SHOWZ is a brand experience agency powered by Creators, whose core competence lies in the design of technology-driven, physical and digital brand spaces. SHOWZ connects influencers and artists from creative fields as well as forward-thinking brands and tech startups. They build local networks and communities that support clients in their goals.

1)SHOWZ is celebrating its 6th anniversary this year. How did the idea come about and what was the cornerstone for founding SHOWZ?

The idea of designing brand worlds was born in Lisbon and the cornerstone was and still is the customer experience. We have always asked ourselves how brands can reach their customers of tomorrow through innovative concepts. Many still only talk about their product; the purest cashmere and the softest leather alone won't cut it in the future. We need values, ideas, community, creativity and the whole thing, supported by technology and AI. Eh voila, SHOWZ was born.

2) On April 24, 2024, the first round of your pop-up summit series, the Innovation Deep Talk (IDT), on the topic of sustainability in practice - Climate Edition was the kick-off. Can you tell us about the initiative and the idea?

The future is rushing towards us, bringing with it a flood of new technologies that will change our society and our business lives. Green tech, health tech, longevity - the list of buzzwords is long, but what exactly do they mean for companies? What opportunities and challenges do they bring with them? Instead of rushing from conference to conference, we at SHOWZ offer the Innovation Deep Talk: free insights, exciting panel talks, Q&A sessions and community meetings to bring companies up to speed. Register on our website and don't miss the opportunity to be part of the next event.

3) You also built a shop window for the event that is made from 99% recycled or recyclable materials - how are you promoting this concept to retailers and store owners?

Exactly, for the Climate Edition of the IDT, we designed an underwater world and recreated it in our showroom, with a few technical highlights to set an example for environmental protection and clean oceans. The shop window is so small that the materials can only be seen up close. Only then do you discover PET bottles, cable ties, foam scraps, waste wood, sleeves, wires and much more. Together with the interactive 3D motion and our AI turtle Tutu, I think we have created a real wow effect and we even support SOA Germany with every interaction to keep the oceans clean.

4)Where do you see the biggest impact you can have through your work and the initiative? What do you put into practice yourself?

First and foremost, it's about creating awareness. Brands produce a lot of waste every year with one-shot installations and that's exactly what we want to change. We want circular creative concepts to be standardized. For example, why can't I reuse a shop window campaign after a year with slight changes? With today's mindset, consumers would even celebrate that. We store installations and plan them for future concepts; if they are no longer useful, we usually give individual elements away. Things rarely end up in the trash, even if they are damaged, there is always a buyer. 

5) What are the next steps, ideas and topics? What are your goals for the future?

Our agency is built on three pillars: Design, Experimental Marketing, and Production. This will of course be expanded further, especially with the help of AI. There are some new developments and projects in the pipeline that I can't reveal much about yet. For now: we design and produce brand spaces as sustainably as possible, yet as sexy as Chanel.

(Photo-Credit: Pia Henkel)