Today's Deep-Dive: georg+georg
Ep. 11

Today's Deep-Dive: georg+georg

Episode description

This episode is an in-depth analysis of the Berlin-based communications agency, Georg Plus Georg. The discussion highlights how the agency differentiates itself through a unique and authentic approach to branding and communication. Key aspects include:

1.	Brand Identity: The agency’s name, “Georg Plus Georg,” symbolizes partnership and collaboration, using the founders’ shared middle name. Their tagline, “Meistered or a communication” (masters of communication), reflects both expertise and playfulness.
2.	Service Range: They offer a broad range of services, including crafting communication strategies, designing logos, video production, and event management. Their projects include significant work in diverse locations, such as Ethiopia, where they engaged in documenting low-cost housing projects.
3.	Clientele and Approach: The agency has worked with both major clients (like Audi, Deutsche Telekom, and MTV) and smaller entities, including political parties and indie bands. Their work is characterized by a focus on clients who push boundaries in areas like technology, sustainability, and the arts.
4.	Local Engagement and Team Culture: They have a strong connection to Berlin, treating their projects as a “love letter” to the city. The agency’s team page emphasizes individuality and personal stories, celebrating the unique qualities of each team member and freelancer. This approach creates a warm and humanized company image.
5.	Values and Process: Their working philosophy centers around collaboration, involving clients deeply in the creative process. They aim for solutions that are both bold and tailored to client needs, emphasizing creativity and authenticity. They have a knack for uncovering unique stories, whether in urban Berlin or in distant locales like Ethiopia.
6.	Takeaway: The narrative suggests that Georg Plus Georg’s success lies not just in creative talent, but in their commitment to authenticity, community, and real connections. It serves as a model for other companies, showing the value of being true to one’s values while fostering genuine relationships.

Overall, Georg Plus Georg is portrayed as an agency that blends creativity, authenticity, and a willingness to engage deeply with the communities and stories they encounter. Their approach makes them stand out in the competitive landscape of communications and branding.

https://www.georgundgeorg.de/

Download transcript (.srt)
0:00

I forget the feeling that some company websites

0:02

are trying to tell you a story that goes way beyond,

0:05

you know, just like their About Us page.

0:08

Well, we're about to do a deep dive into one of those.

0:10

It's a Berlin-based communications agency

0:13

called Georg Plus Georg.

0:15

And from what you've shared with me,

0:18

it doesn't seem like your typical agency website, huh?

0:20

It's like they're almost inviting us

0:22

to kind of decode their DNA,

0:24

figure out what makes them tick.

0:26

Yeah, and just to kick things off right,

0:29

let's talk about that name.

0:30

I mean, Georg Plus Georg.

0:32

It's so simple and so memorable.

0:35

It's almost like they've already won

0:37

like half the branding battle

0:38

before they've even shown us any of their work.

0:40

Totally, it's such a smart move.

0:42

Using the founder's shared middle name like that,

0:44

it just immediately signals this sense

0:46

of like partnership and collaboration, right?

0:48

Like these guys are in it together.

0:50

And then on top of that,

0:51

there's the tagline Meistered or a communication,

0:55

which means masters of communication.

0:57

It's this great mix of confidence and playfulness.

1:00

Like they're winking at us while still showcasing,

1:04

you know, they're serious about their expertise.

1:06

So, okay, we know they're called Georg plus Georg,

1:08

but what do they actually do?

1:10

I took a deep dive into their services page

1:12

and it seems like they do a little bit of everything.

1:14

Yeah, their range is seriously impressive.

1:17

I mean, they're doing everything

1:18

from crafting communication strategies

1:20

and designing logos to actually producing videos

1:23

and putting together entire events.

1:25

They even mentioned projects in Ethiopia,

1:27

which I thought was super interesting.

1:28

Ethiopia.

1:29

That's not exactly like your average client meeting.

1:32

When are we talking about, what year?

1:33

2001.

1:35

And when you think about a communications agency

1:38

in Ethiopia back then,

1:40

it really suggests that they're not afraid

1:43

to go off the beaten path, you know?

1:45

Like they're willing to find those unique opportunities

1:47

that a lot of other agencies might just miss.

1:50

Yeah.

1:51

And you know what?

1:52

That same kind of adventurous spirit

1:53

is reflected in their client list too.

1:56

Well, you're not kidding.

1:57

I mean, we're talking about some big names,

1:58

Audi, Deutsche Telekom, MTV.

2:01

You know, they're working with the heavy hitters.

2:03

But then on the other hand,

2:04

you've got these smaller organizations

2:05

and even political parties,

2:07

like the Green Party in there too.

2:09

So what's the common thread?

2:10

What connects all these different clients?

2:12

Well, that's the million dollar question, right?

2:15

It seems to me like Jorg plus Jorg

2:17

isn't just chasing the biggest paycheck out there.

2:19

There's a definite pattern here,

2:21

a preference for clients who are pushing boundaries,

2:24

whether it's in like technology or sustainability

2:27

or even the arts.

2:29

And speaking of pushing boundaries,

2:31

their work within Berlin itself is particularly interesting.

2:34

Oh yeah, they actually dedicate a whole section

2:36

to their Berlin projects, right?

2:38

It's almost like they're not just working in Berlin,

2:40

but like they're working with Berlin,

2:42

like it's a love letter to their city.

2:43

Exactly, and I think that this local engagement

2:47

that we're seeing might actually be a really important clue

2:50

to understanding their broader client choices.

2:53

Okay.

2:54

Maybe for them, it's all about identifying

2:56

a certain kind of authenticity, right?

2:58

Like a genuine commitment to making a difference

3:01

no matter how big or small the project is.

3:03

And that actually brings us to their work

3:05

with artists and bands.

3:06

It's a real mix, from big names like Adel Tawil

3:10

and Die Fantastischen Wir to smaller indie groups.

3:14

And this is where I think that whole

3:16

finger on the pulse approach really comes through.

3:18

I mean, they're supporting established artists,

3:20

but they're also giving a platform

3:22

to those who are just about to break through.

3:24

It shows a really deep understanding

3:26

of how the cultural landscape is evolving.

3:30

Yeah, it's like they have this instinct

3:31

for spotting creative potential.

3:33

And it doesn't matter if it's a global brand

3:35

or just a local band that's trying to find its voice.

3:37

Exactly.

3:38

And this brings us to, I think, the heart

3:41

of what makes Georg plus Georg so fascinating.

3:43

It's not just about what they do,

3:45

it's about how they do it and who they do it with.

3:47

Their team page, for example, it's anything but ordinary.

3:50

I mean, you're telling me,

3:51

it's like they said, forget corporate headshots,

3:54

forget those bland bios, let's get personal.

3:56

They've actually figured out a way to humanize their brand

4:00

and it feels so genuine, so endearing.

4:04

Like we find out that Johans, one of the founders,

4:06

loves Tay-Tort, but he can't stand chocolate.

4:10

Okay, I have to admit, when I read that little detail

4:12

about Johannes and the chocolate, I laughed out loud,

4:16

but it made me realize that these are real people, you know?

4:19

Yeah.

4:20

Their passions, they have their quirks,

4:21

it's not just some faceless agency.

4:23

And that right there is their secret sauce.

4:25

They're not hiding their individuality,

4:27

they're celebrating it.

4:29

And it goes way beyond the founders too.

4:31

They even dedicate space to their freelancers

4:33

on the team page.

4:34

That actually really struck me too.

4:36

It's not just like a quick shout out at the bottom,

4:38

it's a statement.

4:39

Like they're saying, look, we value everyone

4:41

who contributes to our success.

4:43

Exactly.

4:44

And remember Conrad, the camera whiz who bakes for the team,

4:48

those little details paint a picture of a workplace

4:51

as both professional and personable.

4:53

They've somehow cracked the code on fostering

4:56

a really strong team spirit, while still celebrating

4:59

everyone's individual talents.

5:01

And they even dedicate a whole section

5:02

to what they call their Arby's wise, their way of working.

5:06

And it's not just a bunch of empty buzzwords.

5:08

They actually break down their process.

5:10

And there's a clear emphasis on collaboration

5:13

and getting the client really involved.

5:14

Which is really refreshing when you think about it.

5:16

They're talking about how they start each project

5:18

by really deeply understanding the client's needs,

5:21

their target audience, and the kind of tone

5:23

they want to strike.

5:24

So it's very much about finding solutions together,

5:27

not just imposing their vision on the client.

5:29

And they're not afraid to be bold.

5:31

They use phrases like attention grabbing and surprising

5:35

when they're describing their approach.

5:37

Which totally makes sense when you

5:38

start to look at their projects.

5:39

Take the PENKU PARKOUR music festival, for example.

5:43

They're not just doing PR for this thing.

5:45

They're organizing events, producing videos,

5:47

setting up live streams.

5:49

It's a 360 degree approach.

5:51

And those unverbloomed culture expedition

5:53

end, which translates to like, bloomless cultural expeditions.

5:58

Yeah, something like that.

5:59

They're documenting everything from urban gardening projects

6:03

to this spermile caravan, which is basically

6:07

a caravan of discarded furniture.

6:08

It really speaks to their ability

6:10

to find something extraordinary in the seemingly mundane.

6:14

It's a rare quality, and I'm sure it translates

6:16

to their client work as well.

6:18

It's like they have this radar for stories that

6:21

might otherwise go untold.

6:24

Just these hidden gems within Berlin's urban landscape.

6:29

Yeah, and that kind of ties into, I think,

6:31

the common thread that connects all their work.

6:34

Whether we're talking about a global brand

6:36

or some small local initiative, they're

6:39

not just communicating information.

6:40

They're revealing something much deeper, something authentic.

6:46

And they're not afraid to get their hands dirty, literally.

6:48

Remember when we were looking at those photos from Ethiopia?

6:51

Oh, yeah.

6:52

They were out there documenting low-cost housing projects,

6:56

which is important work.

6:57

But it's not exactly glamorous.

6:59

No, not at all.

7:00

But it really speaks volumes about their values.

7:03

It's not just about creating these flashy campaigns.

7:06

It's about using their skills to make a real difference,

7:09

to give a voice to people and stories that might not otherwise

7:12

be heard.

7:13

So we've uncovered quite a bit about Georg plus Georg so far.

7:16

I have.

7:17

They have this really unique approach

7:18

to branding, a diverse clientele.

7:21

They're clearly committed to their team and to their city.

7:24

Absolutely.

7:25

But for someone who maybe isn't in the market

7:27

for a communications agency, what's the big takeaway here?

7:32

That's a good question.

7:33

Yeah.

7:33

I think there's a really valuable lesson here

7:35

about the power of authenticity.

7:38

Georg plus Georg's success.

7:41

It's not just about their creative talent, which they

7:44

obviously have in spades.

7:45

It's also about their willingness

7:47

to be themselves, to let their personalities and their values

7:51

really shine through in everything they do.

7:54

It's like they're saying, don't be

7:55

afraid to be the quirky, passionate, community-loving

7:58

version of yourself.

7:59

Exactly.

8:00

That's what makes you memorable.

8:01

Because at the end of the day, that's

8:03

what people connect with, right?

8:04

Yeah.

8:05

That authenticity, it resonates not just with clients,

8:07

but with everyone who comes across their work.

8:09

So next time we're browsing some company's website,

8:12

maybe we should all try to channel our inner Georg

8:14

plus Georg a little bit.

8:15

I'd like that.

8:16

Look beyond that polished facade and just ask ourselves,

8:20

what's their story?

8:22

What makes them tick?

8:23

And who knows?

8:24

You might be surprised by what you find.

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And on that note, we'll leave you with this final thought.

8:29

What would the world be like if more companies embraced

8:33

that Georg plus Georg philosophy?

8:35

OK.

8:36

You know, focusing on genuine connection,

8:38

creative collaboration, and using their platform for good.

8:42

It's an inspiring thought.

8:43

It is, isn't it?

8:44

It really is.

8:45

And maybe, just maybe, it's the future

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that we can all help create.

8:49

I feel like they have this almost like a sixth sense

8:53

for finding those stories that deserve to be told.

8:55

Yeah.

8:56

And what really struck me is that they're not

8:57

afraid to kind of roll up their sleeves

8:59

and get involved in those stories too.

9:01

Right, like they're not just observing from a distance.

9:03

Exactly.

9:04

They're right there in the thick of it.

9:05

Yeah.

9:06

And speaking of getting involved,

9:09

remember when we were talking about their work in Ethiopia.

9:12

Oh, yeah.

9:13

Like they weren't just parachuting

9:15

in to film some fancy ad campaign or something.

9:18

Right, they were documenting those low cost housing

9:21

projects.

9:22

Yeah, which is, like you said before,

9:23

incredibly important work, but maybe not the most

9:26

glamorous gig in the world.

9:28

Definitely not, but that's what makes it so impressive.

9:31

Yeah.

9:31

Because it shows that they're not just paying lip service

9:33

to these ideas.

9:34

Right.

9:35

They're actually putting their money where their mouth is

9:37

and using their platform to make a real difference.

9:39

So I think it's safe to say we've

9:41

uncovered a lot about Jorg, plus Jorg, in this deep dive.

9:45

We definitely have.

9:46

I mean, we've talked about their unique approach to branding,

9:49

their diverse clientele, their commitment to their team,

9:53

their city.

9:54

Their values.

9:55

Yeah, and I have to say, I'm genuinely impressed.

9:58

Me too.

9:59

They're clearly doing something right.

10:01

And I think that's a really good note to end on, actually.

10:03

Because sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day

10:06

and forget that there are companies out there,

10:08

like Jorg, plus Jorg, companies that are challenging the status

10:12

quo and showing us that it's possible to be successful,

10:16

while also staying true to your values.

10:18

So maybe that's the biggest takeaway for all of us.

10:20

Maybe so.

10:21

That no matter what field we're in, no matter what kind of work

10:24

we do, we can all strive to bring

10:26

a little bit of that Jorg, plus Jorg spirit into the world.

10:29

Couldn't agree more.

10:30

Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next time.

10:30

Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next time.