Peter Schmidt Group

AGENCY

We know where we come from and where we go.

Our mission for the last 45 years: perfection and simplicity.

"Peter Schmidt" is not just a name, but also a testament to design principles and an enduring approach to work that dates right back to our foundation in 1972: A holistic partnership which is both trustworthy and responsible that delivers maximum clarity in design.

We always focus on the brand and work interdisciplinarily to deliver all the services required to maximise its success, from a first market analysis right through to an eventual global rollout, while a collaborative partnership combined with clear communication prevails at the core of each of our projects.

We remain convinced by the power of diversity and our team of more than 220 colleagues, comprised of personalities from many cultures with multiple interests and competencies, both inspires and unites us through our mutual respect and openness to one another.

This is what makes us today Germany's most successful brand and design agency.

Peter Schmidt Group

Germany's most successful agency for branding and design.

We were founded in 1972 and have 220 employees from 18 nations today: in Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Tokyo.

Our customer relationships:
9 top customers for over 10 years
5 top customers for over 15 years

Our Memberships:
Design Council | German Designer Club | Art Directors Club | Society for the Promotion of Architecture | Engineering and Design Stuttgart e.V. | Corporate Design Prize | Design Management Institute Boston

  • Armin AngererManaging Partner
  • Lukas CottrellManaging Director
  • Katrin NiesenExecutive Creative Director
  • Norbert MöllerExecutive Creative Director

Our offices

Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Tokyo - the Peter Schmidt Group has long been established in these five great cities. Each one is different, yet they all have one thing in common: We live, work and feel at home here. We like the sunrise over the Main and the views over the western harbour. We enjoy the action of the world's largest fish market and the busy waters of the Elbe and the Rhine. We work inside buildings of outstanding architecture, such as our listed and protected home in Hamburg in a street that was first mentioned in 1620, and after work we relax on the Alster and at the Theresienwiese.

ABC-Straße 47 in Hamburg. The building is from 1898 and is now listed and protected.

We keep everything within our sights under a great atmosphere; if you come to Hamburg then Daniela is on hand to welcome you.

Without input there is no output; researchers in our library in ABC-Straße.

In Hamburg concepts and designs are created within our studios over three levels; for clients such as Linde, Imperial Tobacco and Postbank.

Spanning a former lock; the Brückenhaus, or Bridge House, in the West Harbour

Enjoying a break with great views; our terrace over the river Main.

Good design needs good people; lots of light and plenty of space enable this in Frankfurt.

An elliptical shape with a retractable roof; the uniquely designed Stilwerk building in Düsseldorf seems like a futuristic arena.

Our Düsseldorf office is located in close proximity to other BBDO companies.

The Theresienhöhe in Munich; looking out from the inside you can see to the Alps.

Working on site in Munich; servicing The Linde Group, Cancom and the Goethe Institute.

Our worldwide network

The Peter Schmidt Group is a part of the global BBDO network which has 290 offices across 77 countries. For our customers, as well as for us, this strong connection means greater competence, reliability and flexibility.

We benefit from the knowledge of all our colleagues, especially when it comes to advertising communication or public relations, and our global structure helps us to better understand international markets and their cross-cultural contexts. This allows us to provide our customers with an effective service almost anywhere in the world.

To BBDO Group Germany

Our founder

"Peter Schmidt" may sounds like an ordinary name, yet in truth it is one synonymous around the world for unique design. Our founder was born in 1937, in Bayreut, and after his studies he went to Hamburg. Here he met with Waltraud Bethge and together in 1972 they formed the Peter Schmidt Studios. It is from this partnership that the Peter Schmidt Group later emerged.

Peter Schmidt was, and still is, a successful international style icon across many design disciplines. His work has ranged from product packaging to corporate design, to individual perfume bottles and the whole integrated process of brand consultation, alongside more creative book and stage design. His character and views have greatly influenced us and remain important today in the way we wish to work: holistically, calmly, confidently, independently and creatively, yet always with the aim of achieving the maximum clarity of expression. We thank you Peter.

Powerful, yet never boastful.

There are two reasons why the Elephant has been our trademark for over 40 years.

First:

“White Elephant” was the name of a brand of tea for which Peter Schmidt designed a beautiful tea tin in 1972. For us, this marks the beginning of the Peter Schmidt Group which we see today. It represents his first significant piece of contractual design work which over time has become synonymous with the work of its creator.

Secondly:

Secondly: We admire the Elephant’s qualities. They are smart, yet sensitive, graceful, but strong. They live for many years and leave lasting impressions, just as good design and successful brands should too.

Our awards

The work of the Peter Schmidt Group has been recognised more than 150 times, both nationally and internationally. Here are the highlights from our awards over the last three years:

Award overview