Studio Tillack Knöll, Design Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Multicreative Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Exhibition Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Collaborative Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Spatial Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Publishing Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Editorial Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Political Practice
Studio Tillack Knöll, Community Practice
Introduction
Studio Tillack Knöll is a design practice that concerns itself with the visual and spatial aspects of communication. We design exhibitions, wayfinding systems, books, visual identities and digital experiences for a variety of clients involved in architecture, art, science and commerce to cultural institutions and NGOs.
The driving force behind our work is the interaction and collaboration with and for other human beings. Besides creating our visual output we enhance our design practice with editing, writing and coding.
Approach
The day to day work is the starting point from which we confidently emerge with holistic design concepts for the production of identities and atmospheres that have long-lasting effects. Even though most our work manifests itself through its visual and haptic surface, the goal of our practice is to reach new depths and dive all in – clearly distinctive, tangibly and intellectually.
We regard each project as a challenge. A challenge to attain a visual endurance that surpasses this fast paced world and its economy of quick and cheap satisfaction. A challenge that develops new solutions and ways of seeing things. Ultimately, an inclusive design that expands and changes perceptions.
Since 2018 Sven and Steffen have been invited to teach numerous classes and courses at Stuttgart State Academy of Fine Arts, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts as well as Erfurt University of Applied Sciences in the fields of architecture, fine arts, product design, visual communication and programming. They are members of 100 Beste Plakate e.V.
Founders
Sven Tillack
Sven is the studio’s driving force behind all digital endeavours (coded and animated). As creative director and a passionate book designer, his keen eye for detail and production not only comes in handy when completing projects, but also when assembling the studio’s daily playlists as well. He holds a diploma from the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design and has a background in photography, advertising and corporate campaigns and—as author and editor of “Exploriso: Low-tech Fine Art”—he is also the studios very own print specialist and risography-connaisseur.
Steffen Knöll
The fact that Steffen almost enrolled into architecture school probably accounts for the studio’s interest in exhibition-making and spatial design. The other one probably being the fascination for the vastness of space which lead to the publishing of “Apollo 11—Man on the Moon—The Visual Archive”. After finishing his diploma at the State Academy of Art and Design Stuttgart, Steffen expanded his knowledge and also holds the position of creative director as well as chief studio accountant and master of the studio’s vast library.
Team
Johannes Hucht
As a HfG Karlsruhe trained communication- and type designer with a background in spatial and product design, Johannes is the latest addition to our team. With his extraordinary perseverance in fine-tuning curves and spacing, Johannes is not only highly equipped in creating bespoke typefaces but also persevering enough to hang between/in/on/under rocks—as he’s a passionate climber.
Currently we are greatly supported by our two interns Sarah Schlecht and Paul Daubenspeck. Thank you very much for your support!
Past team members include Niklas Berlec, Janis Czapka, Mia Götze, Vincent Herbet, Lilli Klein, Marius Rother and Lea Wellern.
Contact
Collaboration
In order to reach a project’s unique outcome we often like to enlarge our team to include specialists and like-minded designers, friends and colleagues:
asphalt kollektiv, HuM Base, Parat.cc, Studio Terhedebrügge, Mark Bohle, Mark Julien Hahn, Nam Huynh, Nolan Paparelli, Hans-Jörg Seidler, Levin Stadler, Natalie Weinmann, Carola Wille, Jonas Zieher.
Community
Design should not be confined to a distinct bubble. One of our goals as a studio is to give back to communities that we cherish and value. We achieve this either through nonprofit work, design coaching or other means. If you have a project that is in need of support please get in contact with us!
Publishing
Throughout our studies and parallel to our design practice we like to reflect areas of interest through writing, editing and publishing. Up until now we have written and edited two books that deal with different visual topics. »Exploriso: Low-Tech Fine Art« serves as a holistic compendium for the art of risograph printing and offers an in-depth analysis of this printing-medium and a comprehensive guide on how to use it. Furthermore, we have developed unique color profiles and have made them available for free through the Exploriso website. »Apollo 11: Man on the Moon — The Visual Archive« analyses the impact of the visual and photographical documentation during the first landing on the moon. Both publication were generously supported through the DISCOVERED series (a close collaboration between the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, the University of Fine Arts Hamburg, the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig and their affiliated book institutes) and were published by Spector Books in Leipzig. Besides these two endeavours we are deeply invested in the production of artists’ books for artists such as Ann-Kathrin Müller, Prof. Ricarda Roggan and Dirk Reimes. We serve as creative directors for Klub Books and work in close collaboration with its editors Sabine Kastner and Facundo Fernández who publish books about architecture and architectural theory.
Clients
Architecture & Urban Planning | 'asp' architekten Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten BDA Hochbauamt der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart Schmutz & Partner Freie Architekten Studio Cross Scale Studio Urbane Strategien Städtebau-Institut der Universität Stuttgart Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg Zweiheit Innenarchitekten |
Artists & Art Institutions | Ann-Kathrin Müller Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo Kunstmuseum Stuttgart Literaturhaus Stuttgart Meisterschüler:innen im Weißenhof-Programm der ABK Stuttgart Erik Sturm Staatsgalerie Stuttgart Städtische Galerie Villingen-Schwenningen |
Bars, Clubs & Restaurants | Gian Paolo e Marco, Café & Bar Tatti Stay & See Zum Ochsen — Restaurant und Landmetzgerei |
Cinematography & Motion | Arte Cedric Retzmann |
Coaching | Traffo.io |
Commerce & Finance | Apple Inc. ALH Gruppe (Alte Leipziger — Hallesche) Nike, Inc. |
Community / NGO | Bürgerrat Klima FF*GZ — Feministisches Frauen*gesundheitszentrum Stuttgart e. V. Hotel Central e. V. / Lobby Radio Kunstverein Wagenhalle e. V. SDG Places |
Culture | Bundesgartenschau 2019 GmbH Deutsches Bauernkriegsmuseum Böblingen in.Stuttgart GmbH Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH The Opéra Magazine for Contemporary Nude Photography |
Education | KIT — Karlsruher Institut für Technologie RWTH Aachen Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart Universität Stuttgart |
Engineering, Construction & Energy | Godel Beton GmbH |
Food & Drink | Mozzafiato PNEVMA |
Lifestyle & Fashion | Servizio Magari — The finest in fashion, furniture and services. The Rice Society |
Publishing | Kerber Verlag Klub Books Jovis Verlag Ruby Press Spector Books Vexer Verlag |
Awards
Awards | Landeshauptstadt Kiel, Referat Kieler Woche, 3rd place at Kieler Woche 2024 design competition Tokyo TDC Annual Awards 2023 Prize Nominee Stiftung Buchkunst, Die Schönsten Deutschen Bücher 2023 [The Best German Book Design 2023]. 1 × Longlist, 1 × Shortlist Stiftung Buchkunst, Die Schönsten Deutschen Bücher 2021 [The Best German Book Design 2021]. 2 × Shortlist Discovered, cooperation of the art academies and art schools Leipzig, Hamburg and Stuttgart with the publishing house Spector Books The 3rd Shenzen International Poster Festival SIPF 2018, Silver Medal 11th Macau Design Biennial, Bronze Award in Category Book, Jury & Distinction Award in Category Book Taipei International Design Award 2015, Silver Award The 2nd Shenzhen International Poster Festival SIPF2016, Silver Award Stiftung Buchkunst, Die schönste deutschen Bücher 2016 [The Best German Book Design 2016], Longlist Stiftung Buchkunst, Förderpreis für junge Buchgestaltung 2016, Shortlist Global Biennale of Graphic Design Golden Bee, All Gold of the World 2014 – 2016, 2018, Golden Fix Award 27th Brno Biennial International Exhibition 2016, Selected Work Taipei International Design Award 2015, Taipei Mayor Award, Gold Award, Judges’ Award 2015 Graphic Design Festival Scotland, International Poster Competition, 2nd Place Italian Poster Biennial 2015, 2nd Place |
Collections | Musée Des Arts Décoratifs Paris 100 Beste Plakate e. V. Permanent collection of Hong Kong Heritage Museum |
Talks
2023 | »Fast Forward! Graphic design in the age of technocapitalism: cultivating ideas in the midst of acceleration«, talk supervised by Prof. Wim Westerveld, Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin »Wer wir sind«, Talk at Deutsches Bauernkriegsmuseum Böblingen [German Peasants’ War Museum Boeblingen] about the Studio and its work on the museums’ new visual identity. »INT’L Workshop«, Talk during the INT’L Workshops »Talking Thursdays«, talk with TwoTimesElliott |
2022 | »Exploriso: Low-tech Fine Art? — Risographie als künstlerisches Druckverfahren [Risography as an artistic printing method]«, Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Medien e.V., bundesweiter Verbund von Lehrerinnen und Lehrern im Bereich Druck- und Medientechnik [nationwide association of teachers in the field of printing and media technology] »Celebrating The Opéra«, presenting The Opéra Anniverary Edition with editor Matthias Straub, Galerie Kernweine |
2021 | »Mix & Match! Colormanagement am Risographen«, talk within the Start Art Week in cooperation with RISO Deutschland, Metapaper and Drucken3000, University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf »Make Them Seen, Make Them Heard«, talk within the module »Das hat mich schon immer interessiert – Eine Publikation« supervised by Jonas Beuchert and Tilman Schlevogt, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Lecture in the design department supervised by Prof. Ilka Helmig und Prof. Eva Kubinyi, FH Aachen |
2019 | Algorithm.Camp, HfG Karlrsuhe × ABK Stuttgart; Karlsruhe & Stuttgart [with Sascia Reibel and Grischa Erbe] |
2018 | aed Stuttgart »3 × Type«, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart Macau Design Biennal. Expo Center Shanghai Macau Design Biennal. Sanda University, Shanghai IDUGS #51 [InDesign User Group Stuttgart Meet-Up]. Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart |
2017 | Macau Design Biennial. Macau »Exploriso: Low-tech Fine Art?«, Adobe Creative Jam. Im Wizemann, Stuttgart »Exploriso: Low-tech Fine Art?«, Metapaper Breakfast of Inspiration. Café Netzer, Stuttgart |
2015 | Lecture during the Taipei International Design Award ceremony, Taipei City Government Department of Economic Development, Taipei, Taiwan |
Exhibitions
2024 | Hong Kong International Poster Triennal 2024, Commercial & Advertising; Animated Poster Luga Poster Biennale 2024, »Selected« in Cultural Posters & as well as Animated Posters |
2023 | Bienal del Cartel Bolivia BICeBé 2023 Weltformat Graphic Design Festival 2023, exhibition “Kieler Woche Plakate”, Kunsthalle, Bourbaki, Lucerne Weltformat Graphic Design Festival 2023, exhibition “Lost Pitches”, Kunsthalle (Cabinet), Bourbaki, Lucerne Exhibition of the participating designs for Kieler Woche 2024 [Kiel Week of Sailing 2024], Rathaus Kiel, Germany »Der Klang des Papiers – Materialreflexionen im Plakat« [The sound of Paper— Material reflections in the poster], Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für Moderne Kunst, Cottbus, Germany 100 Beste Plakate Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz [100 Best Posters Germany, Austria, Switzerland] 2022 Tokyo TDC Annual Awards 2023 |
2022 | INTL, International Assembly, Poster Competition 2022 |
2021 | INTL, International Assembly, Poster Competition 2021 100 Beste Plakate Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz [100 Best Posters Germany, Austria, Switzerland] 2020 Bienal del Cartel Bolivia BICeBé 2021 Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2021 »Still & Motion« |
2020 | 100 Beste Plakate 2019 2020 taipei international design award |
2019 | Bienal del Cartel Bolivia BICeBé 2029 GDFS 2019, Graphic Design Festival Scotland |
2019–2014 | 100 Beste Plakate Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz [100 Best Posters Germany, Austria, Switzerland] 2018–2013 |
2018 | »Der Mond — Eine szenografische Reise zum Erdtrabanten in drei Akten«, Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany Ecuador Poster Bienal 2018 3rd Shenzhen International Poster Festival 2018 |
2017 | »Rundumschlag – rund um Architektur«, ehemaliger Projektraum Lotte, Stuttgart, Germany Tokyo Type Directors Club TDC 2017 Annual Award |
Workshops
2023 | INTL, 2-day Workshop, »Community Characters—Collaborative Type Design« |
2018 | Workshop as part of the traveling exhibition of the 11th Macau Design Biennial in Shanghai, China |
Jury & Consulting
2022–2023 | Consultation on the tendering and procurement procedure for the new website of Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design |
2019 | Jury member for »Mut zur Wut 2019«, together with Julia Kahl (Germany), Ariane Spanier (Germany), Verena Panholzer (Austria), and Eduardo B. Arambarri (Mexico) |
2017 | Jury member for the 11th Macau Design Biennial, together with Guang Yu and Céline Lamée |
Press
2022 | Sindelfinger Zeitung, »Stuttgart hat im Neckarpark ein neues Architektur-Highlight« |
2021 | Page 05.21, »Publikationen: Exploriso« |
2020 | A Book On Books, viction:ary, ISBN 978-988-79726-3-1 |
2019 |
2018 | It’s Nice That, »Steffen Knöll’s mammoth 496-page tribute to an amazing, world-changing mission« |
2017 | AIGA Eye On Design, »Why Graphic Designer Sven Tillack Likes to Work Very, Very Slowly« |
Positions
Internships
Studio Tillack Knöll offers internship positions three times a year for a period of three to six months. Design interns will become part of our design team and work closely with us on a wide range of projects ranging from culture, business and architecture to art and NGOs.
Internships at Studio Tillack Knöll focus on learning through hands-on and real-life experiences. We share responsibility, design proposals are discussed, and work is executed collectively. Interns will be involved in the Studio’s everyday business. They are in close contact with clients and partners but will still be given the time and resources to develop additional skills — all while being guided supportively through demanding tasks.
Studio Tillack Knöll considers internships to be an integral part of the design curriculum and therefore should be affordable by everyone — not just the privileged few. The in-house, full-time internships that we offer are paid a salary that makes living in Stuttgart affordable without the help of one’s parents, a second job or depending on student-loans. Interns will never be considered cheap labour in our office!
The interns we look for are those close to completing an undergraduate studies in graphic design, architecture or comparable fields of studies, and who are currently enrolled in a MA/diploma programme. Selected applicants are expected to commit to at least three full months, with a probation period of four weeks.
Applications are generally accepted during the following periods:
February – April
May – July
September – November
To apply please submit a one page CV, a portfolio of your most intriguing design projects and the period for which you are applying within your e-mail to positions@studiotillackknoell.com.
Please name each CV or portfolio file with your name as well as an abbreviated version of your considered starting point: e.g. NameSurname_CV_2023-03 (for a start in March of 2023). Please keep the mb sizes as low as possible and do not exceed 10 Megabytes. Links to Instagram accounts and websites will only be considered if a CV and portfolio is included. We try to get back to everyone, selected or not, within two weeks (depending on our current workload).
Mental Health
In Germany, roughly about every 18th employee is unable to work due to mental health issues, an alarming number that we don’t want to contribute to! This is why we value eye-to-eye communication and take our team’s opinions and feedback seriously — just as we do their and our mental health. We’ve therefore set robust boundaries not only between employee and employer, but also between our team and our clients. Our design positions are paid accordingly. We offer space to grow personally and professionally. We do not tolerate sexism, racism or any other form of misuse of power.
Sustainability
Since climate change is already altering the way we live and impacting our collective future. We try to minimise the footprint of our practice and the products that our job produces. We therefore work closely with companies that value sustainability and the health of our planet in the same way that we attempt to do day to day.