Anja ROSENDAHL

What was your very first job? What does it feel like to look back at it now?

I was able to start my career with the great photographer Ivo von Renner in the 80s. Renault, Nissan, Ritter Sport were the customers and storytelling was already an important part of advertising at that time. I’m very grateful for all his experiences, especially the way he taught me to deal with people on large sets. Today we make very special photo books together and currently we have an exhibition in Jena. 

Please describe, in your own words, what your current job is and what work it entails?

At Ivo I understood that I didn't want to become a photographer and today I am the owner and managing director of a creative and media agency. We support customers and their products from the first idea, the strategy, the naming up, to the design of all communications media. Strategy is becoming increasingly important, as is support via all media channels. I advise, supervise, "network" and never stop learning.

How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? and which train of events did bring you to where you are today?

Even as a teenager I had problems in my little hometown. I found everything boring, there was the BBC radio station which had a bunch of good British music. I knew then that there must be something else besides the “church “, "Golf GTI" and "Tennis in White".

Fortunately, The Cure, David Bowie, Le Rita Mitsouko came in my life and I was saved. With the first clubs and exhibitions in Hamburg, which I could visit myself. I discovered a new world and it absorbed me, it was like breathing new air. My teachers and friends in Hamburg and Italy broadened my horizons with art, language, history and culture.

There was Marianne Wedekind as a stylist and art connoisseur in Hamburg; Filippo Partesotti, architect and artist and Giorgio De Mitri, and art director and magazine maker in Italy. Besides, I had always drawn pictures for all my classmates in art classes. So, I was already then, an "art-copyist". ;-)

In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how and where do you usually find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?

I like to be travelling a lot, looking at art and things I can’t understand and try "to get through them". We have great young creative people who inspire me. And of course, platforms like behanced, Design made in a Germany, LeBook, unsplash etc. inspire me. Also, Berlin has top galleries like Sprüth Magers, König Galerie and now and then I manage to visit the events in the Soho-House. And don’t forget, I have a top partner and creative director with whom I can brainstorm, argue and create new ideas with

If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, especially for the creative work and innovation it required rather than its recognition or industry success, what would it be?

This is difficult to answer, because every job always has something great and special for itself. But during my time on the board at Create Berlin, we organized and held great exhibitions and presentations worldwide (NY, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, London, Paris) with many designers from all disciplines. I think that was great for everyone and gave the designers and the standing in Berlin something very special. This large network has given rise to new things, we have „looked beyond our own nose" and are still a top creative network example for many.