Totems | Exhibition, Concepts, Communication & Architecture

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Holland pavilion

"Share, grow, live" at the World Expo Milan 2015

Category: World Expos
Year: 2015
Location: Milan, Italy

Totems is responsible for the concept & design of the Holland Pavilion, a cooperation with long-term partners Gielissen Interiors & Exhibitions and DVP Europe Eventmarketing.

The theme “Share, Grow, Live” represents the Dutch culture and its food-industry from research and production to distribution and consumption. The pavilion has an open setup with a total size of 20x120 m. It has a very central position on the Expo site, with the Italian, French and Vatican pavilions as immediate neighbours.

The Holland Pavilion is a reflection of the festivals that have evolved into a tradition in Holland over the last decade. Instead of a more ‘traditional’ Expo pavilion-setup (grand architectural structures), the scenography focuses on creating an experience by evoking individual curiosity with a feeling of enjoyment.

The Expo 2015 run from May 1 till October 31 2015. 130 participants were representing their countries under the central theme “Feeding the planet, Energy for life”.
With 21 million visitors the target was exceeded by a million.

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Olgahospital

A jolly playground for the Kids

Category: Interiors
Year: 2015
Location: Stuttgart, Germany

The affectionately so-called "Olgäle" hospital in Stuttgart (Olgahospital) has opened its doors one year ago. Herewith a little review:

Totems was responsible for the creation of the interior: from the entrance to various waiting areas, which were planned as thematic courts with wall- and window decoration and the design of the ark as a jolly playground for the visiting children or children in treatment. The colourful circle with images of animals as shown on the image serves as a signpost to let children and their parents navigate easily through the hospital.

Colorful and joyful places are created to help overcome illness and sometimes sadness, and waiting time is intuitively shortened as the surrounding stimulates playtime and time for some happiness, says the idea behind the concept.

The so-called ‘donation sculpture’, which is positioned at the entrance looks like blades of grass moved by the wind, contains rings with the names of the contributors written on it. A thank you-gesture to all who made the Olgahospital such a bright place for children, youth and women.

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ICSE

New space for sharing knowledge, facilities and resources.

Category: Interiors
Year: 2010
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands

ICSE is a Not-for-profit organization based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The cooperative project organization values sharing knowledge, facilities and resources as important tools that lead to larger potential for innovation, flexibility and risk management.

Totems was commissioned to realize the new ICSE Center in Eindhoven. The historic "Light Tower", the former lighting factory of Philips, a monumental building with industrial appearance was an impressively strong base for the center and its interior. The center gives professionals, enterprising citizens and clients the possibility to intensify cooperative entrepreneurship concerning sustainability and innovation in the fields of energy, health & care and materials.

During the process of development and construction, Totems was responsible for the new concept and the Master plan, including interior design, the exhibition concept and its implementation. The implementation plan was realized in form of an implementation handbook for participants, the detailed design, the budget control and the supervision of the implementation.

Posted by Totems Stuttgart
in

2014 - What a year !
16.12.2014 |

All agencies of Totems could implement innovative projects, new contracts were given and awards were won - and now the year is coming to the end...

The one who can rejoice in what is, and not constantly nags, what is not - the one has understood what constitutes the love of life.

We thank our clients for a good and successful cooperation and their trust in our abilities.
May the New Year bring exciting, positive events, health and happiness.

We appreciate our customers, like to stay in contact and would be pleased if our cooperation will continue.

To everyone reading this, we wish a few quiet hours, a reflective time and a peaceful celebration.
Merry Christmas and a Happy 2015!

Posted by Totems Düsseldorf
in

A farmer stood on a ferry
14.11.2014 |

A farmer stood on a ferry that crossed a wide stream. Next to him was a scholar who did arrogant with his immense knowledge.

He asked the farmer: "Have you ever studied astronomy?"

"No," the farmer answered.

"Oh, but you have wasted much time of your life! With the knowledge of the stars you can navigate a ship through all the world's oceans as a captain. "

The scholars then asked: "Have you ever studied meteorology?"

"No," replied the farmer.

"Well, then you have wasted a large part of your life here! Who knows about the winds and the weather can bring a boat safely and quickly from one place to another. "

It was followed by the question: "And have you studied oceanography at least?"

"No, replied the farmer.

With a pitying smile the scholars said: "Too bad, as you have wasted your life as well here! The knowledge of the currents is essential to control a ship. "

Some minutes later, the farmer passed by to the end of the ship and asked the scholar: "Have you ever learned to swim?"

"No, I did not have time to learn those primitive things."

"Then you have squandered your time, because this boat is just sinking....".

(Persian wisdom

Picture by Monika Wagner

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Philips Lighting

Travelling Exhibition "Innovation Days"

Category: Exhibitions
Year: 2014
Location: Various

Philips Lighting presents its innovative spirit in a nutshell during the “Innovation Days”. Totems was commissioned to design a traveling exhibition. The challenge was to create individual exhibits that can easily be moved from one place to another. And all this without losing the attractiveness of the design.

The solution we found; exhibits that resemble flight cases plus equipped with all comforts:

1. Wheel to the venue - 2. Open up - 3. Stabilise a bit… and ready!

The overall exhibition consists of four presentation flight cases, one desk and one bench. Monitors are used to present a series of innovations in a digital way. Visitors can explore the world of Philips’ innovations in an unconstrained way.

Posted by Totems Stuttgart
in

Autumn in Stuttgart
22.09.2014 |

Autumn - the time of colorful leaves, of more cool nights and of mushrooms.
And the last days for barbecue in the garden.

So our art director Uli walked with his son into the wood and looked for something eatable for the fireplace.
Back they came with a giant puffball - grown a little cranky, but a delicious meal for all the grill friends:
sliced and fried with eggs the mega mushroom roasted finally in the iron pan.

Sometimes you should just reflect on old customs, and then create something new.
Ancient wisdom, original methods or traditional processing may contribute positively to new ideas and are thus again refreshingly different.
Some say: never change a running system. For software this may be useful, but never ever for creative work.

So have a look on the mushroom - nature shows us the best ideas by growing and forming...

(photo by Uli)

Posted by Totems Düsseldorf
in

Brainstorming
04.09.2014 |

The team got inspired by a particular drawing but also by exchanging lots of funny and sometimes strange ideas. And for Philips we wanted to create a stand-design among the theme fun; many drafts were made, collected and sorted out - see snapshot.

As a result a combination of elegant design with playful elements was found, wherein different forms and colours interact with each other. More information about this projects that we'll present @ the Automechanika will follow soon...!

Posted by Totems Düsseldorf
in

Early fall
26.08.2014 |

Stormy, rainy and cold weather. Nothing you would typically expect for the mid of august. This year we are not allowed to lay on the grass with the warm feeling of the suns pleasant beams on our face. No. You better go and search for your best umbrella to be prepared for the unpredictable moods of this years “summer”.

For me it’s unbelievable. The only moment I realize that it is still summer is when I take a look into my calendar. When I look through the window, I would think someone put me, and the rest of Germany into a time machine and fast-forwarded us into October. But you also have to see the positive aspects – no wasps and no sunburns, HURRAY!! : )

Written by Daniela (Sales & Marketing Trainee, Düsseldorf)