In Conversation with Shortnotice Studio aka Sascia Reibel und Mathias Lempart.

Hey Shortnotice! You’re HfG alumni—why don’t you introduce yourselves briefly?
We’re Mathias Lempart and Sascia Reibel from Shortnotice Studio, a graphic design studio based in Berlin. We primarily work in the areas of visual identities, publications, and digital applications for cultural institutions, public projects, and clients in the arts and education sectors. We are particularly interested in the intersection of conceptual design, typography, and clear visual systems.

What did you study at the HfG?
Communication Design + Product Design (both)

What motivated you to pursue an art degree when you first started college?

Mathias: For me, the deciding factor was the freedom to choose seminars across all departments entirely on my own terms. Within this experimental space, I was able to develop my artistic practice without disciplinary barriers. I found the connection to theoretical subjects particularly enriching, as it helped me sharpen my conceptual approach to my work from the very beginning.
Sascia: What appealed to me most at the time was the opportunity to understand design as an independent form of thought. I was particularly interested in visual communication because it mediates between different fields: between content and form, theory and practice. An art program seemed to me to be the right framework for this. The HfG Karlsruhe offered exactly this space: experimental work and critical reflection on design. Looking back, I can define it so precisely; in 2011, I let my gut feeling guide me and hoped that the HfG would offer exactly that.

Do you remember why you specifically wanted to attend the HfG Karlsruhe, or why you applied there (among other places)?
What particularly interested us about the HfG Karlsruhe was the combination of artistic experimentation and theoretical reflection. Design was understood there not merely as a technical discipline, but as part of a broader cultural and social context. We felt that there, you don’t just learn to design, but also learn to think about design and develop your own perspective.

How long has Shortnotice been around? And what motivated you to collaborate?

And if you had to explain what you do for a living to someone who’s completely out of the loop, how would you describe your job?

To put it simply: What do you enjoy most about being a designer?

Mathias: Historically speaking, graphic design is a hybrid discipline that draws from a wide variety of fields. What excites me is the enormous breadth of the field and the constant opportunity to delve deeply into new topics through intensive collaborations, whether it’s pop culture, art history, or the natural sciences.
Sascia: Every project brings a new topic, a new context, and with it, new questions. The process of understanding this content and translating it into a precise visual form is the most exciting part of the work for me. At the same time, I’m interested in developing visual systems that not only function formally but also have a clear stance and a certain independence.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging and would rather do without?

Since 2026, you’ve had a (new) logo with a “The Sims” vibe, which leads us to ask: The design “game” in a big city like Berlin is certainly not easy—how do you manage to stand out, find the right clients, and win them over?
Berlin has a very vibrant but also very crowded design scene. That’s why it was important for us to develop a clear position in terms of content and design relatively early on, rather than trying to cover everything. Many projects arise through long-term collaborations, recommendations, and networks, especially in the cultural and institutional sectors. For us, standing out means less about being as loud as possible and more about consistently working on our own approach and quality. Over time, this creates a profile that appeals to the right clients. At the same time, it’s important to stay visible and present, whether through publications, exhibitions, lectures, or a digital presence. That’s how you slowly build a network that aligns with your own interests and values.

And what cheat code did you guys always use back in the day? ;) (we still remember “Rosebud”)

Was ist eigentlich aus dem vorherigen, süßen Apfel-Logo geworden?

“Shortnotice” translates to something like “at short notice” or “immediately”—did you choose the name with a bit of a wink ;) because things often have to move very quickly in your industry? Or what’s the story behind the studio name?
When we founded the studio quite spontaneously in 2020, we decided to finalize our name, our first logo, and a website all within a single day. In the design industry, things often have to move quickly, and “short notice” describes exactly that situation. At the same time, we found it interesting that the term also says something about attention and perception—that is, about consciously noticing or taking something in. So we didn’t really think about it for very long, but trusted that meaning and consistency would emerge on their own over time. So far, we certainly haven’t regretted the name! However, we redesign our logo every year on our anniversary, so we don’t want to commit to anything too rigidly.

Your Instagram channel is a great way to follow all the cool things you’re working on and the projects you’re involved in: Is there a project, exhibition, etc., from the past few years that you’re particularly proud of?
Over the past few years, there have been several projects that were especially important to us. We find projects in cultural and institutional contexts particularly interesting because they often provide space for conceptual and typographic approaches. Such projects usually develop through many iterations and close collaboration. The Biennale für Freiburg 3 was an exciting project last summer. In addition to publications, press channels, and a wayfinding system, we helped shape the Biennale’s entire visual identity. We drew inspiration from the curatorial concept and were able to integrate current socio-technical innovations directly into the design.

Soft and/or hard skills: What did you take away from your studies at the HfG that is particularly helpful to you today in your professional life—and perhaps even in your personal life?

Mathias: Without a doubt: soft skills. I didn’t learn the technical skills required in the industry until after college, but the communication and conceptual skills I acquired at the HfG were an indispensable set of tools that I’m very grateful for today.
Sascia: What I found most exciting about studying at the HfG was how you try things out, think, and organize without everything being set in stone—and especially without being completely sure how or if it will even work.

What would you say to your first-semester selves today?

Mathias: Enjoy the ride and express yourself !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sascia: Be patient and take the time to really understand things. At the beginning, you often want to get results quickly, but many important insights only emerge through detours and prolonged experimentation. And perhaps also: Trust that your own creative approach will develop over time. A lot becomes clearer when you work consistently, observe, read, and exchange ideas with others.

Thanks for the conversation!

Find out more about shortnotice here: https://shortnotice.studio/