Communication of Complex Topics

Scroll through real challenges and our tailored solutions.

01

Explaining Digitalization Strategy

Internal
Typical Situation

The board blocks investments because IT presentations remain technical and fail to connect to measurable revenue or cost reduction. No decision maturity is achieved.

“We don’t need new software right now, the current one works somehow.”
Problem
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Generic slide presentation with buzzwords – no reference to real numbers or concrete needs.

Solution
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Your C-Level Digital StoryTailored ROI calculator with your real operational data – plus a structured one-pager that creates decision maturity.

02

Process Optimization in Manufacturing

Internal
Typical Situation

Shift leaders reject new methods because lean communication stays in management language and lacks direct reference to daily work.

“These time studies are just bureaucracy – we already know how to do it.”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: an open handbook page densely filled with tiny handwritten text and a generic flow chart of rectangles connected by arrows, none labeled with real machine names. A hand-drawn binder clip at the top corner. No numbers visible. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Abstract lean manual with no reference to real machines, times, or people in the plant.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: a side-by-side process flow, left labeled 'Problem' with a bottleneck drawn as a pinched hourglass shape, right labeled 'After' with a smooth open pipe. Time annotations in pencil on each side. One element in dark navy blue ink: a badge shape on the right reading '€ 340 / shift'. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent.

Internal Communication for Your TeamVisualized process comparison with your own machines and cycle times – efficiency gain directly readable in euros per shift.

03

Communicating Scientific Results Externally

External
Typical Situation

Technically correct test reports cause uncertainty for customers: missing reference values and unfamiliar technical language prevent interpretation. The report convinces internally – but reaches no one externally.

“Your 99.7% reliability means nothing to me – is that good or bad?”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a data table grid drawn by hand, column headers reading 'MTBF', 'σ', 'p-value', rows filled with small decimal numbers in pencil. No chart, no highlighted cell, no visual hierarchy. A pencil-drawn ruler lies diagonally across the corner. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Raw data table with technical parameters – no benchmark, no context, no way for the customer to interpret.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: three horizontal bars of different lengths representing 'Industry average', 'Competitor', and 'Your product'. The top bar for 'Your product' is filled solid in dark navy blue ink, visibly longer than the others. A small pencil-drawn star next to it. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent bar.

Customer Result StoryBenchmark chart with classification of your key figures in industry comparison – supplemented by an infographic that translates practical benefits into understandable sizes.

04

Communicating Sustainability Goals Credibly

Internal + External
Typical Situation

Employees and the public perceive measures as symbolic because impact and cost are not transparently presented side by side. Without numbers, suspicion of greenwashing remains.

“The solar panels don’t help – my energy bill keeps rising.”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a brochure cover drawing with a large leaf outline, text 'CO2-neutral by 2035' in pencil lettering. Below: empty space where data should be, just a thin horizontal line. No numbers, no chart, no site reference. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

General CO₂ target with no reference to energy consumption, site costs, or a comprehensible timeline.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: four small panels arranged in a grid, each with a pencil-drawn icon and a number: a sun icon with 'kWh', a euro coin with 'Savings', a factory outline with 'Site A', and a leaf with 'CO2 t'. One panel — the euro savings — is outlined in dark navy blue ink, making it stand out. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent panel border.

Your Impact CalculationSite-specific profitability graphic with savings per plant, available subsidies, and CO₂ equivalent in comprehensible comparison sizes.

05

Managing Supply Chain Disruptions

Internal
Typical Situation

When supplies fail, there is no structured overview of alternatives. Decisions are made under time pressure without a data basis – because supplier data is not visually available anywhere.

“Steel from Cologne isn’t coming? Then we just won’t produce.”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a hand-drawn spreadsheet grid with columns 'Supplier', 'Material', 'Tel.' and rows of names. Cells are empty where capacity and risk data should be. A pencil-drawn 'X' is scratched through one row. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Supplier list in Excel with no capacity, risk, or availability data – unusable in a crisis.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: a simplified outline map of central Europe with pencil-drawn dots at supplier locations connected by thin lines to a central factory dot. One dot is filled solid dark navy blue ink labeled '72h Alternative'. Other dots are open circles. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent dot.

Your Structured Backup PlanVisualized supplier network with risk traffic light, realistic changeover times, and documented alternatives for critical materials.

06

Investment Calculation for SMEs

External
Typical Situation

Loan negotiations fail because amortization calculations are understood internally but not convincingly communicated externally. Banks see correct numbers – but no narrative that builds trust.

“The machine costs €300,000 – how is it supposed to pay off in three years?”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a formal table drawn by hand with columns 'Acquisition', 'Depreciation', 'ROI %'. Rows contain numbers. No chart, no timeline, no visual emphasis. A pencil-drawn paper clip at the top. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Static table with annual ROI value – no monthly development, scenarios, or comprehensible progression to break-even.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: a simple line chart with an x-axis labeled 'Months 1–36' and a y-axis with euro symbols. A single curved line rises from negative to positive territory. The exact point where it crosses zero is marked with a vertical dashed line and a solid dark navy blue filled diamond labeled 'Break-Even'. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent marker.

Your Cashflow PitchMonthly profit development with break-even marker and scenario comparison – structured for the bank meeting, comprehensible on every page.

07

Employee Retention in Skills Shortage

External
Typical Situation

Job ads only reach candidates who already meet all requirements. Development potential exists in the company but is not visible anywhere – career changers don’t even apply.

“CNC specialist wanted, 5 years experience” – and then: nothing.
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a job ad drawn as a rectangle with a header box and twelve bullet points below, each starting with a dash. The list is long, the bullet points dense. No image, no person, no career path visible. A small pencil-drawn door with an 'X' suggests rejection. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Requirement list with no development perspective – acts as a barrier, not an invitation.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: a horizontal timeline with four milestone dots labeled 'Month 6', '12', '24', '36'. A pencil-drawn figure walks along the path. The final milestone dot is filled solid dark navy blue, labeled 'Specialist'. Small role titles float above each milestone in pencil. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent dot.

Your Career Changer StoryVisualized development path with real milestones from your own company – shows orientation instead of barriers, addresses potential instead of certificates.

08

Visualizing Funding Applications

External
Typical Situation

Technically convincing projects do not receive funding because reviewers cannot quickly grasp the benefit. Text-heavy applications lose out in the processing order.

“50 pages ZIM application – who’s supposed to read and approve that?”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a tall stack of papers drawn from the side, fifty sheets thick, with a cover page labeled '3.2.1' visible. A small pencil-drawn figure stands next to the stack, dwarfed by its height. Dense pencil hatching on the pages to suggest text. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Dense narrative application – project idea and benefit only become clear after full reading.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: a single page layout with four pencil-drawn labeled boxes arranged in a 2x2 grid: 'Goal', 'Method', 'Timeline', 'Expected Output'. A thin Gantt bar chart sits below. One box — 'Goal' — has its border drawn in solid dark navy blue ink. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent box.

Your Funding PitchCompact visual application with project goal, impact logic, and work plan on under ten pages – plus presentation for meetings with BMWK or investment bank.

09

Generational Conflict in Leadership

Internal
Typical Situation

New employees experience the company as resistant to change and leave early. Experienced staff perceive digital innovations as an attack on proven processes. Communication never addresses both at the same time.

“The new ones want everything via app – we’ve always used Excel and it worked.”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: an internal memo drawn as a rectangle with a header and three mandatory training dates listed in pencil. A pencil-drawn speech bubble above says 'Mandatory training' and a small figure below has arms crossed. No benefit explained, no dialogue. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Internal memo about new software without explanation of added value – reads as an instruction, not as an invitation to participate.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: two parallel horizontal arrows, one labeled 'Experience', one 'Digital Competence', converging and merging into a single solid dark navy blue arrow pointing right, labeled 'Joint Result'. Two small pencil-drawn figures stand at the start of each arrow. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent merged arrow.

Your Generational DialogueJointly developed project documentation that visibly combines experience and digital competence – successes are attributed to the whole team.

10

Technical Documentation for Customers

External
Typical Situation

Data sheets with complete specifications do not trigger purchase decisions because the reference to customer application is missing. The technical correctness of the document is undisputed – but not its persuasive power.

“I read the data sheet – but I still don’t know if it fits our system.”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a two-column parameter table drawn by hand, left column 'Parameter', right column 'Value'. Rows: 'Nominal voltage', 'Protection class', 'MTBF', 'Temperature range' with pencil values. No product image, no use case, no context. A pencil magnifying glass drawn at the side finds nothing. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Specification list without application context – answers technical questions but does not trigger purchase decisions.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: three small industry scenario cards arranged in a row, each with a pencil-drawn icon — a food can, a flask, a car outline — and a label below. A simple checkmark matrix sits beneath connecting products to industries. One column of checkmarks is drawn in solid dark navy blue ink. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent column.

Your Application-Based Product CommunicationCompact overview with compatibility matrix, industry-specific use cases, and direct comparison – a page that prepares purchase decisions.

11

Project Status in Ongoing R&D Projects

Internal
Typical Situation

Project management, controlling, and specialist departments talk about the same milestone with three different information levels. Status reports end up in the inbox – but no decision-maker knows where the project really stands.

“I thought we were on track – why am I only now hearing that WP3 is three weeks behind?”
Problem
Pencil sketch on white paper: a chain of email reply bubbles drawn stacked vertically, each with 'Re: Re: Re:' and a few pencil bullet points inside. A clock drawn at the side shows an arrow going backward. No structure, no status at a glance. Style: loose pencil linework, white background, no color accents.

Status report as email text – deviations and risks are present but not made visible.

Solution
Pencil sketch on white paper: a Gantt chart with four work package rows, each with a planned bar in pencil outline and an actual progress bar filled with light pencil hatching. One row's actual bar falls short of the planned bar; that gap is highlighted with a solid dark navy blue bracket labeled '-3 wks'. A small traffic light symbol sits at the right end of that row. Style: precise pencil linework, white background, single navy accent bracket.

Your Project CockpitOne-page status dashboard with target/actual comparison for each work package, traffic light status, and open decision needs – current, readable, decision-ready.

12

Communicating Null Results

Internal + External
Typical Situation

A study delivers no positive result. In the R&D context, this is insightful – in the communication context, it appears as failure. Without structured preparation, the project loses support and budget confidence.

“We researched for 18 months and now say it doesn’t work – how am I supposed to explain that to the client?”
Problem
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Result table with statistically non-significant values – correctly documented, but communicated without classification or consequence.

Solution
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Your Evidence MapStructured presentation of tested hypotheses, excluded causal paths, and open follow-up questions – shows scientific progress, not failure.

13

Making Regulatory Reports Readable

External
Typical Situation

CSRD reports, environmental statements, or sustainability reports are formally correct but empty in content. Mandatory documents that no one reads – and that create the opposite of trust because they refuse transparency.

“We published the sustainability report – apparently no one saw it.”
Problem
...

80-page mandatory report with GRI indicators in narrative text – meets the requirement but does not build trust.

Solution
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Your Readable Mandatory ReportTwo-page visual summary with key figures, trend arrows, and overview of measures – as an introduction before the full document, which is actually read.