In addition to the logo itself, the winning design comprises a complete design system, including a selection of 30 symbols that reflect the logo’s unique style. Hachem’s design makes it possible to explore a variety of themes and bring all media – from brochures to T-shirts – to life. This ensures that the State Garden Show remains recognisable whilst presenting itself as varied and flexible.
“With the winning design, the jury has opted for high-quality and meaningful branding that will henceforth proudly represent the State Garden Show in our city,” said Mayor Gebing on Monday evening. “Once again, it is clear that we have a strong partner by our side in Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, whose wide-ranging expertise we can rely on. Given the high quality of all the designs submitted, the jury did not have an easy decision to make.”
“For us as a university, it is a pleasure to see how our students are helping to shape the State Garden Show with their creative ideas,” said Prof. Dr Locker-Grütjen, President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. “I was impressed by the diversity and innovative power of the designs on display. I would particularly like to congratulate Ms Mariam Hachem on her compelling winning design, which is now set to be implemented.”
Students on the international Bachelor’s programme in Information and Communication Design at the Faculty of Communication and Environment developed the logo and visual identity for the 2029 State Garden Show in Kleve as part of a design competition. A total of 25 students from the third semester onwards took part in the competition. Under the guidance of Professor Christoph Zielke, they engaged intensively with the diversity of forms found in nature, urban development and the State Garden Show as a platform for innovation. The results reflect an impressive range of creative approaches. Some students focused on a striking logo, whilst others developed flexible design systems. The entries featured magnificent ornaments and abstract symbols, expressive bursts of colour and stylish minimalism – including dragonflies and swans.
“The students impressed me not only with the quality of their designs, but also with their perseverance,” said Professor Zielke. “They had to cope with pressure and meet complex requirements – and yet the result was still meant to convey a sense of lightness and wit. That takes hard work. The students did a fantastic job.”
The winning design by Mariam Hachem will receive prize money of 7,000 euros; the runners-up, Marcele Rimoli and Marcella Partzsch, will receive 2,000 euros; and Camila Salazar, who came third, will receive 1,000 euros. Hachem impressed the jury with a flexible graphic system that offers an adaptable design rather than a traditional logo. “The Spoykanal is the central element of my icon system,” explains Hachem. In her design, the Spoykanal – represented by a curved line – leads from one activity to the next.
Representatives from a wide range of organisations helped to ensure that the jury was able to discuss the various logo designs in a lively and open manner. The following jury members were involved in the decision:
- Wolfgang Gebing (Mayor of Kleve)
- Sigrun Hintzen (retailer, Hintzen bookshop)
- Rainer Hoymann (Vice-Chair of the Kleve State Garden Show Support Association)
- Kristina Janßen (Head of Location Marketing, Economy, Tourism and Marketing at Stadt Kleve GmbH)
- Ludger Kazmierczak (WDR journalist and cabaret artist)
- Klaus Keysers (Managing Director, Kleve State Garden Show gGmbH)
- Mats Kubiak (Managing Director of design agency g31)
- Niklas Lembeck (Press Officer, City of Kleve)
- Ute Marks (Chair of the Friends of the Kleve State Garden Show)
- Nicolas Markwald (Professor at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences)
- Michael Menge (Managing Director of design agency studio franz)
- Marijke Noy (Marketing Manager, Kleve State Garden Show gGmbH, from 1 April 2025)
- Christoph Zielke (Professor at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences)
The City of Kleve, the Kleve State Garden Show gGmbH and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences would like to extend their sincere thanks to all students for taking part in the design competition.
