Benedikt

Q%Hi Ben: Which of your works are you most proud of (during and after your studies)?? 

A%Which of my works am I most proud of? I’d say the KVB plan. It’s funny that the question refers to both during and after my studies because this project stretched over quite some time. It started as my bachelor’s thesis, where I redesigned the route network maps for KVB and also improved other aspects of the information design—such as signage at stops and displays inside the vehicles.

That was my thesis in 2018, and by 2020, the whole system was implemented. This led to a few follow-up projects with KVB and the city of Cologne, which was a great opportunity. It’s a special feeling to move through the city and see my work everywhere—not just as a temporary project, but as something lasting. And what makes me even happier? My little logo—a tiny smiley face in the bottom right corner of the maps. Seeing that all over the city is probably my favorite part. So yes, this project definitely makes me very proud.

Q%Did you have any concerns or fears regarding your career entry? Did it stem directly from your previous freelance work, or were there complications?

A%I didn’t really have any worries or fears about starting my career because I was already working as a freelancer when I started at KISD and was able to continue doing so during my studies. I was already used to the fact that as a freelancer you always have phases where you work and earn more and then phases where there’s less going on. I think you kind of panic a bit at first and then at some point you get used to it at best. So that wasn’t really a problem for me.

Q%Did you have a vision for your career path? How much has it been fulfilled or not fulfilled?

A%Well, no, not really. I’ve definitely taken a few unexpected turns in my career.

A year after finishing at KISD, I moved to Milan to pursue a Master’s in Visual Brand Design. But to be honest, the program felt quite unchallenging. It was very structured and school-like—especially compared to KISD—and I quickly found myself bored. Over time, I even lost interest in design for a while, which led me to explore other creative fields. That’s when I started writing screenplays, something I still do today, shifting more towards film.

So even though I never had a fixed plan for my career, I definitely lost my way a bit. If you had asked me when I left KISD, I wouldn’t have expected to take such a different path. But now, I’m balancing both worlds—design and screenwriting—which feels great. There are actually a lot of thematic overlaps, and I’ve found that many of the skills I learned at KISD apply to screenwriting and vice versa.

Q%Do you feel financially secure? Is your work financially valued?

A%It varies. As a freelancer, you go through phases—sometimes there’s so much work that you can barely keep up, and other times, there’s nothing at all. You have to get used to that kind of balance.

I’m not great with money, to be honest. When work is going well, I feel financially secure; when it’s slow, I feel the opposite. But overall, it evens out.

As for whether my work is financially appreciated—that really depends on the client. Some value it and pay accordingly, and interestingly, those are often the ones who also give me the most creative freedom. Then there are clients who provide plenty of (let’s call it positive) input but also impose a lot of restrictions. These are often the ones with the tightest budgets, where you sometimes feel like your work isn’t truly valued.

Q%What advice would you give to design students?

A%I’d encourage everyone to make the most of the opportunities at KISD—whether it’s the various workshops, the chance to study abroad (even for a short time), or simply exploring different fields. Take advantage of everything you can.

For example, I do pottery from time to time, and outside of KISD, it’s much harder to find access to a kiln. The same goes for working with wood or repairing something—finding a well-equipped workshop can be quite challenging. KISD offers incredible resources in that regard, not just in terms of facilities but also in what you can learn there.

Even if you’re set on a specific path—whether it’s graphic design, fashion, or costume design—it’s still valuable to experiment with other materials and disciplines. You never know what skills might come in handy later. And even if all you learn is that a certain direction isn’t for you, that in itself is valuable.