A LITTLE ISLAND OF DELIGHT
KUNST MEETS MARC THIELE
He has been consistently breathing new life into the Düsseldorf event scene - for the last 15 years, Marc Thiele has been connecting creative and tech-savvy people who want to think outside the box at his "beyond tellerrand" conference. He talks to VIVID publisher Rainer Kunst about how this unique format came about, how it has evolved over the years, how he balances it with his family life and where the journey is still heading
Marc, what is your superpower?
I think I am a good host. And I often recognise the superpower of others and can connect them with other people who also have a superpower.
How did you come up with the idea of organising conferences?
Looking back, the path was actually pretty clear. I already loved organising events at school. After leaving school, I trained as a media designer at a full-service agency in Düsseldorf and was taken on. At the end of the 1990s, I got to know Sascha Wolter from Düsseldorf, who gave workshops on Flash - a programming platform for multimedia and interactive content from Macromedia and later Adobe. I was really interested in that. So, I quit my job and supported Sascha as a partner in looking after the largest forum for Flash in the German-speaking world at the time, with 120,000 users. This ultimately resulted in the first Flash event in 2001, which we then organised annually. We brought together people from very different fields: designers, illustrators, filmmakers and programmers.
And how did the Flash event become the "beyond tellerrand" concept?
The end of the Flash programme and file format was in sight and I asked myself: How can we make this topic visible, show that this is not just a web conference, but a conference for curious people who want to try things out and step outside the box? I wanted to mix the web segment with other exciting topics such as typography or graphic design. And that's how “beyond tellerrand” came about 15 years ago.
Why do people attend this event?
I believe that people who have often been guests at “beyond tellerrand” no longer come just to learn something new. They simply want to be surprised and trust that it will be an inspiring and enjoyable event. And they also look forward to networking and the positive atmosphere. Especially at the moment, when so much is being painted in such a gloomy light. One guest once told me that “beyond tellerrand” was a "little island of delight" for him.
What makes “beyond tellerrand” so unique?
I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I don't see my role as a conference organiser. I'm a host and want everyone to feel welcome and be treated in a friendly manner. I approach a conference like my own birthday party. There are many factors involved. For example, there is no VIP room for the speakers, there is just one room for everyone because they are just as much a part of the event as the audience. There are also no reserved seats.
Has the format evolved or changed over the years?
For one thing, there is now even more focus on diversity, which I have tried to live from the very beginning. I don't make a big deal of it, but I think you can see this reflected in the programme and that's how it has to be. Secondly, we place even more emphasis on sustainability. You can see this, for example, in the items from our sponsors that we give to our guests. There are no throwaway items or flyers, but things that can really be used. The pandemic has also changed a lot of things, some of which have to be learnt again. For example, a face-to-face conversation like the one we are having now cannot be replaced online. Especially for a conference, the hallway track and face-to-face dialogue are essential.
How do you find the speakers for the event?
It's part of my job that I go to other events and do a lot of research. Some of them are recommendations that I then take a closer look at - how does he or she present? What is the exact content? And there has to be a certain balance on stage - from thought-provoking to funny. That's why I have a very large pool of talks and speakers that I draw on. That has also changed since the pandemic - while guests used to be more open to surprises, many now want to know who will be speaking before they buy a ticket. That's why the programme with the names has to be available earlier these days.
You are a family business in the truest sense of the word. Your wife is part of the team and your kids are also on stage from time to time. How does it affect you as a family when almost everything revolves around two events a year?
As I don't see myself as a host and my job as separate entities, it's naturally more difficult to switch off mentally - as is the case with many self-employed people. On the other hand, it's also nice that it offers a lot of freedom, such as personal time management. I would say that I have actually watched my children growing up - and who can say that? My wife's understanding of the fact that I spend so much time travelling to look after the business and invest in our future has grown over the years, too, for which I am very grateful.
You made a conscious decision to keep “beyond tellerrand” to a maximum of 500 guests. Why?
Actually, a bit out of fear of something bigger, because I'm doing this alone or with my family. Besides, a group of around 500 people still feels manageable and controllable. I also don't think with larger groups you can create that intimate atmosphere that is so appreciated. For example, when the 2013 event was quickly sold out, I didn't simply expand the event, but found a second venue in Berlin in addition to Düsseldorf and organised that event using the same concept. Looking back, that wasn't a bad idea, because since the pandemic, it has also become more difficult for conference organisers to fill large events.
ABOUT MARC THIELE
Marc Thiele is an event organiser with heart and soul. Since 2001, he has been organising a large number of events that have always initiated the creation and maintenance of communities. In 2010, he had the idea of launching beyond tellerrand, an event for cross-thematic exchange. Other examples include the Smashing Conference, which he co-founded with Vitaly Friedman in 2012, and numerous roadshows and international event formats for companies such as Shopify, Storyblok and Adobe. As Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Smashing Media AG, web and online formats continue to be close to his heart, which he is passionate about supporting and developing.
Where will your journey take you?
That depends - how long will the beyond tellerrand concept continue to work? When will I become unbelievable in what I do? Because over the past 15 years, the audience has aged with me, too. Young people aren't coming to the extent that would be necessary to maintain the age range of 25 to 35 that I used to have. Today, the guests tend to be between 35 and 45. Is that because of me, because I no longer appeal to younger people with what I do and how I do it? These are the things I'm asking myself right now. Apart from that, I would also like to try out other formats. For example, I'm currently working on a project with a YouTuber friend of mine. Let's see where that leads. I also believe that there are still many topics where there is a great need to meet and exchange ideas live.
Which conference do you always want to attend?
There's one that I really like - the OFFF in Barcelona. It's a film and design event with a relatively young audience. They have around 3,500 to 4,000 guests and a great festival character in a relaxed atmosphere. Of course, this is also due to Barcelona and the weather there. You can also do a lot outside, including catering. I think that's great.
What do you like about Düsseldorf?
I simply lost my heart in and to the city. My wife Tanja and I got to know each other here. Two of our children were born here and we lived here for a long time. My brother lived here and my sister still lives here. So, Düsseldorf has always been a bit of a centre of my life. From Neuss Norf, the place where I grew up, it could just as easily have been Cologne in terms of distance. But it was always Düsseldorf. •
„Düsseldorf war und ist also immer so ein bisschen Dreh- und Angelpunkt von meinem Leben“
ABOUT BEYOND TELLERRAND
beyond tellerrand has been a successful series of events in the field of web, design and technically orientated topics for 15 years. With inspiring talks, but also its well-known family atmosphere that attracts many international guests, it is no longer just at home in Düsseldorf. There have already been guest appearances in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. The next opportunities to attend are 5 and 6 May 2025 in Düsseldorf and 6 and 7 November 2025 in Berlin. More information at beyondtellerrand.com.
Interview: Rainer Kunst
Text: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Celine Al-Mosawi