The client

The Federal Council is one of the five constitutional bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany. It represents the interests of the federal states and, together with the German Bundestag, forms the legislative branch. The Federal Council has 69 members who are delegated from the 16 state governments to Berlin. The President of the Federal Council is always a head of government, elected for one year – although the rotation order is predetermined.

The assignment

Every three years, the Federal Council publishes the magazine Einblick. It contains contributions on the Federal Council and federalism. As 2015 marked the 25th anniversary of German reunification, the fourth issue of the magazine was titled “25 Years – 16 States”. It takes reunification as a starting point for a retrospective on a unified Germany, but avoids a mere retelling of political developments. The goal of the concept developed by AD HOC was to create a magazine in which as many people as possible can see themselves reflected. The focus is therefore on the question: How have “we”, meaning society, changed over the past two and a half decades – for example through new nutrition trends, lifestyles, and technological possibilities?

In addition, major interviews featured Bernhard Vogel, the only minister president to govern two states, actor and artist Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Prof. Dr. Stefan Hell. The issue is further enriched by a travel diary guiding readers to exciting locations such as the secret government bunker in Rhineland-Palatinate, and by state highlights presenting interesting facts about all 16 federal states. All editorial and graphic work was carried out by AD HOC, as well as the coordination and management of printing and distribution. Here is the link to the Federal Council Einblick magazine: