Behold, the job listing in Berlin that spoke to me:

UI in Berlin: GameDuell UI Artist
https://berlinstartupjobs.com/design-ux/game-ui-artist-gameduell/

Why Berlin? Though I haven’t spent extensive time here, I’m fascinated by Germany generally, especially through the lens of creativity and the arts, history, culture, and design.

When it comes to design, I think immediately of the Bauhaus movement, modernist architecture, automotive design, and more recently, about Berlin’s role as a leader in sustainable design, in everything from urban planning to product design, to green architecture. Within the (often depressing) landscape of late-stage capitalist corporate culture, it’s refreshing to consider circular design and post-growth capitalism principles- C2C philosophy, extended producer responsibility, and the concept of zero waste, which seem to be central to contemporary design thinking in Germany (see here and here). Berlin is also at the forefront of industry within the realm of UX and interaction design, with both a strong tech industry and a focus on usability and user interaction across a wide array of products and services.

Outside of design, Berlin is, and has been, a major hub for all kinds of creative pursuits, particularly as an incubator of new and exciting ideas, up-and coming creatives, and emerging art forms- all within what strikes me as a very welcoming environment that is willing to embrace and encourage innovation across disciplines.

Lastly, the history of Berlin is intriguing to me in terms of impact and relevance to art, culture, and design. What comes to mind, specifically? Everything from the flourishing arts scene of the Weimar Republic, to the devastating and complicated impact of both World Wars and the Cold War/Berlin Wall, to the reunification and transformation eras that followed, all of which shaped the culture and creative scene immensely.

I chose this particular listing because it seems to tap into the welcoming entrepreneurial spirit that is unique to the city. On a personal level, it relates to my interests in fun UX/UI design with what I imagine would be a high degree of individual artistic liberty. I like the idea of incorporating UI elements, graphics, and animations within the context of game development. Additionally, my fascination with storytelling seems highly applicable to the world of games and world-building.

Oh, and my brother lives in Berlin. He rules. Below are some knife magnets he made.