Over the years, Elastique. has developed into a creative force that lives up to its name, working with brands such as KUKA, Villeroy & Boch, Deutsche Telekom, BMW, BRABUS and Mitsubishi Electric, among many others. Across this diverse body of work, four core terms have come to define the agency’s creative approach: Simplicity. Clarity. Beauty. Fun.

Success Spanning Over Two Decades

First recognised in the Red Dot Award in 2006, the agency has since accumulated an extensive list of distinctions, with work ranging from strategic storytelling, animation and film to interactive installations and immersive environments. Constantly adapting to the circumstances of different times and needs, Elastique. has mastered the art of staying flexible in its approach yet steadfast in its conviction.

The agency has a penchant for finding the surprising and unexpected, using friction to create communication design that opens up a dialogue and leaves a lasting impression. For Professor Betty Schimmelpfennig, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Elastique., this element of friction is essential: “For me, design needs a point of friction. Something that makes you pause for a second, something you cannot simply pass by – something unseen, surprising, irritating, a twist, out of context. I am always looking for the moment where people might pause briefly or even feel a little resistance in their encounter with the work. That small interruption can create a much deeper emotional connection to an idea, an image or a subject.”

The creatives at Elastique. are driven by their desire to experiment with ideas and delve deeply into the brands they work with until they find new and often unexpected angles. As Sarah Jennen, Executive Creative Director at Elastique., puts it: “I am interested in the moment when a brand stops behaving exactly as expected. You do not need to dismiss what is already there, but you do need to loosen the rules long enough to see what else might be possible.”
 

A Culture Built on Openness and Structure

Creativity at Elastique. is built on a culture of mutual trust and respect and on the conviction that openness needs structure. To give creativity free rein, Elastique. takes care to ensure there is a clear framework. “Exceptional creativity needs a precise system of processes and project organisation beneath it. When routines are clear, the creative team is not constantly occupied with operational questions. That creates the freedom to think openly, knowing that a strong team can assess the consequences and implications of an idea at any point,” says Andreas Schimmelpfennig, CEO/CCO at Elastique.

Within the leadership team, Elastique. is viewed as a platform: the creative individuals at the agency influence its growth and transformation. The same spirit shapes the way the team works together, as Andreas Schimmelpfennig explains: “Sarah, Betty and I, together with our strategic and operational lead team and partners around Jutta [Kress, CFO], Christin [Kolaßa, CPO] and Kerstin [Kohle, COO], try to bring this culture of constructive criticism and discourse into the whole team. It needs to be lived in every role at Elastique. Only then, we believe, can complex communication tasks be addressed in genuinely unusual ways.”

Looking ahead, one thing is clear: Elastique. will continue to surprise with experiences that are defined by clarity, complexity and courage. “We still feel there is, hopefully, a long path ahead, with more exciting subjects to explore and even more ambitious work to make. The recognition is both an incentive and a great joy: a reminder that we are allowed to take part in this conversation, and to keep contributing to it,” says Andreas Schimmelpfennig.

Congratulations From Professor Dr. Peter Zec, Founder and CEO of Red Dot

“Elastique. stands for design that transcends disciplinary boundaries and opens up new perspectives on brands. The combination of conceptual clarity, a willingness to experiment with design and technological curiosity is what makes their work so special. This gives rise to experiences that surprise people, appeal to them on an emotional level and leave a lasting impression. With the honorary title ‘Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2026’, we are recognising this outstanding creative approach and the courage to continually explore new possibilities in brand communication. I would like to warmly congratulate the entire team at Elastique. on this success!”

Red Dot: Agency of the Year – Hall of Fame

The honorary title “Red Dot: Agency of the Year” is the highest distinction in the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design and has been awarded since 2008 to agencies whose visionary work has made a lasting impression on the field of communication design. Red Dot is proud to honour these agencies, which are shaping the industry and inspiring creatives around the world.

2026 Elastique.
2025 Accenture Song
2024 PepsiCo Design and Innovation
2023 CLEVER°FRANKE
2022 MetaDesign
2021 denkwerk
2020 Interbrand
2019 KW43 Branddesign by Grey Germany
2018 Banda Agency
2017 thjnk
2016 Serviceplan
2015 Leo Burnett Deutschland
2014 Scholz & Friends
2013 MUTABOR
2012 601BISANG
2011 Beetroot
2010 BBDO
2009 KMS TEAM
2008 Strichpunkt