Tag des guten Lebens 2021: What is the good life?
What does a good life mean – and how can this question drive real engagement with sustainability?
That was my interpretation when writing the concept for the public tender for Tag des guten Lebens 2021, a participatory one-day festival in Neukölln. The event aimed to spark curiosity, inspire behavior change, and show that sustainability isn’t just about restriction—it’s about enhancing everyday life.
When the Bezirksamt Neukölln announced a last-minute grant opportunity for a public event centered around on the question of what a good life means, I quickly developed and submitted a concept. We won the contract – and had just six weeks to bring the vision to life.
My goal was to avoid yet another info booth–style sustainability event. Instead, I invited over 50 local organizations to actively demonstrate their version of a good life. The only requirement? No passive setups – each partner had to design hands-on experiences that would pull people in.
The result was a colorful, community-driven program filled with opportunities for play, learning, and connection – from neighborhood cleanups to seed bomb workshops, mobile art installations to conversations on circular living.
Project Overview
Client: Bezirksamt Neukölln, Stabsstelle für Dialog und Zukunft
On behalf of: NEW STANDARD.S
My role: Project Lead
Timeline: July – October 2021
My Role
I led the project from ideation through execution, balancing a tight timeline with complex coordination and shifting COVID restrictions. Responsibilities included:
Writing the winning proposal for the public tender
Building and managing the budget
Designing the concept, strategy, and communications
Coordinating 50+ partners, public authorities, and the internal team
Ensuring a successful, COVID-compliant event for 2,000+ attendees
What I’m proud of
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From grant approval to event day, the timeline was just six weeks. Staying flexible and solution-oriented was key to making it happen.
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When our primary location permit fell through a week before the event, I pivoted fast – choosing a neglected urban space often used for illegal dumping. Reframing it as an event venue not only solved the logistical crisis but also sparked positive momentum from local authorities.
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Due to COVID, I planned from the outset to decentralize the event. Satellite locations hosted smaller experiences, making the event feel safe and accessible to different comfort levels. Our printed posters simply read “In ganz Neukölln” with a QR code – a detail that turned out to be a huge asset when plans changed last minute.
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With more than 2,000 visitors, full 3G compliance, and a sun-soaked October day, the event was a welcome moment of joy and connection during a time when most indoor events were still canceled.
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Local and regional press – from Tagesspiegel, Berliner Morgenpost, and BZ to Mit Vergnügen and rbb – covered the event, alongside radio spots on Radio Paradiso and Spreeradio.
Sustainability in action
Tag des guten Lebens wasn’t just about talking sustainability – it was about living it. I brought together partners who shared the event’s values, creating a strong, purpose-driven collaboration that worked for everyone’s budget (SDG 17). We transformed an overlooked street into a vibrant public space, powered by community effort (SDG 11). I curated a mix of participants who approached waste reduction and circularity in creative, hands-on ways (SDG 12). The entire event was free and open to all – no barriers, just a shared space for learning, connecting, and imagining better ways to live together (SDG 10).
Key Takeaways
Know your strengths. Partnering with a reliable production agency for logistics meant I could stay focused on vision, community building, and comms.
Plan A, B, and C. In unpredictable times, resilience lies in adaptability. Decentralizing the concept early on turned out to be a brilliant risk management strategy.
Always think forward. While the event was a success, I’ve since become more proactive about reusable dishes. It’s now a non-negotiable in my event planning
Team
Event Production: Better Life GmbH
PR: SusSudio Studio
Illustration: Galia Padilla
Art Direction: Maximilian Mauracher