CreativeMornings/Berlin

When we were kids, it happened fast. We outgrew clothes and shoes seemingly overnight. We constantly reached for things just out of our grasp. We made messes and art without worrying about what anyone would think. 

As we shift into adulthood, growth gets harder to come by.  Get good grades and a great job. Burn the midnight oil. Struggle against the odds. Then somewhere along the way, we get comfortable with the status quo. Sitting on the couch, watching and scrolling instead of trying and doing. 

But creativity demands growth. Not the kind that can be measured with a ruler. It’s about taking stock of your character. Who’s ready to chase wild possibilities and meaningful progress? We must unlearn the need to be perfect and busy. Remember how to play and get our hands dirty again. 

Every blossom is an act of becoming. The quiet force of roots pushing through the dark, the slow unfurling of a bud, a sudden burst of color. But plants don’t blossom on command. Each flower requires the right amount of sunlight, water, and nourishment across the cycle of the seasons. 

It’s the same for creativity. Our next idea lies dormant, while we fertilize our mind. With attention, protection, and space to play, our work becomes what it is meant to be. Petal by petal, the passion inside us bursts into a glorious bouquet.

But remember that flowers don’t bloom purely for their own sake. They share their fragrance, attract pollinators, and serve the larger ecosystem. Your creativity needs to pollinate as well. So, share your gift. Spread more ideas, more beauty, and more courage. 

To truly blossom, you must take the risk of opening up. This is your season. You deserve to be seen. Offer your abundance of color to the world! 

Reflecting on the August theme, I’ve come to see that NOMAD speaks differently to each person and the term evolved over time in modern contexts. For some is a deliberate choice—a way of designing both life and work, staying creative on the road, but is also a mindset, exploring your own city in a new way.

This week, we’re back with our regular monthly talk, and we’re excited to welcome Klemens Sitzmann, an architect and designer based in Berlin.

Klemens answered our questions about Berlin and what a nomadic experience means to him, offering also a preview of this Friday’s talk. He shares how he creates architectural design and art using technology in unconventional ways, turning simplicity and experimentation into innovation.

1. Klemens, when we talked at the community event last month, we both agreed that NOMAD is a great theme in August.  When you hear the word nomadic, what are your first thoughts or images that come to mind?

Nomadic implies a certain sense of restlessness and independence to me. A nomad is somebody who wanders and is driven by a certain incentive to continue exploring without settling. In a way, to be hungry for more, curious about what is past the horizon and longing for the unknown. Personally, I do not see an image in front of my mental eye when I think about nomadic; it invokes a sentiment or a state of mind for me that I can very much relate to. My artistic work feels driven by restlessness and wonder. Not knowing for certain what I am aiming at or „doing“ but driven by a force for experimentation and curiosity for what else is out there in the hidden waiting to be discovered.

2. Berlin is often considered a city in reinvention with an eclectic design— How do you see Berlin, and does that influence your work as an architect here?

Berlin is many things, but not a city known for the quality of design. Architecturally, even less so. For me, the beauty of Berlin lies in the opposite of the „final design“. It is a city where, along a 20min bikeride, one can see pretty much every type of city development which has existed in the last 150 years. I think the strength and quality of Berlin lies in its weirdness. I often think of it as a half-finished city for half-finished people. It is very easy to feel at home here and to „fit in“, because at the end of the day everybody can be who and whatever they wanna be without being afraid to be judged. Berlin’s influence is not in its openly visible parts, I would say.

The techno and club culture definitely had a strong influence on my artworks. The hardness and rawness of material and geometry, the machinistic repetition definitely left its mark. Reflecting back, I don't see certain works being made in this look and feel if I had lived in another city.

Architecturally, I look everywhere else but Berlin for inspiration. Berlin still has so much space in the center of the city. No other capital in Europe has that much free space and potential. Sadly if you look at how the city is filling the empty lots, it is just criminal, every opportunity for new and innovative architecture gets blown out the window for the sake of cheap and dull investor developments. A disgrace, really!

3. Your talk this August is called ‘Debris of the Future.’ How do you see the evolution of design—especially when it comes to balancing creativity with the use of technology?

Most of my architectural design and my artworks are driven by technology alike. I would say my creativity does not come from a defined vision of what I would like to achieve, but from a sense of innovation and thinking outside the box. I leverage tools and technology to my advantage, by usually not using them in the way they were intended to be used, but to play around and experiment, trying to find ways around the center and finding workflows which result in interesting results. This is more true for my artistic work, as certain work relies mostly on computation and happy error.

I used to be quite a first mover when new software came out back in the days, I don't know why this has changed, but I feel it turned full circle at one point. I am no user of AI or new tools; in a way, I went back to the early years of computer graphics and use tools which existed already for decades in a different way. I would not describe my work and workflow as very complex, it is quite simple in a way. I use some by now almost forgotten tools and connect them in an interesting way.

After a CreativeMornings/Berlin event, the talk is uploaded to our page— therefore each event lives on, thanks to the video shared online for anyone who couldn’t join in person. If you also ever wondered who’s often behind the camera making that possible, keep reading.

🎥 Meet Ellen Maiorano, Australian video artist, part of the CreativeMornings/Berlin team who helps bring our events to life through her lens. The conversation is not only about what first drew her to videography, but also on her thoughts on a nomadic life.

1. Dear Ellen, what drew you to videography in the first place?

Growing up I loved cinema, and films like Moulin Rouge and Inland Empire opened my eyes to a whole world of abstract or stylised films. I loved the creativity possible in both cinematography and editing, and have brought that ideology into my work.

2. If your camera could speak, what it would say about your creative process behind the scenes?

First, follow and capture the moments. Second, piece together the puzzle to find the magic.

3. What can we usually find you doing in your free time?

Enjoying a park, dancing, or having a cosy night in with my girlfriend and our cat.

4. Describe please you & Berlin in 3 words or emojis.

☕️🌪️✨

5. Bonus question August - This month our global theme is NOMAD. What does “Nomad” mean to you in your work or life?

During my life I have lived in Melbourne, London and now Berlin. Each city has added another layer to my inspiration and experience. When I was younger I was definitely more drawn to the idea of travelling and staying in many different countries, but now I’m enjoying the process of standing still and growing in one place.

Some people feel compelled to travel from place to place. To live outside the confines and constraints of a permanent address. Others have no choice but to leave home in search of a better life. A nomad embraces discomfort, welcomes the unknown, and sees every detour as a new adventure.  

Have you heard the call of the open road? Ever dream of being a digital nomad working from exotic locales? Crossing borders and time zones to discover fresh inspiration and share-worthy views. But following your nomadic spirit doesn’t require collecting stamps in your passport. 

The act of creating is its own journey. So, meander through your ideas. Roam between different styles. The most important thing is to take the first step. It doesn’t matter where it leads, because the joy is suddenly finding yourself somewhere unexpected.

Hello and welcome again to our new interview concept that we introduced last month.  In July, we took a short break from our regular talks and instead, we plan to meet and connect with our community over a breakfast in the garden.

What’s amazing about CreativeMornings Berlin is that we change locations each month, yet we always find familiar faces in the crowd. At our June event, we ran into Dani Maiz, an Illustrator based in Berlin, who was our guest speaker back in February and this time joined us as part of the audience to attend Susann’stalk. We’re excited that Dani accepted our invitation to be our July guest on the blog! We discussed the July monthly global theme MENTOR, he shared a piece of advice that stayed with him, as well as insights in his creative practice in both Berlin and Bilbao.

1. Dani, you’ve been both a guest speaker this year and also a member of our community. This month our global theme is MENTOR. I was wondering how do you see mentorship nowadays - especially in creative fields? And was there a piece of advice you received that stuck with you?

In my opinion, mentorship is more informal and fluid when compared to how it used to be. It’s no longer centered around having one mentor for years—sometimes, guidance can come from followers, collaborators, and even peers. The distinction between mentor and friend, actually colleague, is becoming less defined, and that opens up possibilities for mutual learning and vulnerability, which is, I believe, beneficial.

An older creative once told me, ‘Protect the part of you that creates for joy.’ This is a piece of advice that has stayed with me. I appreciate the reminder because when you turn your creativity into a job, it can become so easy to lose touch with the initial spark that led you to pursue it in the first place. Fortunately, that advice helped me to embrace space for play without the expectation to monetize or perfect anything. I'm grateful because it allowed me to stay connected to the essence of my journey

2. You get to call more than one city home, as many of us do at CreativeMornings - Do you feel living between cities like Bilbao and Berlin have influenced your creative routine?

Bilbao is incredibly important to me personally and culturally. It formed my principles, my artistry, and the quiet grit that I take into my work. There is something about its pace—more leisurely, centered, near the sea and mountains—that taught me how to listen and the importance of intention in my work.

Berlin, where I live now, feels like the opposite in the best way. It's chaotic, full of contrasts, and constantly in motion. It dares me to remain open, to take a shot at things before I'm ‘prepared,’ and to accept flaws as part of the journey.

I think both these places have certainly shaped my creative practice. Bilbao seems to have given me roots, while Berlin has given me wings. One teaches me the importance of going inward, the other pushes me outward—and both are critically important in my creative balance.

3. Your illustrations, which I’ve seen on your website and Instagram, are vibrant—with bold colors and geometric forms. What inspires this combination in your work? And is there a message you hope people take away from your creative outputs?

I’ve always been captivated by the silent yet eloquent narrative conveyed through shapes and colors. There’s a kind of clarity and honesty in using bold forms—it strips things down to their essence. Geometric elements give my work structure, while vibrant colors bring in emotion and energy. I like playing in that space between order and spontaneity.

The reactions people have toward art are what truly inspires me. Their recollection of specific memories, or even a simple smile, provides insight into their response. That, in turn, influences my next creation. I hope my illustrations in the end serve as an ever so slight jolt of connection or delightful surprise during a mundane moment, and enable the individual to appreciate the beauty in the world around them.

No one is born with all the knowledge and skills they’ll need to thrive in life. That’s why kids go to school. But we shouldn’t stop learning once we graduate. We need to find new teachers. 

A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or the top of their field. Just someone who’s been there and done that before. Someone to show you the way and offer a bit of advice and encouragement. Ideally, they’re willing to make introductions and mention your name when you’re not in the room. 

Being a mentor is considered a way of giving back. But mentors get just as much out of the relationship, if not more. Beyond the satisfaction of helping, mentors also learn from their mentees. From a fresh way of looking at established practices to tackling new problems with a beginner’s mind. 

We’re excited to introduce a new CreativeMornings Berlin short interview series, where we welcome our next guest. Susann Massute is a Berlin-based freelance graphic designer and illustrator, and the speaker at CreativeMornings Berlin on 20th of June. This month we had the pleasure of catching up with Susann to talk about our monthly global theme PUNK, about artificial intelligence, and the upcoming event.

1. PUNK often challenges norms.  How does the spirit of punk resonate in your creative journey as graphic designer and illustrator?

Punk is very important to me on a personal level. The music made it easier for me to grow up in the Brandenburg countryside and the aesthetic of rebellion naturally appeals to teenagers in particular. When you study design, you quickly learn that you have to do a lot of things yourself – from bookbinding to developing photos – and that it will never be as perfect as when professionals do it. But in the end, this perfection is not so desirable and the process can be incredibly educational and fun. For me, this has also reduced my fear of things that I haven't yet mastered.

2. Technological advancements are very present. What role do you think artificial intelligence could play in the work of an artist?

AI is now omnipresent and I have experimented with it a lot. I don't think we can completely avoid it anymore and I welcome the debate. On the one hand, like all creative professionals, I find it difficult that all AIs are trained with our work and that there is no appropriate form of remuneration and appreciation. On the other hand, it's an interesting tool to create aesthetics that you can't yet produce yourself. But I'm bored by what most people do with it: A Studio Ghibli-style image now feels like an Instagram filter in the 2010s and I'm waiting even more for application scenarios that are less about copying and more about actually creating.

3. On your website is written that ‘you love telling stories utilizing a wide variety of tools within the realm of visual communication’. Could you please offer us a short insight in the story you plan to tell on the Creative morning Berlin June edition?

I would like to tell an encouraging story that it is less about perfection and high-level specialization and more about the creative work process in a small team. That you can still achieve a lot with limited resources and little time and that it's actually fun.

Feature photo credit - Kristina Wedel

🎸The description for this month’s theme is written in the style of lyrics to a punk rock song. If you know a band that wants to put them to music, we’ll feature their cover song of our punk rock anthem on the CreativeMornings blog. 🎵

Does the system feel broken 

Staring at our screens

Not hearing the screams

Wake up wake up wake up

We’re not meant to go it alone 

Find your people lift them up

Do what you can with what you got

Wake up wake up wake up

Your creativity can save you

What you gonna make

What you gonna change

Wake up wake up wake up

“Everything old is new again” sums up the revivals that bubble up throughout culture. Clothing styles, art movements, and all kinds of things come back into fashion decades after their original popularity waned. It’s a useful paradigm. Take something old, dust it off, and adapt it to suit the present moment. 

But are there really no original ideas left? Has everything been done? Does it matter? New context adds new meaning. You can recycle whatever you want, just make it your own. Lots of things from the past are worth saving from obscurity. 

What we need is a few more revivals. 

A revival of empathy and understanding. 

Kindness and caring.

A revival of handwritten notes and holding open doors for strangers. 

Let’s pursue hobbies and join clubs instead of optimizing and monetizing every hour. 

Bring back boredom and curiosity. 

It’s time for a revival of the golden rule. 

We all reach turning points in life that change the course of our destiny. Should you break up or give your relationship another chance? Accept that job offer or strike out on your own? 

What’s the best way to go? Continue straight ahead? Or turn left? When you’re faced with a crucial decision, there’s no map that shows where the consequences lead. And sometimes, you only recognize a crossroads when you see it in the rearview mirror. 

No wonder that in folklore and mythology, crossroads represent a gateway between our mortal coil and the supernatural realm. An in-between place of transition, where worlds collide, and anything can happen next. 

Legend has it that the greatest blues guitarist in the world, Robert Johnson, met the devil at the crossroads of two dirt roads at midnight and struck a bargain to trade his everlasting soul for masterful skill. But there was no deal with the devil. In reality, he practiced like hell.

Our Freiburg chapter had sustainability in mind when they chose this theme — from their swarms of cyclists commuting to work to their robust recycling programs that recover and reuse 69% of the city’s waste. 

Our world runs on cycles. There’s the frantic buzz of the 24-hour news cycle. The boom and bust of economic cycles. The changing seasons. Every plant, animal, and organism exists in a life cycle of birth, growth, reproduction, and death. Water flows through a cycle of evaporation into vapor to condensation in clouds to precipitation that falls as rain or snow. The menstrual cycle. The circadian rhythm of our sleep cycle. 

Just as crops are grown on a rotation cycle to replenish the soil, our own creativity requires a cycle of inspiration or inputs, followed by a burst of productivity or entering a flow state, and finally a period of rest or contemplation. 

Simplicity provides clarity, but layers give our work a richer complexity and depth. 

Musicians fuse melodies, harmonies, and rhythms to create more dynamic compositions. While other artists use a juxtaposition of colors, textures, images or materials for greater visual impact. The creative magic happens when those choices conjure different interpretations and emotions. 

Because people have layers too. Just like a collage is created by overlapping layers of found materials, we pile up experiences that form our beliefs and reactions. 

The cliché “beauty is only skin deep” means that a pleasant appearance does not guarantee a virtuous character. We are a mess of competing emotions and personality traits. So how we act to the outside world doesn’t always reflect how we feel inside. We make polite chit chat when it takes vulnerable conversations to form meaningful connections. 

Let’s go. Let’s get out there and see what the world has waiting for us. 

By putting ourselves in a new environment or experience, we gain a different perspective. That sense of discovery sparks fresh inspiration. If your brain feels stuck, try moving your feet. 

So, let’s travel somewhere we’ve never been. Either down the street or across a far-off border, there’s so many places to explore. Or we can take a metaphorical journey like unlocking personal growth in therapy, advancing on our career paths, or undergoing a spiritual awakening. Or we can enjoy a journey into imagination through a book, film, or other work of art.

As we travel through life, everyone you meet is at a different point in their own unique journey. Some of us know where we’re going. While other paths are full of twists, turns, and obstacles thrown in our way. The trick is to embrace the detours and delays. Because there are no shortcuts on a journey of self-discovery or creative expression. 

Recognizing, forming, and breaking patterns are core components of creativity. Visuals, sounds, movements, and the passage of time all form patterns that shape our existence and our work. 

Our Chennai chapter’s selection of this theme was inspired by the art form kōlam; which features patterns of dots that are encircled or connected by straight and curved lines. These intricate, geometric designs are created on the thresholds and floors of houses, temples and businesses using rice flour. The practice is deeply rooted in South Indian culture to welcome guests into the home and bring good fortune and prosperity.

Traditionally created by women, our Chennai chapter shared that these beautiful designs are often created by family members and neighbors as a communal activity. Connections between people form patterns in our lives too. 

How do you see the world? How do you want to change it?

Vision refers both to the sense of sight and our ability to imagine the future. Are you focused on the little details? Can you see the big picture?

As we age, our eyesight begins to deteriorate; seeing objects up close gets more difficult. And as we gain experience, what we want to accomplish evolves. Will your life grow darker or brighter?

Each creative act involves seeing something in your mind’s eye then attempting to make it a reality. A painter, an architect, and every other type of artist or craftsman has a vision for their work. What message, emotion, or impact do you want to convey in yours? 

Just like an echo is a reflection of sound… and how a camera lens focuses reflected light to form a photograph… our subconscious reflects on our experiences to form our beliefs.

Without reflection, there can be no personal growth. Learning from our past yields greater wisdom and happiness. But don’t let self-awareness turn into self-absorption. Take heed of the Greek myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own handsome reflection in a pool of water. 

Reflecting on difficult moments can be painful but also healing. When our Oklahoma City chapter selected this theme, they mentioned a reflecting pool at the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that was designed to help people reflect on how they were changed by that tragic event. 

Pondering the world around us and following our curiosity adds depth to our creative work. As William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, the purpose of acting is “to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature.” While George Bernard Shaw said, “you use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.” (Although Bertolt Brecht countered, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”)