In use millions of times - our Wahl-O-Mat design

The Wahl-O-Mat is currently running at full speed: from the end of August 2024, three editions will be live on time and on schedule for the upcoming elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. Together with the bpb, we have once again worked hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly. We think so: As always, the result is impressive.

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Our thesis: The most important thing happens in the user's head. Instead of having an opinion imposed on you in social networks or talk shows, the Wahl-O-Mat rewards you for thinking for yourself. Climate change, pensions, protecting bees - what do I think? Only those who answer all the questions will get a meaningful result.

"The bpb has therefore deliberately decided not to offer any additional information so that users can position themselves on the theses without being disturbed - even if this would be an obvious further development. De-complication through focussing," says Armin Berger.

Doing democracy better

For her research paper "Doing democracy better", Michela Palese from University College London analysed the Wahl-O-Mat on the basis of an interview with Armin Berger.

The design nucleus - the orange box and the buttons - remains untouched to this day: Trademark of the Wahl-O-Mat.

How is the Wahl-O-Mat actually made?

Around three months before the election, the bpb organises workshops with around 20 to 25 young and first-time voters, who develop around 80 to 100 theses in thematic working groups. The basis for this is the party and election programmes, from which points that are controversial among the parties are filtered out. The young voters are supported by experts who are on hand to advise them.

The theses are sent to the parties for response and the answers are scrutinised by political scientists. If there are any discrepancies, the party is asked to revise its answer. In a second workshop, of the original 80 to 100 theses, the 38 that address the most important issues of the election, cover a broad range of topics and were answered controversially by the parties are finally selected. More on bpb.de

Projects with purpose

For over 30 years, we have been working with remarkable institutions from the education, science, culture, administration or business sectors. 

All our projects are based on common features: their demand for a high standard of editorial quality, their complexity and the fact that they are part of a greater societal change.

Throughout our work, an innovative and strategic outlook is key. At the same time, we have the highest demands on usability, design and the underlying technology of our work. All of these components must prove sustainable in the long term.

In all contexts, we value a comprehensive understanding of the diverse organizational cultures of our clients. We know how to support employees in change processes and how to moderate cultural change.

We see consulting as a joint process in which we use co-creative elements as effective and active forms of collaboration. Our aim is to involve all relevant stakeholders in finding solutions in order to achieve an optimal result that will be accepted in the long term.

Awards

Our work has received many awards. We work on projects with journalistic standards and high benchmarks for design and usability. Thanks to these criteria, 3pc was awarded the Grimme Online Award as well as other prizes.

Our Clients

For over 27 years, we have been successfully working with federal ministries and public institutions, cities and communities, universities, research foundations, museums, cultural institutions as well as private businesses.