Until September 15 you can still sign up for participation, it’s an innovative conference running October 15/16 at Ex-Rotaprint in Berlin: “Politics for Tomorrow” is aimed at people from politics, administration, education, municipalities, foundations and civil society organizations. We look forward to a variety of perspectives and an exciting exchange. If you wish to participate, the registration form is available via Get Involved on the website menu. The event will be held in German and English with bilingiual interpretation.

As I was going to move to Schillerkiez in Neukölln, which is a hot spot of gentrification right next to the Tempelhof air field I very soon realized the intense atmosphere in the neighborhood. Being inspired by the meetings with the EdgeRyder’s community I decided to start a local initiative to find out what the neighborhood needs and wants. The first events we did were some meetings with people from a community building background where the major problem already became obvious. Nobody from the neighborhood turned up although I had spend several hours to walk around cafés, markets, the church, supermarket – you name it – to spread the word and invite people to come. As a local action we then spread the poster campaign by Litekultur around the neighborhood hoping to get in touch with curious people. Dead loss. I did apply for funding via Projekt Neue Nachbarschaft with the idea to make a book which presents the people and their initiatives especially through one of the things that connects us all: food. So it was supposed to become a Schillerkiez cooking book with personal stories and background information of the neighbors and their  effort to support the neighborhood. Unfortunately the project wasn’t selected for funding and I really hope to find other ways to support the approach of giving something back to the Kiez.

>> SHARiNGtheCiTY

The project is presented for the next 6 months in Frankfurt, then moving for another 1/2 year to Berlins museum of Communication.
>> DIY – Die Mitmachrevolution

Supported by the European Commission, Nadia EL-Imam and I are hosting the first “Create Your Own 2011″ event in Berlin — a business symposium and demo exhibition that brings together some of the foremost European thinkers and doers in mass customization, personalization and customer co-design. This networking event shall provide a hub for discussion, showcase experience and offer participants to expand their network with a focus on start-ups and open-minded entrepreneurs in business-to-consumers (BTC) markets.

>> cyo2011
>> pictures of the event

With deep gratitude to Walter Scheiffele, who continuously pushed to project and supported us all we finally made it to edit our texts and get the book finished. Don’t miss to read what we think about professionals and amateurs in design and how the design world is shifting due to the evolving open and participatory approaches and the amazing possibilities the new technologies can offer.

>> order at ProQM