With a unique visual language, modern photography, and a clear focus on lifestyle topics, F.A.Z. Quarterly expands the thematic range of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. KAI-UWE GUNDLACH photographed an accompanying campaign and took on the creative concept. Clients Yamina Grossmann and Alia Kohl envisioned a people-centric campaign where the magazine itself plays the leading role. The styling of model Janine Mizéra was done by Mathilda Gundlach, while Michael Wolf c/o F.A.Z. served as the art director.

F.A.Z. Quarterly offers a bold vision of the future, discovering the traces of tomorrow in the present. The magazine inspires with fresh perspectives on lifestyle, fashion, culture, design, technology, business, and society. It blends intellect with glamour, quality with depth, and appeals to creative forward-thinkers eager to shape the world and tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.
 
27.11.2024 show complete article

The new Hinz & Kunzt 2025 calendar, photographed by Kai-Uwe Gundlach, presents Hamburg in a completely different way. Known for his unique take on the city, Gundlach reimagines familiar scenes from entirely unexplored perspectives.

One of the most striking black-and-white photographs shows a staircase leading up to Rathausmarkt, the plaza in front of Hamburg’s City Hall – an image which reminds Gundlach of a film by Fritz Lang, the renowned German director from the late 1920s and early 1930s. “It almost feels like a scene from a Fritz Lang film,” the photographer describes, referring to an image where monumental buildings are photographed through a prism with multiple exposures, distorting the view of the oversized structures. At the top of the staircase stands a tiny figure, nearly invisible against the towering backdrop and the dark, foreboding sky.

This image reflects what the photographer aims to convey with the calendar: “In a big city, there’s always the background noise of the many people you see every day, but you don’t really look at them, you don’t truly notice them.” This simple yet profound observation is a recurring theme throughout the calendar.

The title 'The Invisibles' describes the essence of Kai-Uwe Gundlach’s project. He aims to draw our attention to those we often overlook – such as the homeless, whom we may not even be aware of in our everyday lives. The iconic landmarks of Hamburg, such as Schanze, Reeperbahn, and the Elbphilharmonie, are not portrayed as typical postcard images but rather distorted through the lens of street photography. The focus is on the people and the loneliness they experience as they are swept through the urban landscape.

Gundlach spent six weeks walking through Hamburg, initially shooting with a large camera, then almost exclusively with his smartphone. “The smartphone almost made me ‘invisible,’ too. As a street photographer, you have to react quickly,” he explains.

Around 7,000 images were created in total, the best of which are compiled in this calendar. There is also an added digital feature: scanning QR codes on the calendar pages opens short videos in which Hinz & Kunzt vendors share stories from their lives. These personal anecdotes reveal the people behind the images and reinforce Kai-Uwe Gundlach’s message: “They appreciate every human gesture of kindness.”

Text: Jochen Harberg  
Concept/Idea: Kai-Uwe Gundlach  
Creative Director: Falk Poetz  
Layout and Videos: MUTABOR
06.11.2024 show complete article

NU PROJECTS with Producer Hannes Deter was in charge of production for the DURAVIT campaign with Director KAI-UWE GUNDLACH for Scholz & Friends – positioning DURAVIT as an emotional brand with design ambition and embracing the claim ‘Upgrade Your Everyday’. The campaign is based on aestheticizing everyday moments which in turn sharpens the eye for discovering the little things that make life special – from swimming to simply cutting flowers, according to the agency.

Alongside brand values such as excellence, responsibility and well-being, design also plays a key role for the products of Duravit. The creative guiding principle of the campaign thus focuses on the everyday moments of life, which may even grant us a glimpse at beauty where we least expect it if seen from the right perspective.

Philipp Weber, Creative Director Scholz & Friends Berlin: “Good design proves its value in everyday life. With the new campaign, Duravit invites us to discover the beauty in the little moments of life.”

CREDITS
Client Duravit Upgrade Your Everyday
Director Kai-Uwe Gundlach
DOP Frederick Gomoll
Production Nu Projects / Hannes Deter
Advertising Agency Scholz & Friends Berlin
Creative Director Philipp Weber / Scholz & Friends Berlin
Art Buyer Kerstin Mende
Editing Uli Witt
Post Production Cobblestone Film Production
Visual Effects Ben Erdenberger
Sound Design Hello Robin
Styling Irina Skladkowski
Hair & Makeup Rebecca J. Herrmann
 
03.07.2024 show complete article