Anna Cairns is a multidisciplinary designer based in Berlin, DE, with a focus on visual identities, publications, type design and websites. In her independent design practice she works for creative studios, artists and cultural institutions. Following many years of close collaboration, she recently joined the team at magma design studio, Karlsruhe, DE. Their joint type label is set to launch in 2023/24.
Graphic Design
Editorial Design
Type Design
Web Design
Please note that I do not offer internships.
- 2022–now Graphic Designer at magma design studio, Karlsruhe, DE
- 2019–now Independent design practice
- 2019 Graphic Designer at NODE Berlin Oslo, Berlin, DE
- 2015–2022 Freelance designer at magma design studio, Karlsruhe, DE
- 2012–2018 Karlsruhe University of the Arts, DE
- 2011–2012 Willem de Kooning Academie Rotterdam, NL
- 2009–2012 University of the Arts, Berlin, DE
Awards, Publications, Exhibitions
(Selection)
- 2022 Tokyo Type Director’s Club
- 2019 100 Beste Plakate, DE/A/CH
- 2019 Antwerp Poster Festival, BE
- 2018 Graphic Design Festival Scotland, GB
- 2018 49 Grad, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe, DE
- 2018 Type Directors Club, NY
- 2018 Art Director’s Club Germany
- 2017 Type Directors Club, NY
- 2017 Ficciones Tipografika, US
- 2017 It's a Book, Leipzig
- 2017 German Design Award, DE
- 2016 Art Director’s Club Germany
- 2014–2017 Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Website
for Prinzmetal (WIP)
Visual identity and webseite for architecture studio Prinzmetal. An interactive game using the modules of the letters PM results in ever-changing spatial constellations, new constructions and logo variants. Parameters such as colours are variable within a wide pre-defined spectrum. This creates a flexible, dynamic visual identity that can always change, evolve and adapt to any given media and context, and that can oscillate between playfulness and rigidity depending on the context.
Publication “Mach's Rückwärts”
for Prinzmetal
Publication design for architecture studio Prinzmetal featuring several essays and a case study project about church architecture and participation processes.
Temperatures
for Kunstvereine Bonn, Nuremberg, Munich
Visual identity for the online event series “Temperatures” for the Kunstvereine Bonn, Nürnberg and München. The curators approached me asking for a graphical concept that would include variations differentiating each event as well as each of the social media channels of all three institutions. With the help of a custom web tool I developed they were able to create the social media graphics independently, generatively and interactively within the framework and design rules I defined. I also developed a custom typeface that would solve the problem of colliding ascenders and descenders and that would result in a characteristic typographic image even without individual design treatment.
Visual Identity
for Architekturschaufenster Karlsruhe
with magma design studio
Concept for logotype, branding and publication, as well as custom type design with two variants and six cuts for the architectural association Architekturschaufenster Karlsruhe.
Setareh Shahbazi
Webseite
Design and programming of a portfolio website for artist Setareh Shahbazi. In reference to the artist’s exhibition hangings, I developed a script that randomly generates an image arrangement on the home page with each visit, resulting in ever new combinations and visual relations between works. The website thus also functions as a combinatorial tool for the artist.
Stadelmann & Wössner
Webseite
Design and programming of the portfolio website for architecture firm Stadelmann & Wössner. The entry point is through an “atlas” of project images, which can be arranged either randomly or in chronological order. The colors of the menu and project description overlays are automatically generated from the dominant color of the adjacent image, thus ensuring ever new, harmonizing and sometimes surprising image/color pairings.
Nork deskodetzen du hemen nor,
nork kodetzen du hemen nor?
for Katrin Mayer
Publication for the event “Nork deskodetzen du hemen nor, nork kodetzen du hemen nor?” (Who is decoding whom, who is encoding whom?) held on March 18, 2022, in the cultural space Bulegoa z/b in Bilbao. Contributions developed as part of Katrin Mayer’s project c0da, some specially translated into Basque, were presented and read.
HTW Fashion Magazine Vol. 3
for the Fashion Department of University of Applied Sciences Berlin
with Sascia Reibel and Jan Kapitän
Design for the Fashion Magazine Vol. 3 of the Berlin University of Applied Sciences.
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Graphic design and typeface development for the exhibition “Radio-Activity” at Lenbachhaus Munich (February 18 – September 13, 2020). The typeface is inspired by Paul Renner’s first sketches of the typeface Futura, where he developed the idea of a variable formal language far ahead of its time. In reference to early modernism and other themes of the exhibition, such as communication, language and technology, the typeface translates strict geometrical shapes into a functional and variable type system from which many variations can be generated, making it suitable for a wide range of text types, such as display and body text. The resulting formal language and modularity was further developed for the exhibition’s visual identity and poster series.
Hard Looks, Soft Matter
Documentation of and type design for Vacant Posts, a temporary, cyclical, and experimental publication project in the public space that took place in 2018 and explored processes of design, authorship, and social responsibility of design.
Anne-Sophie Oberkrome
Website
Design and programming of a portfolio website for product designer Anne-Sophie Oberkrome.
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Visual identity for the exhibitions “Group Dynamics – The Blue Rider” (March 23, 2021– March 5, 2023) and “Group Dynamics – Collectives of the Modernist Period” (October 19, 2021 – June 12, 2022) at Lenbachhaus Munich in collaboration with Flo Gaertner | magma design studio and Marcel Strauss. Our task was to give each exhibition a visual identity that would make commonalities visible but also emphasize their equally important differences. We achieved this through a variable layout and font concept as well as modular formats. The colours Blue and Orange served as flexible tools to contextualise each design medium within one of the exhibitions. We developed a typeface based on Behrens Antiqua, which has strong historical ties to their collection. It is a modern interpretation that preserves some original characteristics while striving for modern clarity and boldness.
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Publication “Mach's Rückwärts”
for Prinzmetal
Website
for Prinzmetal (WIP)
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Setareh Shahbazi
Webseite
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Website
for Prinzmetal (WIP)
Temperatures
for Kunstvereine Bonn, Nuremberg, Munich
Temperatures
for Kunstvereine Bonn, Nuremberg, Munich
Temperatures
for Kunstvereine Bonn, Nuremberg, Munich
ASF Journal 2016
for Architekturschaufenster Karlsruhe
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
HTW Fashion Magazine Vol. 3
for the Fashion Department of University of Applied Sciences Berlin
with Sascia Reibel and Jan Kapitän
Temperatures
for Kunstvereine Bonn, Nuremberg, Munich
Website for the department of Exhibition Design and Scenography at University of the Arts Karlsruhe
ASF Journal 2016
for Architekturschaufenster Karlsruhe
with magma design studio
Fremdkörper
for University of the Arts Karlsruhe
with Sascia Reibel
H1 46 2 / H3 7 26
Anne-Sophie Oberkrome
Website
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Setareh Shahbazi
Webseite
HTW Fashion Magazine Vol. 3
for the Fashion Department of University of Applied Sciences Berlin
with Sascia Reibel and Jan Kapitän
Stadelmann & Wössner
Webseite
Hard Looks, Soft Matter
Website
for Prinzmetal (WIP)
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Annual Report 2015/16
for University of the Arts Karlsruhe
with Sascia Reibel and Lino Santo
Setareh Shahbazi
Webseite
HTW Fashion Magazine Vol. 3
for the Fashion Department of University of Applied Sciences Berlin
with Sascia Reibel and Jan Kapitän
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Nork deskodetzen du hemen nor,
nork kodetzen du hemen nor?
for Katrin Mayer
Hard Looks, Soft Matter
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Annual Report 2015/16
for University of the Arts Karlsruhe
with Sascia Reibel and Lino Santo
Publication “Mach's Rückwärts”
for Prinzmetal
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Fremdkörper
for University of the Arts Karlsruhe
with Sascia Reibel
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Radio Activity
for Lenbachhaus
with magma design studio
Hard Looks, Soft Matter
Real Life
Nork deskodetzen du hemen nor,
nork kodetzen du hemen nor?
for Katrin Mayer
Stadelmann & Wössner
Webseite
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Hard Looks, Soft Matter
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
HTW Fashion Magazine Vol. 3
for the Fashion Department of University of Applied Sciences Berlin
with Sascia Reibel and Jan Kapitän
Group Dynamics
for Lenbachhaus Munich
with magma design studio
Annual Report 2015/16
for University of the Arts Karlsruhe
with Sascia Reibel and Lino Santo
Ongoing research on cairns and other stone formations
Website for the department of Exhibition Design and Scenography at University of the Arts Karlsruhe
Setareh Shahbazi
Webseite
Stadelmann & Wössner
Webseite
Anne-Sophie Oberkrome
Website
Anne-Sophie Oberkrome
Website
Site Notice
Information pursuant to Sect. 5 German Telemedia Act (TMG)
Anna Cairns
Lasdehner Str. 30
10243 Berlin
Design & Code
Anna Cairns
VAT ID
Sales tax identification number according to Sect. 27 a of the Sales Tax Law:
DE 30 39 39 872
Information regarding professional liability insurance
Name and registered office of the insurer:
Markel Insurance SE
Sophienstr. 26
80333 München
Scope of insurance
Global
Disclaimer
Liability for Contents
As service providers, we are liable for own contents of these websites according to Paragraph 7, Sect. 1 German Telemedia Act (TMG). However, according to Paragraphs 8 to 10 German Telemedia Act (TMG), service providers are not obligated to permanently monitor submitted or stored information or to search for evidences that indicate illegal activities.
Legal obligations to removing information or to blocking the use of information remain unchallenged. In this case, liability is only possible at the time of knowledge about a specific violation of law. Illegal contents will be removed immediately at the time we get knowledge of them.
Liability for Links
Our offer includes links to external third party websites. We have no influence on the contents of those websites, therefore we cannot guarantee for those contents. Providers or administrators of linked websites are always responsible for their own contents. The linked websites had been checked for possible violations of law at the time of the establishment of the link. Illegal contents were not detected at the time of the linking. A permanent monitoring of the contents of linked websites cannot be imposed without reasonable indications that there has been a violation of law. Illegal links will be removed immediately at the time we get knowledge of them.
Copyright
Contents and compilations published on these websites by the providers are subject to German copyright laws. Reproduction, editing, distribution as well as the use of any kind outside the scope of the copyright law require a written permission of the author or originator. Downloads and copies of these websites are permitted for private use only. The commercial use of our contents without permission of the originator is prohibited. Copyright laws of third parties are respected as long as the contents on these websites do not originate from the provider. Contributions of third parties on this site are indicated as such. However, if you notice any violations of copyright law, please inform us. Such contents will be removed immediately.
Privacy Policy
1. An overview of data protection
General information
The following information will provide you with an easy to navigate overview of what will happen with your personal data when you visit this website. The term “personal data” comprises all data that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information about the subject matter of data protection, please consult our Data Protection Declaration, which we have included beneath this copy.
Data recording on this website
Who is the responsible party for the recording of data on this website (i.e. the “controller”)?
The data on this website is processed by the operator of the website, whose contact information is available under section “Information Required by Law” on this website.
How do we record your data?
We collect your data as a result of your sharing of your data with us. This may, for instance be information you enter into our contact form.
Other data shall be recorded by our IT systems automatically or after you consent to its recording during your website visit. This data comprises primarily technical information (e.g. web browser, operating system or time the site was accessed). This information is recorded automatically when you access this website.
What are the purposes we use your data for?
A portion of the information is generated to guarantee the error free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user patterns.
What rights do you have as far as your information is concerned?
You have the right to receive information about the source, recipients and purposes of your archived personal data at any time without having to pay a fee for such disclosures. You also have the right to demand that your data are rectified or eradicated. If you have consented to data processing, you have the option to revoke this consent at any time, which shall affect all future data processing. Moreover, you have the right to demand that the processing of your data be restricted under certain circumstances. Furthermore, you have the right to log a complaint with the competent supervising agency.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time under the address disclosed in section “Information Required by Law” on this website if you have questions about this or any other data protection related issues.
Analysis tools and tools provided by third parties
There is a possibility that your browsing patterns will be statistically analyzed when your visit this website. Such analyses are performed primarily with what we refer to as analysis programs.
For detailed information about these analysis programs please consult our Data Protection Declaration below.
2. General information and mandatory information
Data protection
The operators of this website and its pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. Hence, we handle your personal data as confidential information and in compliance with the statutory data protection regulations and this Data Protection Declaration.
Whenever you use this website, a variety of personal information will be collected. Personal data comprises data that can be used to personally identify you. This Data Protection Declaration explains which data we collect as well as the purposes we use this data for. It also explains how, and for which purpose the information is collected.
We herewith advise you that the transmission of data via the Internet (i.e. through e-mail communications) may be prone to security gaps. It is not possible to completely protect data against third party access.
Information about the responsible party (referred to as the “controller” in the GDPR)
The data processing controller on this website is:
Anna Cairns
Lasdehner Str. 30
10243 Berlin
E-mail: mail@annacairns.com
The controller is the natural person or legal entity that single-handedly or jointly with others makes decisions as to the purposes of and resources for the processing of personal data (e.g. names, e-mail addresses, etc.).
Revocation of your consent to the processing of data
A wide range of data processing transactions are possible only subject to your express consent. You can also revoke at any time any consent you have already given us. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data collection that occurred prior to your revocation.
Right to object to the collection of data in special cases; right to object to direct advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)
IN THE EVENT THAT DATA ARE PROCESSED ON THE BASIS OF ART. 6 SECT. 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO AT ANY TIME OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA BASED ON GROUNDS ARISING FROM YOUR UNIQUE SITUATION. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO ANY PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. TO DETERMINE THE LEGAL BASIS, ON WHICH ANY PROCESSING OF DATA IS BASED, PLEASE CONSULT THIS DATA PROTECTION DECLARATION. IF YOU LOG AN OBJECTION, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA, UNLESS WE ARE IN A POSITION TO PRESENT COMPELLING PROTECTION WORTHY GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING OF YOUR DATA, THAT OUTWEIGH YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OR IF THE PURPOSE OF THE PROCESSING IS THE CLAIMING, EXERCISING OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL ENTITLEMENTS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 SECT. 1 GDPR).
IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING PROCESSED IN ORDER TO ENGAGE IN DIRECT ADVERTISING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO AT ANY TIME OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH ADVERTISING. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS AFFILIATED WITH SUCH DIRECT ADVERTISING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT ADVERTISING PURPOSES (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 SECT. 2 GDPR).
Right to log a complaint with the competent supervisory agency
In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects are entitled to log a complaint with a supervisory agency, in particular in the member state where they usually maintain their domicile, place of work or at the place where the alleged violation occurred. The right to log a complaint is in effect regardless of any other administrative or court proceedings available as legal recourses.
Right to data portability
You have the right to demand that we hand over any data we automatically process on the basis of your consent or in order to fulfil a contract be handed over to you or a third party in a commonly used, machine readable format. If you should demand the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will be done only if it is technically feasible.
SSL and/or TLS encryption
For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as purchase orders or inquiries you submit to us as the website operator, this website uses either an SSL or a TLS encryption program. You can recognize an encrypted connection by checking whether the address line of the browser switches from “http://” to “https://” and also by the appearance of the lock icon in the browser line.
If the SSL or TLS encryption is activated, data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.
Information about, rectification and eradication of data
Within the scope of the applicable statutory provisions, you have the right to at any time demand information about your archived personal data, their source and recipients as well as the purpose of the processing of your data. You may also have a right to have your data rectified or eradicated. If you have questions about this subject matter or any other questions about personal data, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time at the address provided in section “Information Required by Law.”
Right to demand processing restrictions
You have the right to demand the imposition of restrictions as far as the processing of your personal data is concerned. To do so, you may contact us at any time at the address provided in section “Information Required by Law.” The right to demand restriction of processing applies in the following cases:
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In the event that you should dispute the correctness of your data archived by us, we will usually need some time to verify this claim. During the time that this investigation is ongoing, you have the right to demand that we restrict the processing of your personal data.
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If the processing of your personal data was/is conducted in an unlawful manner, you have the option to demand the restriction of the processing of your data in lieu of demanding the eradication of this data.
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If we do not need your personal data any longer and you need it to exercise, defend or claim legal entitlements, you have the right to demand the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of its eradication.
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If you have raised an objection pursuant to Art. 21 Sect. 1 GDPR, your rights and our rights will have to be weighed against each other. As long as it has not been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to demand a restriction of the processing of your personal data.
If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, these data – with the exception of their archiving – may be processed only subject to your consent or to claim, exercise or defend legal entitlements or to protect the rights of other natural persons or legal entities or for important public interest reasons cited by the European Union or a member state of the EU.
3. Recording of data on this website
Request by e-mail, telephone or fax
If you contact us by e-mail, telephone or fax, your request, including all resulting personal data (name, request) will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of processing your request. We do not pass these data on without your consent.
These data are processed on the basis of Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. b GDPR if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is required for the performance of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the data are processed on the basis of our legitimate interest in the effective handling of inquiries submitted to us (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR) if it has been obtained.
The data sent by you to us via contact requests remain with us until you request us to delete, revoke your consent to the storage or the purpose for the data storage lapses (e.g. after completion of your request). Mandatory statutory provisions - in particular statutory retention periods - remain unaffected.