Hello, my name is Steffi W. Neukirchen. As a designer, professor and coach, I help people refine their ideas, give them form and make them visible. I am inspired by what happens when clarity meets creativity and initial thoughts evolve into meaningful concepts. This applies equally to my students and to the independent professionals and solopreneurs I work with.

My approach combines strategic thinking with empathy, analytical inquiry and an openness to new perspectives. I believe in possibilities and in learning from what has worked well to shape what comes next.

After living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for three years, I returned to Germany in 2018 and have been based in Berlin ever since. I taught in the Master’s programme in Business Communication at HTW Berlin and, since 2021, I have been Professor of Media Design at IU International University.

I teach the foundation courses within the design programmes, guide students in developing cross-media concepts and regularly supervise bachelor’s theses on socially relevant topics.

A few facts about me:

  • More than 25 years of experience developing and delivering complex design projects across both print and digital media
  • Nearly ten years of teaching experience at national and international universities in the fields of design and digital media
  • Certified in Systemic Coaching, including professional training at the Berlin International Institute of Synergy (2020–2021)
  • Extensive international and intercultural experience through projects and residencies across Europe, Asia and the United States

If you want to know more about me:

In 2001, I graduated from the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences with a degree in communication design. After that I worked in well-known national and international agencies on numerous projects in the field of communication design, both print and interactive. For example, until 2011 as creative director at Fork Unstable Media in Hamburg for clients such as RITTER SPORT and NIVEA.

My projects have won several awards, including red dots for high design quality (Essen), silver and bronze medals at the DDC competition Kommunikation vernetzt (Frankfurt am Main). My work was shortlisted at the Cyberlions (Cannes) and I was nominated for the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany.

A university is an inspiring place of learning and experimentation for me, so I never really left that environment. I taught experimental typography and information design at RheinMain University. In the project “trytype – experiments in typography” I worked alongside Professor Guido Ludes as a research assistant and co-authored the associated book project.

Before moving to Vietnam, I taught at the Designhochschule Schwerin as Professor for Interactive Media. As an Associate Lecturer at RMIT Vietnam, School of Communication and Design, I also taught Interactive Media, but also Editorial Design and Typography as part of the Bachelor of Design (Digital Media). And I am deeply convinced that “Print is not dead”.

In Vietnam, I also had the opportunity to turn my passion for typographic finds in urban spaces into an academic research project on the visual identity of the city of Saigon: Signs of Saigon.

Why my job is just right for me:

I am curious by nature and love to ask questions. As a designer and also as a teacher, every project is a journey for me, a departure to a new place, a product I don’t know yet, a service that is new to me or an industry I can engage with deeply. An opportunity to think things that didn’t exist before.

What do you need? How can I support you?

E   hello@steffiwneukirchen.de
P   +49 (0) 157 565 234 85