KISDtalk with Hannah Böker, Quang Nguyen & Elena Landschützer

What happens when competition stops being the norm in design? Underpaid work, unpaid pitches, and constant hustle don’t have to be “part of the deal.”

In their KISDtalk “Life After Design School: How to Survive the Industry, Together”, Hannah Böker, Quang Nguyen nd Elena Landschützer talk about solidarity, collective power, and fair conditions for everyone.

For many designers, the years after design school tend to look the same: underpaid internships and jobs, one unpaid pitch after another, and overtime that is simply considered “part of the deal.” These conditions force us to compete against one another. Those who cannot or do not want to participate in this competition are often left empty-handed.
In this talk, we want to discuss alternative ways of working: solidarity instead of competition, collective strength instead of individualism. We will share our own experiences as designers, our union work, and talk about our concrete political demands—fair fees, better working conditions, social security for freelancers, and much more.
An open conversation about solidarity and collective action in the design industry.

KISDtalk on ⏰ May 27, 2026, 5:30-7:00 pm

Hannah Böker, Quang Nguyen and Elena Landschützer
are part of an independent group of designers with different perspectives, lived experiences, and working situations. Since May 2025, they are also part of ver.di Bildende Kunst & Design. They organize regular meetups, events, and workshops, develop political demands, and fight together for a fair, diverse and solidary design industry.

Group photo © Vivien Staff
Project photo © Mona Osterkamp