion and work a lot, but had never seen him speak (he also smashed it). Then there are people whose work you were familiar with without knowing the designer behind it (this was the case with Fidel Peugeot for me). His enthusiasm and curiosity were just infectious. And then there are people who for some reason you didn't stumble upon yet and after watching them speak you'll find yourself asking why you didn’t discover them earlier. dina Amin’s fun and thought-provoking talk “A Tinker Story” was the unexpected highlight of TYPO 2018 for me. Her dedication and curiosity will inspire you, whatever you do.
Timothy Goodman had a great story in his talk: When he asked a guy at a party what he did for a living, he replied “Whatever I can get away with”. I’d love to be at a point in my life where I’m able to say that (mostly because I might end up in someone’s TYPO talk) and after this weekend and a lot of what happend in the last few months, I might have reached this point already. This conference included a lot of “Pinch me!” moments for sure.
Lastly, let this whole experience be a lesson to future David: When I made that video about TYPO Berlin 2017, I mainly made it for myself. I thought maybe one or two people might see it. That someone from TYPO Berlin would see it, that would be incredible. But I never considered it would lead to an invitation to join the TYPO editorial team. Sometimes it’s important to make something just for the sake of it and not expect anything in return. It may lead to incredible experiences.
Thanks TYPO.
TIL what an incredible training procedure taxi drivers in London have to go through. The whole process takes nearly three years, involves acquiring The Knowledge of London, which includes over 25,000 streets and the number of traffic signals on a route, and that would-be cabbies are called “knowledge boys” or “knowledge girls” who drive around on motor scooters to acquire route knowledge. Research has shown that the hippocampus, the area of the brain used for navigation and spatial memory, is generally larger in taxi drivers than the general population. This is fascinating.
It would be easy to think that all of this knowledge has been replaced by satellite navigation, but in a test by the Wall Street Journal, the black cab was faster and cheaper than its UBER competitor.
“It's a great reminder that we should look up more often”
This is a beautiful video about the power of a telescope. When you look at the moon up close, it gives you a different perspective on Planet Earth.