People

One tiny slip can set things in motion and turn your life upside down overnight. When Philipp Lange stumbled and hit his foot on a door frame, he had no idea how much this injury would throw him off his stride. Despite lengthy treatment and operations, he was only able to stand for a limited time – and in pain. This was particularly brutal for him as an experienced professional chef who usually spends hours a day on his feet in the kitchen. He took a year off, shouldering the agonising uncertainty of what would happen in the future and whether he might have to change jobs. In the end, the man who grew up on Maui managed to make a new start as head chef at The Court on Mühlenstraße in the Old Town. 

Sonja Oberem is a three-time junior world champion in the short distance triathlon and a two-time Olympian in the women’s marathon. At the Uniper Düsseldorf Marathon 2025, she is the race director for running. She spoke to VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about her athletic and professional career, what makes Düsseldorf so special as a marathon venue, and her experiences as a top athlete that help her in her job. 

Die Ärztin Dr. Alice Martin ist Mitgründerin der Hautarzt- App dermanostic, einem der dynamischsten Düsseldorf Startups aus dem Gesundheitssektor. Bei dermanostic kümmert sie sich digital um Menschen mit Hauterkrankungen – von der Diagnose über Therapieempfehlung bis hin zur Medikamentenverschreibung. Als leidenschaftliche Vermittlerin für dermatologische Themen trägt sie die Geschichte und die Vorteile der Telemedizin nach außen – sowohl über Social-Media als auch auf Bühnen und Veranstaltungen. 

As far as her 10-year-old daughter is concerned, Charlotte Beissel is the boss. She is the first female board member in the more than 155-year-old company. A fact about which the lawyer makes no fuss. Although she is aware that she is sending out a strong signal in favour of female managers.

A key player in the midfield, Oliver Fink helped Fortuna Düsseldorf win promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2011/2012 season. Following relegation, he captained the club back to the top flight in the 2017/2018 season. Shortly before his 40th birthday in 2022, the native of Oberpfalz played his last professional match. Today, the father of two boys is committed to Fortuna's youth work and strategic development.

VIVID recently celebrated its 25th edition. From the very first issue, the VIVID team has worked closely with the Office of Economic Development Düsseldorf. In this 26th issue, its director Theresa Winkels looks back on this successful magazine collaboration in an interview with VIVID editor Rainer Kunst, provides insights into her work and the development processes involved, and describes her close ties to the city.

Auctions have become increasingly popular: While they used to be a sales tool for the trade, many more private individuals are now taking part, with wines, watches, jewellery and even sneakers being auctioned off alongside art. In an interview with VIVID, Benny Höhne, the NRW representative of the Grisebach auction house, provides an exciting insight into the world of auctions.

With her self-designed outfits, Sophie Ramirez aka Soffpoffssharedlove stands out even in the city of fashion. As an " interdimensional artist", the 26-year-old creates interdimensional bodies in order to generate interactions and experiences so that people "do not remain locked up in their own heads". After living in Cologne, Seattle and London, she came to Düsseldorf about eight years ago to study at the Kunstakademie - and has found a beloved home here.

VIVID spoke to Christian Zaum, Head of Economic Affairs, about how he intends to tackle some of his most important new tasks, such as maintaining economic strength in times of crisis, promoting start-ups and attracting foreign skilled workers. 

When international luxury hotels and top restaurateurs are looking for chefs, restaurant managers and sommeliers, they call Patrick Nottebaum. The Düsseldorf-based headhunter recruits ambitious talent for the Michelin-starred restaurant industry. 

Picture books create moments of closeness and at the same time open our eyes to the diversity of the world, says Martin Baltscheit, author and illustrator of children's books. A conversation about the foundations of our cultural education, about idiosyncratic characters and the obligation to create a happy ending.

Designer Angelika Kammann interweaves sustainability and avant-garde to create her independent fashion brand Société Angelique. Her conceptual creations are packed with craftsmanship, experience and an unwavering vision to create a new consciousness for fashion. VIVID spoke to the enterprising creative who wants to change an entire industry from her Mönchengladbach studio.

Mario Keine knew early on where he was heading. At the tender age of 13, he decided to become a fashion designer. In the schoolyard of the grammar school in Attendorn, Sauerland, all eyes were on him wearing silvercoated jeans trousers or smart jackets with ties and collars. Today, at 30, Mario Keine's childhood dreams have come true. His first fashion collection has been launched, he presented it at the Press Days of the Fashion Council Germany in Berlin. His label is called MARKE, an acronym of his first letters, and he already won one of the two prizes at the first strike a pose festival in Düsseldorf in cooperation with the artist Manuel Graf with his very first launched product, a chain necklace, which he showed as an artistic contribution to the gender debate. In an interview, the former student of the Düsseldorf Design Department reveals how he prepared himself for the challenges of the fashion market and why the journeys of his childhood play a key role in his first collection.

Sarah Vieten has been the new managing director of Fashion Net e.V. for a few months now. She spoke to VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about Düsseldorf as a fashion location, the plans and visions she has for her networking work, her fascination with the fashion industry and the topic of failure.

Her work has made it onto the catwalks in Paris, and her straightforward, understated design has many fans worldwide. In September 2020, designer Stephanie Hahn opened her own multi-label concept store with green luxury approach LIVE LAB STUDIOS in her home city of Düsseldorf - a clear statement in favour of the fashion location.

In late 2022, Olivier Grosjean became the founder and owner of the delicatessen “Chez Olivier”. At Hermannstraße 24 in Flingern, he presents selected natural and organic wines, champagne, raw milk cheeses from the Haut-Doubs as well as artisanal delicatessen products – all of which come with an intriguing tale, because Olivier gets the products from trusted contacts in his native France, which he regularly travels to. Olivier made Düsseldorf his home, however, some 20 years ago. 

There is no question that Walid El Sheik is a big name in Düsseldorf. The entrepreneur and art lover, investor and consultant is one of the best-known and most successful restaurateurs.

Since mid 2022, Mona Neubaur has been Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy as well as Deputy Minister President of the State of NRW. The minister spoke with VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about how climate neutrality and secure, affordable energy supply can go hand in hand, how NRW can remain competitive and how she maintains her own enthusiasm and optimism in the face of all the challenges.

Since early 2021, Michael Mühlin has been the owner of Rhein-Taxi, a Düsseldorf taxi company with more than 150 vehicles and 500 chauffeurs. Born in Upper Franconia, he has travelled the world a lot, including living in the desert near Dubai and sailing the Mediterranean for four years - but for good reasons he was always drawn back to the Rhineland.

As co-founder and former CEO of Just Spices, Florian Falk has achieved multi-million turnovers within ten years. With the sale to Kraft Heinz at the beginning of 2022, the Düsseldorf-based spice mix start-up continues to grow and progress in becoming a global brand. So it came as a surprise to many people when Florian announced his exit from Just Spices at the end of 2022. VIVID editor Rainer Kunst was keen to find out what prompted his decision, how the entrepreneur is now reinventing himself and where sustainable investments come into play. 

Since autumn 2022, the Langen Foundation, a renowned address for art exhibitions on the grounds of the former NATO missile station near Neuss, takes a closer look at our warming planet: Julian Charrière, an artist for whom nature and its transformation is the basis of his work, has come on board. In his exhibition “Controlled Burn”, he explores in multimedia form the ambivalent fascination with fire: as a symbol of destruction and genesis.

Altbier is a family affair in Düsseldorf. Local breweries embody the great beer tradition of the state capital. Schumacher Alt has been drunk since 1838 - at carnival, after work and just for the joy of it. A conversation with boss Thea Ungermann about the current challenges facing the hospitality sector, about family and management style, about home and life as a restaurateur.

For over 30 years, the “Düsseldorfers of the Year 2021” Christiane Oxenfort and Andreas Dahmen, organisers of the Düsseldorf Festival, have been providing a stage for dance, theatre and modern circus from all over the world. Their white tent in the centre of the old town draws in the crowds at the annual autumn event.

A truly creative mind buzzing with energy and hip hop in his veins. This sums up Phillip Böndel, the Co-Founder & CEO of “The Ambition” and Managing Director of Digital Consulting at the agency BUTTER pretty well.

The individually crafted pieces of jewellery by Ariane Ernst Jewelry enjoy great popularity: there are often long queues of eager customers for specials such as the annual birthdays in the store on Bilker Allee. But it‘s not just business that‘s going well in Düsseldorf; Freiburg native Ariane Ernst now loves living here, too.