It all started with a couple of friends casually but loudly discussing Europe. The year was 2016. Brexit was on the horizon, and the idea of ‘being European’ was often talked about. We all felt connected to the European story, to the project - but we also felt that Europe was not telling its story well. That’s when the question arose: ‘Why is there no platform or media that covers European identity well and in-depth?’
As temperatures drop across Europe, the Awe Studio team find ourselves retreating indoors for soup season, cosy conversations and a healthy dose of reflection.
This past summer, we spent some time reflecting on our origins - where we came from, how we got here - and we wanted to share our story with you.
“Go back to where you started, or as far back as you can, examine all of it, travel your road again and tell the truth about it.”
James Baldwin
It all started with a couple of friends casually but loudly discussing Europe. The year was 2016. Brexit was on the horizon, and the idea of ‘being European’ was often talked about. We all felt connected to the European story - but we also felt that Europe was not telling its story well. That’s when the question arose: ‘Why is there no platform or media that covers European identity well and in-depth?’
To us, it seemed clear: Europe was in dire need of some creativity, some awe-inspiring storytelling. This conviction was what gave rise to our red thread, our main thing, the critical philosophy holding our work together:
Europe needs to tell its story better, and we are dedicated to helping make it happen.
But we weren’t the only ones.
Over the years, we’ve come across hundreds of incredible journalists, media outlets, activists, NGOs, (a)political bodies and other organisations - like you! - that work relentlessly in this field. Like us, your work is cross-border, addressing the transnational issues and problems that define our shared continent.
Many conversations and brainstorming sessions later, Are We Europe was born - and from it, Awe Studio emerged. We started by producing beautiful content. Then we designed entire campaigns. This autumn, we’re working on launching our latest offering: a marketplace that makes it easy for mission-based organisations to advertise with niche, targeted media.
An interactive guidebook that reads like a collection of short stories, Roots Guide helps readers connect with the people and places around them in new ways, through the power of storytelling. We love how reading about the experiences of others quickly leads to deep personal reflection. A global edition is set to be released soon.
We’re all familiar with chatbots - but this one’s different. A collaboration between a municipality and a tech agency, Help Maya uses AI to create an interactive fictional chat as a way to address street violence. It’s like those choose-your-own-adventure books you may have read as a child - but this time it’s online, and it feels just so real.
Students aren't the only ones that benefit from EU-funded mobility - artists do too. Through IN SITU, artists are collaborating across geographic, political, and economic borders to create artwork for pedestrians to interact with on the streets, making it accessible for everyone.
Jacopo William de Denaro
A freelance designer and researcher from Milan continuously narrowing the gap between art and design, seeing generative art and interactivity as a bridge. Jacopo designed the Instagram filters we released for the #votefutureEU campaign as part of the EU elections earlier this year.
This month, we're reflecting on our beginnings. How did you start as a designer?
My father was an artist - an engraver. It’s not exactly design, but it’s still in the field of art, and it had an impact on me. Then when I was in high school, I played a lot of video games - particularly Call of Duty. I loved it so much that I made film montages of friends playing it. That’s how I started experimenting with After Effects. It was difficult, but I found that I like to learn stuff like this.
When it came time to choose my field of study, I chose Politecnico Milano. It’s a very good university for design. I started with visual communication design, then I did a Master’s in interaction design. I experimented a lot as a visual designer, doing some motion design. Now I feel like I’m going back to my roots: video and visual design.
I like to explore. I’m a curious person. Usually when I see something visual, I want to know how it's made. So I start exploring: visual design, experimenting with 3d. I really like to study software, see what I can do with it. See where life asks me to use them. Once when I was in a class, an assistant opened TouchDesigner for a minute. I saw a complicated interface and I was so fascinated. I spent a lot of time learning it. I'm curious about how things are made, especially if they're visually appealing.
Live visuals for Sofia Kourtesis' DJ set
You’re more than just a graphic designer. You’re also a researcher at a university in Venice and co-founder of a design collective working on regenerating rural communities. How do you juggle all these interests?
It's difficult to keep everything together. It's not just about interest, it's also about making a living of what you want to do. I'm trying to manage my time and organise myself better: use calendars, have a routine, and all the stuff that keeps motivation high. It's difficult, sometimes I have to say no, even though I really love doing it.
Last year I didn't take a holiday because I needed to work. This year I told myself I need holidays. Learning how to rest is important. Doing sports and physical activity is important. Cultivating good relationships with my friends, girlfriend, giving them attention. Sometimes when you have a lot on your mind, it's easy to isolate and live in your own world. But sometimes just sharing is the best thing.
In which places have you recently found inspiration for your work?
I live in Milano, it's a big city. I explore exhibitions a lot. I recently went to an exhibition of Alessandro Mendini. He was a young old man, a child that was always playing. He never knew what he wanted to do as an adult. Just keep going, just keep playing, just keep doing. I can relate to that.
There was a huge wall with plenty of drawings of his. I just look at it with no judgement but with pure curiosity. Sketchbooks, writings, vignettes, his reasoning. It's important to not just be a man on a machine, but also to do things by hand. Sometimes the screen absorbs you a lot. It's important to work without it, not depend completely on it.
Sometimes we look towards others to learn better how to live. To go forward.
With colder weather rapidly descending upon us, here are some of our favourite picks to snuggle up and get warm and cosy to:
This film from the Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda has been making waves in the European festival circuit, picking up a Queer Palm and Best Screenplay at the 76th Cannes. The realism and sincerity of the characters really shine through - all while viewers are treated to a gripping psychological thriller.
Love is the cornerstone of many of the stories we tell ourselves in Europe. But how did the concept come about, and how did society help shape it? In this timeless classic from 1989, the author argues that Western romantic love is fundamentally destructive - we'll leave you to absorb and reflect on what that might mean for you.
That’s a wrap for this time. Thank you for reading!
Until next time,
the Awe Studio team
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Awe Studio, Jacob van Lennepkade 334, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 1053 NX
