With warm regards!

19. Dezember 2012

Christmas 2012 TOTEMS COMMUNICATION

Beautiful

19. Oktober 2012

The internet is full of (interesting, stupid, exiting etc. etc.) stuff. Sometimes we find something we really like. It could be because of its practical use, beautiful shape or whatever reasoning we have. This is the same with the following ’lotus’ we found online (source: Studio Roosegaarde) and we like to share it with you.

”Dutch design lab Studio Roosegaarde has built a dome of metallic flowers that appear to come to life as they sense the presence of visitors inside a church in Lille, France (+ movie).”

To watch the clip:
https://vimeo.com/51209332

Drinks, small talk, bbq and a rabbit..

27. August 2012

Since 2 years our Düsseldorf-team successfully offers its service to our clients. Therefore we’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate this highlight with our friends and business partners!

TOTEMS Einladung

Kinetic Rain

12. Juli 2012

Because it’s beautiful..https://vimeo.com/45188800

 

Source: Video © Changi Airport Group changiairport.com/terminal1

Inspiration come from..food?!

10. Juli 2012

Today our new office manager Karin made us an “Apfel-Mandel Kuchen” (almond-apple cake). As you can see it’s enough cake to provide our team (6) in Düsseldorf.

It’s also a great side dish in case we read our magazines to get updated / inspired. Thanks Karin for the delicious treat! Hopefully there’s many more to come ; )

 

The changing role of World Expo’s within the 20th & 21st century

11. Juni 2012

21st Century Business Herald: designer column from Totems

(By G. de Gorter. Source: http://www.dutchdesignworkspace.com/blog/21st-century-business-herald-designer-column-from-totems/

 

The best-known first “World Expo” was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations”

The Great Exhibition, as it is often called, was an idea of Prince Albert, Queen Vicotria’s husband. It influenced the development of several aspects of society, including art-and-design education, international trade and relations, and tourism. This expo was the most obvious precedent for the many international exhibitions, later called world’s fairs, that have continued to be held to the present time.

Since their inception in 1851, the character of world expositions has evolved.

Three eras can be distinguished:

era of industrialization
era of cultural exchange
era of nation branding
Industrialization (1851-1938)

The first era could be called the era of “industrialization” and covered, roughly, the period from 1800 to 1938. In these days, world expositions were especially focused on trade, and were famous for the display of technological inventions and advancements. Inventions such as the telephone were first presented during this era. An important part of the image of world’s fairs stems from this first era.

Cultural exchange (1939-1987)

The international exhibition in New York City in 1939-1940 presented a departure from the original focus of the exhibitions. From then on world’s fairs became more strongly based on a specific theme of cultural significance, and began to address issues of humankind. They became more future oriented and utopian in scope. Technology and inventions remained important, but no longer were the principal subjects of the fairs. ‘Building the World of Tomorrow’ (New York 1939-40) is a good example of this theme.

Nation Branding (1988 – present)

From Expo ’88 in Brisbane onwards, countries started to use world expositions more widely and more strongly as a platform to improve their national images through their pavilions.

A study called “Expo 2000 Hannover in Numbers” showed that improving national image was the primary participation goal for 73% of the countries at Expo 2000. In a world where a strong national image is a key asset, pavilions became advertising campaigns, and the Expo a vehicle for “nation branding”.

Apart from cultural and symbolic reasons, organizing countries (and the cities and regions hosting them) also utilize the world exposition to brand themselves. Spain used Expo ’92 and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona in the same year to underline it’s new position as a modern and democratic country and present itself as a prominent member of the European Union and the global community.China showed its new position in the world by organizing the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing and the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. themed by “Better city, better Life”

Today’s world expositions embody elements of all three eras. They present new inventions, facilitate cultural exchange based on a theme, and are used for city, region and nation branding.

The majority of the structures on World Expo’s are temporary, and are dismantled at the end of the Expo. Some architectural masterpieces are exceptions. By far the most famous of these is the Eiffel Tower, which formed the grand entrance of the World’s Fair Exposition in 1887, and is now the most recognized symbol of Paris. Also Crystal Palace from the first world’s fair in London in 1851 was intended to be permanent, until a fire in 1936 destroyed it. Another example is the famous German pavilion by Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 Barcelona expo which was first destroyed and later recreated on the original site. It’s one of the most important and best exposed structures of modern architecture.

The Expo-site in Shanghai is now recognized as an important cultural center. The demolition wasn’t the end, but the beginning of a project far more ambitious than a mere World’s Fair. The Shanghai government expressed the “Better city, better life” theme strongly all over the world, and now has plans to transform its chaotic sprawl into something more livable for its 19 million inhabitants within 10 years. For at least five years, China’s central government has tried to convince the country’s major cities that the growth-at-all costs economic model, which has intensified environmental degradation nationwide, had to change. Now Shanghai, arguably the capital of that model, has embraced sustainability as the core of its next stage of development.

The redevelopment of the Expo site could become the most visible symbol of one of modern China’s most difficult problems: coping with the intensifying urbanization of the country.

Many economists consider environmental degradation as the biggest long-term risk to China’s economic future. The extensive Expo site creates a unique opportunity; it will be a test bed for the Chinese vision. A recent study by the Urban China Initiative found that Chinese cities that embraced sustainable growth grew more quickly than those that, relatively speaking, ignored environmental issues.

Shanghai expressed its ambition to become China’s pre-eminent symbol of sustainable growth. The theme of Shanghai World Expo 2010: “Better city, better life”, did not vanish after closing the doors for the visiting public, but will stay alive for a long time and the Expo-site at Puxi will try to stay the center of this phenomena. The influence of the World Expo 2010 will be even larger and more permanent than expected. Perhaps a new era in the development of World Expositions has started in Shanghai

This year, the World Expo will be held in Yeosu; South Korea focusing on the theme “The Living Ocean and Coast”. In 2015 Milan, Italy will be the host for “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”

 

For more information, please contact: duesseldorf at totems.com

18. April 2012

“Wie können Produkte und Dienstleistungen räumlich in Szene gesetzt werden?

Wie positionieren sich erfolgreiche Marken durch gebaute Unternehmenskommunikation?

Wie kann Kommunikation im Raum  umgesetzt werden und vor allem zu welchem Preis?

Wie schaffe ich Raum für neue Welten?”

>> 11. Mai 2012,  SPRECHSTUNDE  Totems,  15:15-18:15 Uhr

SIMONA 2012, a new trade show concept

12. April 2012
SIMONA AG is a manufacturer of thermoplastic products with worldwide manufacturing and distribution locations. The company has the right to become the world’s leading market leader for safety-critical and environmental applications. Totems has developed a new show concept for the exhibition of SIMONA 2012, which represents further development of corporate communications, which started off at the K-2010 fair (international fair for plastics and rubber) in Germany. The idea and theme was developed by Totems; “Opening up the world of SIMONA”. It will give visitors the opportunity to take a look into the company and discover the great know-how of SIMONA and the many advantages and applications of the products.

The facade of the booth presented the company with its clear corporate colors white and red.

The three-dimensional, about three meter high “S” on the front line of the SIMONA booth, is reflected as a warm-white illuminated “S”. The other letters of the company name moved together fixed to columns coming out of the back wall and opened up the world of SIMONA. All letters are made of SIMONA material and are illuminated from behind, so that there is an additional layering.

The staggered arrangement of the columns creates a warm and colorful room that represents the diversity of SIMONA. The visitor enters this world and leaves the everyday show. He is entering a bright and warm atmosphere and finds a lounge with a deep-pile red carpet and exclusive furniture. Thus, an informative and friendly atmosphere is provided, which corresponds completely to the group thinking. Both the back wall of the stand as well as the rear of the columns gave information about the company and its products.

The inside of the SIMONA stand is adjusted for any new exhibitions; the overall appearance will be identical on each fair. To the outside, SIMONA has always the same face, but behind the facade a diverse and vast knowledge is hidden in the field of thermoplastics.

Digital Wood – any shape imaginable

26. März 2012

Totems is always very interested in innovative products and new production technologies. The Bevel Bowl for example; the Bowl represents a new innovation by Rael San Fratello Architects—3D printed wood! Made from reclaimed and recycled wood and cellulose material, the 3D printed wood has the look and feel of medium density fiberboard wood products, but can take any shape imaginable.

The 3D printed wood is water resistant, durable and strong and is part of our continuing line of additive manufacturing experimentation with a focus on materiality, economy and form. (source: http://tinyurl.com/crtbrjd)

Job offer

27. Januar 2012

TOTEMS | Düsseldorf – Amsterdam – Stuttgart – Shanghai

 

Totems, as one of the leading agencies in the field of communication in space, develops extraordinary concepts and realises fascinating and sustainable brand performances for numerous companies out of different branches.

For our young and ambitious team in our office in Düsseldorf we’re searching for additional support:

 

Designer (m/f)

 

He or she is able to develop and visualise extraordinary architecture, this in the field of fairs, exhibitions and brand spaces (also thinkable is an interior designer (m/f) or an architect (m/f).

We offer a very diversified and exciting job, which is to grow within the office in Düsseldorf, possible as a project-based contract or as a freelance model.

We would like besides outstanding design-skills very good skills in visualisation (Cinema 4D, VectorWorks and Adobe Creative Suite), plus experience in project management.

Working always as a member of the Totems-family, within the Düsseldorf-team but also in a close exchange with the colleagues of the other offices and teams, he/she should be also able to work independent.

We would appreciate to get meaningful portfolios and applications, please in the forehand as a PDF (per email), to the below named address.

Totems Communication & Architecture GmbH

Achim Groll

Jürgensplatz 62

40479 Düsseldorf

Tel.: +49-211-26104612

Mob.: +49-170-7010409

Mail: achim.groll@totems.com

For further information please check: www.totems.com or call.