Inspired by Käthe Hoch’s eponymous work—which depicts Erich Müller-Kamp taking notes over the phone—the idea for the “conversation note” was born. Following this guiding design concept, oversized notepads and sticky notes, handwritten elements, and small doodles are used to guide visitors through the space and bridge the gap between the past and the present.

Right at the entrance to the exhibition space, visitors are reminded of the events in Germany between 1918 and 1933 by a timeline made of large notepads. English translations are available in the form of a one-meter-tall giant pad of tear-off sheets. Original quotes allow the historical figures themselves to speak. Handwritten markings deliberately highlight certain passages throughout.

The curators have organized the 88 paintings, sculptures, and photographs into 16 thematic sections. A prominent title design that identifies each of these themes guides visitors through this structure as they tour the exhibition. Playful, hand-drawn additions—inspired by the little doodles often left on a notepad during a long phone call—illustrate their meaning.

For the “Anti-Fascists” section, we created an animated film that shows meeting places, the residences of Nazis, and those of their opponents on a city map. It also pinpoints key locations of historical events.