Welcome in Hotel Mondial

Hotel Mondial is a drama series produced by ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, or "Second German Television"). Photographer Maik Flöder, who was commissioned to photograph the actors, approached me to collaborate on the project. ZDF wanted to elevate the visuals for their streaming platform, so I joined the team to develop key visual concepts that would align with the series storyline.

The setting.

The series offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into life at a four-star hotel — a place where personal and professional worlds collide. It’s a vibrant setting where love blossoms, laughter resonates, and daily work unfolds against the backdrop of life’s small and large dramas. At its heart, the story revolves around the hotel staff, who spend much of their lives navigating the challenges and rewards of their workplace. While the hotel fosters a close-knit, almost familial community, it also serves as a stage for tension, conflict, and growth.

The Result.

The challenge was to translate a complex storyline into a single key visual that also worked across the required formats. The concept focused on the use of hand gestures, reflecting the secrets held by each main character in the series.

To bring this idea to life, we captured various extras interacting in the hotel lobby, creating a dynamic and intriguing background. In the foreground, one of the protagonists was placed prominently, making the "Shh!" gesture — a universal sign of silence, secrecy, and intrigue. This composition aims to captivate viewers and spark curiosity about the series.

The production company had also played around with the idea of using hand gestures to show the complex world of the hotel. This idea was of course perfect for the concept we came up with for the keyvisuals.