Leon Winkel (he/they) is a graphic designer specializing in branding and editorial design and has been working freelance since 2012. He has created design work for and in collaboration with for example CORE – The Human Side of Business, Nordsonne Identity and the University of Siegen. Holding a diploma in Integrated Design from the University of the Arts Bremen, he previously worked as a junior designer at the branding agency Meta Design in Berlin and as editorial designer at Die Zeit in Hamburg.
As an out and proud trans man, Leon is committed to supporting like-minded entrepreneurs and small businesses in the fields of education and human rights through both visual storytelling and brand communication.
Question 1: What are the three things people should know about you?
You can ask me anything.
Question 2: What fascinates you about your work?
People pour their hearts into projects, and I am able to translate their mission into design. What a privilege! Seeing that my work is useful is deeply rewarding to me. Design can be practical, first and foremost, making everyday marketing workflows easier. But it can also empower people and help them be recognized as relevant by the audience that truly matters to them.
Question 3: Where do you see yourself / your role as a professional in helping businesses uphold the rights of people?
In supporting to communicate their work.
Defining the right tonality, of for example the cover design of a publication, a key visual for a workshop or a new service on a website, may require a few rounds of feedback. But once we’ve figured it out, it becomes a foundation to build on. I love these moments of clarity as much as I value the process of ruling out options.
In my experience when brand decisions are difficult, it’s often not due to a lack of creativity, but because the framework is unclear. I therefore see my role not only in visual translation, but also in conceptual thinking. Sometimes that simply means listening carefully and asking the right questions. One of my longest lasting sparring-partner relationships began like this: We hired a designer to create our logo and now we have twenty different options. Can you help us on how we are supposed to decide?
Question 4: What is the most pressing question in your field of work right now, and how are you approaching it?
AI is going to bring about many changes, and there are no simple answers to that. Luckily we are all in this together.
Even more pressing is the political right-wing backlash, which makes the future highly unpredictable. What fills me with cautious optimism are the wonderful people I am surrounded by and can rely on. And what the pandemic has already taught me is to know my own creative resources well. So, I approach change by taking good care of myself and reconnecting with nature on a regular basis.
Question 5: What else would you like to share with our audience?
My next exhibition is January 15, aboard the MS Stubnitz in Hamburg, accompanying a harsh noise music event.
And I‘m very much looking forward to the launch of the book: „Metal Studies. The Loudest Handbook“ by Florian Heesch and Anna-Katharina Höpflinger, where I was invited to share an interview about my heavy metal music background and how it relates to my paintings. More information on the release will be announced soon.
Thanks so much for the invitation, dear CORE team!
Get in touch with Leon Winkel via Linkedin, via email or via his website: www.leonwinkel.de
