Design defined Berlin
- Anna Peneva
- Jul 10, 2025
- 2 min read
Berlin isn’t just a city - it’s a giant, living design experiment. A place where history isn’t just told in textbooks, it’s spray-painted on walls, carved into palaces, and lived through the pulse of its people. On my recent trip, I explored its history.
Inclusion through expression
Berlin has long been a city at the forefront of progressive thought, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights and minority inclusion. The city’s culture of inclusion wasn’t born overnight; it’s the result of decades of struggle and defiance. In the early 20th century, Berlin was a hub for the LGBTQ+ community, providing a space where queer culture could thrive, particularly in the roaring ’20s. It was a place of experimentation and freedom, a stark contrast to the oppressive ideologies of the time.
As Berlin-based artist and activist, Jonathan Meese, puts it -
"Art is the liberation of humanity, and without humanity, there is no art."
The city’s pride is embedded in its art, and this is most visibly displayed in areas like Kreuzberg and Neukölln, where street art tells the stories of struggle, defiance, and solidarity. These designs are more than aesthetic - they are statements of belonging and unity. In Berlin, design creates space for everyone, and in doing so, it reflects the city’s deep commitment to social justice and equality.
The wall
And then, there’s the Berlin Wall. If walls could speak, this one would scream. Following the orders of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and the East German government, led by Walter Ulbricht, the "anti-fascist protection wall" was built to keep out Western spies and fascists, ultimately preventing East Germans from escaping to West Berlin.
For 28 years, it wasn’t just a physical barrier - it was a psychological one, slicing through the hearts of families, friendships, and culture.
If the wall was meant to be a symbol of oppression, it didn’t quite work out that way.
The Western side of the Wall became a canvas for rebellion, a place where people used design as resistance. The bright colours, the in-your-face messages - it was a declaration that creativity could never be contained.
“The Wall had no artistic meaning in the beginning. I gave it a face.”
Thierry Noir’s decision to paint on the Berlin Wall was a spontaneous act of rebellion. Today, Noir is celebrated as one of the pioneers of street art. His murals, including those on the Berlin Wall, stand as a testament to the power of art to challenge political boundaries and unite people across divides.
In Berlin, design isn’t decoration. It’s a statement. It’s unapologetically bold, fiercely rebellious, and deeply reflective of its people’s values.
And that’s the lesson. Every city has its design language, but Berlin? Berlin’s is loud, proud, and impossible to ignore. It reminds you that design isn’t just about making things look pretty - it’s about making sure things get said.
