An open pop-up office in the midst of Munich. In the midst of life. In the midst of the working day. Minna Thiel, the iconic vintage streetcar in front of HFF Munich (the city’s university of television and film) becomes a center of coworking and debate, humming with al fresco teamwork, new contacts, and a panel discussion on the future of work.
What inspired you most last year?
The community, all of the different people that met up here. Many dropped by spontaneously, while others stayed for the whole day. We were inspired by their readiness to embrace new ideas. After all, it was an experiment for many of them, who had never experienced a pop-up office before. So we were amazed at the large numbers of sign-ups. A lot of them had bought their ticket in advance. Because we were a non-commercial event, they got a voucher for the bar in return. That was one of the things that got us great feedback.
How many took part altogether?
Between 120 and 150 throughout the whole day. As an agency with a current headcount of 25 people, we really enjoyed the interaction. It was one of our highlights of the year.
This year there’s a stronger focus on coworking.
The program is less packed, and we’re concentrating on the topic of community and culture design, which is an area we are very involved with ourselves. There will be a panel discussion on the subject. It’s important to bring in external perspectives from a range of industries, so there are experts on the fields of new work, occupational and organizational psychology, leadership, and mental health. It’s about using culture design to shape work and organizational design.
In concrete terms, that means …
… we aim to present perspectives and consider how we can use culture and design to boost collaboration and empowerment in the workplace. Not only within our little agency bubble, where everything is so hip anyway. Instead, we’ll examine the relevance of the topic for diverse work environments and settings, regardless of whether they are self-organized, as individuals, or as a large and complex team.
What three key elements are crucial in encouraging people to come together and create genuine added value?
We’ll start with curiosity. Interest in other people, in unaccustomed environments and new challenges. Second, a harmonious framework filled with people who are similarly open-minded. That’s how a community grows. Sometimes all it takes is two minds. And the third is the courage to approach the unknown and step out into strange territory.
Courage is a good thing to focus on.
Yes, absolutely. It applies to us, too (laughs) because we’re not an events agency. So that’s exactly why it’s so good to try new things.
Sounds like an improv show.
Sometimes a different setting is all it takes. Theoretically, we can work in all kinds of places today, detached from the digital industry. But the aspect of culture design, the curiosity and the dialogue, keep the central focus on people, community, and the common goal. This environment enables people to meet and get to know each other in a different way, to grow together differently, and to be creative together.
So why are design tools needed for this?
Design supports us. Design ensures that people approach new things with curiosity, particularly if they spend the rest of their time on nine-to-five routine tasks. Irrespective of its form and direction, design has a huge impact on the mindset we adopt when we encounter a task and on how we tackle it. Design is a major factor in creating the space that allows this to happen. Be it in the form of designing spaces or the fundamental design of the working environment and the team. Design delivers inspiration and wellbeing. It’s also a matter of organization and communication: How is the day designed? What’s the location like, the environs? Those are all design aspects that can unconsciously trigger a whole lot.
Sometimes creative work has to take place in terrible environments.
Sure, so maybe our event is the polar opposite. If the space doesn’t have anything to give, that’s when people have to start getting creative. I let myself be swept along. At our event everyone can design the day according to their needs. But I still believe the atmosphere does something to everyone.
What do you get out of it as an agency? Are you hoping for new clients or new recruits?
Of course visibility has a role to play. Nobody does things for completely altruistic reasons. But the community experience of the pop-up office is a great basis for us to build on together. We don’t have any concrete expectations in terms of new clients, employees, or contacts.
Instead …?
… we aim to bring people together. And we’ve achieved that aim if everyone has a great time and if we can also take away new impetus, new ideas and thoughts for ourselves. Last year we found that many people from our network got together and are still in contact. It created something special. And we think it’s such a good thing that we’re doing it again. It’s going to be great, it has to be.
When: May 13, 2025, 10 AM–6 PM
Where: Minna Thiel (Bernd-Eichinger-Platz 1, 80333 Munich
You want to join Format D's Pop-up Office on May 13?