Hi! My name is Daniela Leitner, I’m a German Communication Designer with a great passion for explaining science – since the publication of my diploma thesis Als das Licht laufen lernte. I take pictures, make films, illustrate and animate in 2D or 3D and mix these techniques to create new extraordinary visual worlds that impart knowledge in an understandable, fresh and sometimes humorous way. For scientists and students I also provide creative-workshops, in which the participants can take a look behind the scenes of my kind of working. Thereby they learn how to communicate scientific issues visually – aesthetically outstanding in a way that arouses interest and reaches the target group accurately.
Infographics explain complex aspects way better, faster and more exciting than pure text alone can do – whether in popular science or in a graphical abstract for scientific journals.
Illustrations and Photographies transform information into stories that arouse emotions – thereby it’s easier to memorize them.
Films and Animations impart knowledge in a very special way. Moving images, combined with music, unfold a huge impact. Therefore they are extremely easy remembered, when it is to convey information in a short period of time.
Editorial Design combines text and images to a strong unity to breathe life into the content of books and magazines.
CV Daniela LeitnerSince 2012
Freelance Dipl. Designer Daniela Leitner | Design trifft Wissenschaft
Since 2015
Freelance Designer for Ernst Klett Verlag (Stuttgart)
Since 2013
Free Author for Verlagsgruppe Random House (Munich)
2013 – 2021
Freelance Designer for bild der wissenschaft (Leinfelden-Echterdingen)
2013 – 2017
Freelance Designer for the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) (Karlsruhe)
2012 – 2014
Freelance Designer for Spektrum der Wissenschaft (Heidelberg)
Since 2006
Freelance Communication Designer
2004 – 2012
Study at the University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe / Communication Design
1985
Born in Naila (Bavaria)
bild der wissenschaft, Konradin Mediengruppe
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG – German Research Foundation
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR) Luxembourg
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin – DRFZ
Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Hochschule Geisenheim University
Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
KIT – Karlsruhe Institute for Technology
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL)
Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth
Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Nature Genetics, Nature Publishing Group
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Technical University of Darmstadt
Technical University of Munich
2014
Nominee for the Opus Primum Förderpreis of the VolkswagenStiftung
for the best scientific newcomer publication of the year:
Als das Licht laufen lernte | Eine kleine Geschichte des Universums, publisher: Bertelsmann
2014
Nominee for the Scientific book of the year 2014, cathegory esthetics:
Als das Licht laufen lernte | Eine kleine Geschichte des Universums, publisher: C. Bertelsmann
2014
The Best German Book Design:
Als das Licht laufen lernte | Eine kleine Geschichte des Universums, publisher: Bertelsmann
Shortlist of the best 108 books
2013
Award Special Mention of the German Design Council
in the context of the German Design Award 2014
for my diploma thesis Als das Licht laufen lernte
2013
Nominee at the German Design Council
for the German Design Newcomer Award 2014
2013
Silver Nail at ADC Junior Award
for my diploma thesis Als das Licht laufen lernte
2012
Red Dot Award: Communication Design
for my diploma thesis Als das Licht laufen lernte
2012
Diploma with distinction
Als das Licht laufen lernte
2010
:output award
for the seminar work Licht im Raum
2008
Award at the ADC Junior Award
for the seminar work fashionac