Peter Simlinger zählt zu den prägenden Persönlichkeiten des österreichischen Informationsdesigns. In dieser Folge spricht Markus Scheiber über das Buch design|er|leben #29: Peter Simlinger. Beruf (ung) Design. Empowering People. Design for Modern Living. Die Publikation von Veronika Egger, Severin Filek und Martin Fössleitner erschien in der von designaustria herausgegebenen Reihe design|er|leben.

Anhand des Buches zeichnet Markus wichtige Stationen aus Peter Simlingers Leben und Wirken nach. Dabei geht es um Leit- und Orientierungssysteme, verständliche visuelle Kommunikation und seinen Einsatz für die Professionalisierung des Informationsdesigns. Im Mittelpunkt stehen auch sein Engagement für Forschung, internationale Standards und ein Verständnis von Design, das er stets interdisziplinär und wissenschaftlich gedacht hat.

Ergänzt wird dieser Blick durch persönliche Erinnerungen an Begegnungen mit Peter Simlinger während des Studiums und an Erfahrungen, die Markus’ Interesse an Leit- und Orientierungssystemen geweckt haben.

Shownotes

Resource
Peter Simlinger. Beruf (ung) Design. Empowering People. Design for Modern Living
Veronika Egger, Severin Filek, Martin Fössleitner
design|er|leben #29

Links
https://www.designaustria.at/publikation/designerleben-29-peter-simlinger/
designaustria

https://www.designaustria.at

IIID – International Institute for Information Design
https://www.iiid.net

https://www.motasdesign.com/
https://www.geraumt.com/

Whose stories get told in our cities – and whose stay invisible?

In this episode, Christian Lunger speaks with Eugenio de Gregorio, founder of TravaPowa, a free, EU-funded travel platform focused on regenerative tourism and positive impact travel. His work connects storytelling with public space – from scouting sustainable travel initiatives to building learning modules on social tourism across Europe.

The conversation starts with a simple idea: public space is never neutral. Every street name, statue and city tour shows a choice about whose story gets told and whose gets left out. The real question is why so many stories, especially women’s stories, stay hidden in public life.

Two ideas run through the discussion. Feminist city tours look at familiar streets from a new, gender-aware angle, linking historical women’s stories to today. And the idea that public memory is both shared and selective, shaped less by what actually happened than by who had the power to decide what gets remembered.

Examples from cities across Europe show how a guided tour can turn tourism from simple sightseeing into a way of questioning space itself. Sometimes the most powerful change isn’t a new sign or route, but a human guide who links a hidden story to life today.

A conversation about memory, power and the quiet decisions that shape which stories a city tells.

Shownotes

Book Recommendation
Kern, Leslie (2020). Feminist City: A Field Guide.

Resource
TravaPowa (Etikbnb) – a free travel platform for regenerative tourism and positive impact travel.
https://transition-pathways.europa.eu/pledges/pledge-formulated-etikbnb-travapowa

Further Reading Tip
Haynes, Natalie. A Thousand Ships.

Links
https://www.motasdesign.com/
https://www.geraumt.com/

How can the spaces we design shape the way people move – and behave?

In this episode, Christian Lunger speaks with Andrew Barker, award-winning designer and Head of the Sign Design Society. His work connects wayfinding with behavioural science from research for the UK government to the everyday choices people make as they move through space.

The conversation starts with a simple thought: wayfinding is never neutral. Every sign, route and spatial cue influences how people behave. The real question is how to guide them well – “nudging for good” rather than manipulating.

Two frameworks run through the discussion. The COM-B model looks at the person – their capability, opportunity and motivation. The EAST model looks at the behaviour itself, making it easy, attractive, social and timely. Often, timing and context matter more than the sign.

Examples from shopping streets and cultural venues show how much can change by shaping the environment. Sometimes the best intervention is not another sign, but a different space – and decisions grounded in evidence rather than intuition.

A conversation about behaviour, responsibility and the quiet ways design shapes how we move.

Shownotes

Book Recommendation

Halpern, David (2015). Inside the Nudge Unit: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference.

Resource

The Theory and Techniques Tool – an evidence base linking behaviour change techniques to how they work.

https://theoryandtechniquetool.humanbehaviourchange.org

Note: Andrew’s full presentation is available free to Sign Design Society members.

Links

https://www.andrewbarker.co.uk

https://www.signdesignsociety.co.uk

https://www.motasdesign.com

https://www.geraumt.com