Born near Frankfurt in 1974, with a happy rural childhood. After high school, two years followed as an ambulance driver and forklift operator — and, finally behind the wheel, indulging in engine tuning — before turning to formal studies in advertising at Pforzheim University. Graduated in 2002 as Diplom-Betriebswirt für Marketing und Kommunikation, with early awards from Porsche AG and the State of Baden-Württemberg. The top-graded thesis — a brand and communication concept for a design hotel and theatre — already hinted at a future fascination: the interplay between brands and spaces. The first decisive break came in 2003, assisting mentor, friend, and occasional torment Prof. Hermann Vaske in his Emotional Network. Two formative years alongside international creative figures from advertising, film, art, and music sharpened the perspective on the value of ideas and the craft of communication. From 2005 onwards, thanks to then Creative Director Stefan Weil, Atelier Markgraph became the professional home. Here, translating brands into art, experiences, and architecture was not just an assignment but an evolving discipline — culminating in dozens of concepts for leading global companies. After a brief freelance phase, an unexpected two-year interlude restoring classic Jaguars added another dimension: patience, precision, and heritage as design values. This led to cultural and museum projects, campaigns for Frankfurt institutions, and independent creative work in automotive storytelling. By 2013, the focus had returned to strategic brand and communication consulting, serving clients that included a major Rhine-Neckar corporate group as well as a Basel-based pharmaceutical company. From 2015 to 2023, served as lead creative director for Germany’s largest payment card, guiding it through a full digital transformation and a complete corporate identity overhaul — reshaping internal culture and public perception, and influencing nationwide payment behavior.