Why we are event enthusiasts and what the Odenwald has to do with it

For several years now, we have been actively taking a few days each year to explore various topics outside our own four walls. At this year's ottomisu summer camp in Mudau in the Odenwald, we traced the special moments and the power behind them. What magic moments have we experienced at events and why do some of them resonate so strongly that we can still talk about them emotionally years later? The whole team has experienced such meaningful moments, and we want to create them for our customers and their participants too. We have realised that this power we talk about and feel is not just our tool. Creating events with transformative power is what drives us.
We don't just organise events – we create spaces where things happen. We facilitate encounters that last. We design experiences that inspire.

During our team discussions, we realised how different events can move and inspire people. Whether it's almost forgotten projects, events we attended ourselves or a current project – here are a few examples of our magic moments:

Steffi, rebranding:

For my example, we have to go back to 2007, when ottomisu was still called pro event. During the rebranding of a building materials manufacturer, I experienced – probably for the first time – what an event can really achieve.
That it is possible, within a few hours, to get guests emotionally excited about something new that replaces something familiar, proven and therefore trusted. A rebranding that was not only visually different, but also charged with a new story and symbol.
The success of this change was due to the interaction of many individual event components: the holistically thought-out storyline, the examination of the previous product range in an experience tunnel, a personalised laying of the foundation stone, the unveiling of the new branding in a 360° perspective, and the opportunity to see, touching and feeling the new look – the entire concept, which I have taken out of the drawer again here, contains so many details that contributed to the participants leaving this event with a positive change. I still like to think back on this success story today.

Beke, 30 years at ottomisu:

For my example, you don't have to go back that far in time, but rather to my early days at ottomisu. I joined the agency in the anniversary year of ottomisu's 30th anniversary, had only been there for a month or two at the time of the celebration, and had nothing to do with events at all. But the preparations alone showed me how much heart and soul goes into this industry, and especially into ottomisu. I realised that this agency means so much to so many different people – not only the team, but also old companions, customers and partners. Everyone put so much into this celebration to bring old and new colleagues together and look back on their shared history. What resonates is how special ottomisu is and how much people would like to celebrate many more anniversaries because it is something so very special. For me, it was simply a very personal introduction to the event industry and to the ottomisu chapter.

Anita, Adam & Eva Award:

I fondly remember the Adam & Eva Award 2012 in Mannheim.
I was 20 years old, had just started my MKE studies and knew very little about this industry. At the time, I was employed by the City of Mannheim in the cultural sector and was spontaneously invited to the Adam & Eva Award by friends. It was simply described as an ‘important industry award ceremony’ and party. Party? Yes, I'm in.
And I was blown away. By the projects, the concepts and the creativity.
Whether it was a conference or a car show, I was really excited about how formats can activate people and how mottos can unfold in all directions. What, there are pop-up events? Awesome! And after this event, I knew: I want to work (after my studies) at an agency that organises such events and works for different brands – check!
Heute sehe ich solche Preisverleihungen natürlich mit anderen Augen, aber die Motivation, die damals entstanden ist und dieses Gefühl von Inspiration – das hat mich durchs Studium und darüber hinaus begleitet.

It is not only these examples from the team that show us that we are enthusiastic about events that are well crafted and have that certain something. This combination is also reflected in our name. It is no coincidence, but rather a testament to what we believe in. For those who do not yet know what our name ‘ottomisu’ means, we have summarised it here:

otto – a classic German name – stands for reliability, expertise, craftsmanship, precision, quality, trust and tradition in the spirit of the Otto engine. You know what you're getting, and that's a good thing. But the inventive spirit and innovative power attributed to Germans is also reflected in otto.

misu forms the counterpart. In the language of the Miwok, an indigenous people of California, it means ‘flowing water’. This water can be driven by strong waves, flow quietly or splash gently. But it always stands for movement and for getting things flowing. misu stands for progress, energy and fresh and smart ideas. It is the emotional counterpart to the powerful otto base. However, we are convinced that special live moments arise when both come together: power and emotion, structure and flow.

We realised that the otto part has always been big and still is today, and that we want to let the misu part of our name grow a little more, because it can be even bigger than it is right now. All these thoughts left us with the following feeling as we headed home after the summer camp: we are event enthusiasts. With everything we talked about, we have sharpened our positioning. This repositioning is anything but a break. It is a commitment. A commitment to what drives us, what we want to achieve with events and how we do it: with enthusiasm, intelligence and the firm conviction that a single moment can be the starting point for real change.

And this is how this commitment, which we want to communicate to the outside world, sounds:

At ottomisu, we are event enthusiasts: we believe in the transformative power of events – because we believe that encounters open up new perspectives, that productions can do more than just impress, and that a single moment can become the starting point for lasting change. To this end, we create spaces that touch, connect and bring brands to life. And we have been doing so for over 30 years.
A good event inspires. A powerful event creates meaning – that's what we do.