(SMS) Studio Michael Schmitz
Politik & Popkultur is a multi-year event series that explores the intersections of political discourse and popular culture. From Roller Derby to video games, from comics to plastic pop and adbusting – the program sheds light on cultural phenomena that reach far beyond entertainment and shape social debate.
For the Heinrich Böll Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate, we developed and implemented the visual identity of the series. Posters, flyers, and communication media combine the energy of pop aesthetics with political clarity—creating a design that captures attention while conveying relevance.
Client: Heinrich Böll Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate
Political education often struggles to connect with diverse audiences. The challenge was to present serious content in formats that resonate with popular culture while avoiding trivialization. The design needed to balance accessibility with depth.
A bold, energetic identity system that fused political messages with the aesthetics of pop culture.
Posters, flyers, and media that captured attention quickly and carried political clarity into everyday cultural spaces.
The project demonstrated how political discourse can be made accessible through design rooted in popular culture. It reached audiences beyond traditional educational settings and showed how communication design can function as a bridge between activism, pedagogy, and cultural engagement.
Collaborative design initiative supporting antifascist actions and human dignity. → See project
Design project exploring Heimat, identity, and community through publication and workshops. → See project
Campaign design encouraging civic engagement and participation through strong and accessible visuals. → See project