Protellus – Design Thinking and Sustainability – Sustainable Innovation Consultancy

Services

Starting from our bases in Berlin and Munich, we work for you throughout Germany and Europe.

Design Thinking To Go

How long? 60 min to 150 min
What? An entertaining sneak peak into the world of Design Thinking.

Want to know more?
Design Thinking to go [PDF]

Introduction to Design Thinking

How long? 4 hrs to 1 day
What? A hands-on workshop to experience Design Thinking and learn how to apply it for innovation processes.

Want to know more?
Introduction to Design Thinking [PDF]

Design Thinking for Sustainable Solutions

How long? 1 to 2 workdays
What? Detailed solutions for concrete challenges including concepts and tangible prototypes.

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Problem solving workshop [PDF]

Product and Service Development

How long? several days – distributed over up to 12 weeks
What? A hand in hand management of your innovation process, through an application of agile and user centered methods.

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Product and Service Development [PDF]

Creative Agency

How long? 1 day to 12 weeks
What? An independent product or service development, including finalized creative and innovative solutions, ready to be implemented in your organization.

Want to know more?
Creative Agency [PDF]

Individual formats

Have you not found something that suits your needs? We are looking forward to create a custom format for you, making full use of our extensive toolbox of methods.

Ask for your custom Design Thinking offer now!

Vision

Innovative and user-centered thinking, while striving for sustainability – this is how solutions can emerge that do not only thrill people but are also eco-friendly and socially equitable. In line with this approach, the interdisciplinary team of Protellus is using the Design Thinking methodology and complementary concepts to support businesses and organizations in finding answers to complex questions. The spectrum of activities at Protellus ranges from Design Thinking workshops for beginners and advanced practitioners, to more specialized formats. These can be long-term innovation support, workshops on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, or tailor made formats.

Design Thinking and Sustainability

How to Develop Innovations for Our Common Future

Get to know our methods.

HOW WE WORK

Team

Jan von der Heyde

Biochemist. Cradle-to-Cradler. Analyst.

Jan is our task master, he knows how to do nearly everything, and when he doesn’t, he learns how to. Biochemist by formation, his scientific background helps him develop tools tailored to sustainable Design Thinking. In his free time, he is either behind a camera, or supporting one of his NGOs.

Sahar Koussa

Economist. Innovation Expert. Energetic.

Sahar is a high-powered woman who knows how to sensitize and inspire teams for interculturality and diversity. Her strong appearance and her clear attitude has led to profound reflection and change processes in many organizations. With creative strategy and a big heart she is driving projects for more social sustainability.

Kilian Karg

Psychologist. New Worker. Treehugger.

Future-proof visionary ideas are his speciality. New Work is his creative home. In it, weaknesses become strengths, and these turn into keys to teamwork. Global matters and the potential of international cooperation at eye level are of particular interest to him. Systemic way of thinking, always keeping the big picture in mind. Prototyping also plays a bigger role in his private life. Our co-founder Kilian is a bricoleur - not only during road trips at the Atlantic Ocean.

Chantal Ebelsheiser

Social Innovator. Manager. Multiplier.

Chantal tirelessly identifies leverage points to create a more sustainable world. With a background in ‘Management of Social Innovations‘ and ‘Sustainable Resource Management‘, she is familiar with deep change processes on an entrepreneurial and social level. Keeping an eye on generational justice, Chantal inspires for sustainability-oriented values - in the educational sector, in companies and in her poetry slams.

Aurélie Ferron

Economist. Business Developer. Doer.

The French superpower of our team. Enthusiastic about sustainable venturing and teamwork, Aurélie is an interesting combination of business woman and creative potential. With expertise in digital startups and entrepreneurship, she knows about fast changing economies. She de-stresses either by playing intense piano tunes, or by playing soothing ice hockey.

Laurène Descamps

Business woman. Sustainable Innovator. Curious.

Laurène thrives for sustainability, especially in the field of social innovation. Her business background helps developing innovative ideas with a sustainable approach. Moreover, Laurène is an eternal nature lover, human factor passionate and is always up for new challenges.

Hilde Rosenboom

Urban Designer. Interactive Architect. Knowledgeable.

Hilde is unbelievable at making sense of complicated problems. And she does that with the utmost calm, poise, and positivity! She is the glue that keeps a team together, one of the four pillars of Design Thinking. Even on the personal side, she balances the old and the new with perfection, through her practice of hip hop and ballet.

Our team is supplemented by freelancers from our network. Our coaches are generally graduates of the HPI School of Design Thinking (D-School) of the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam. Additional external experts are added if necessary.

Projects

Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gGmbH

Co-creation of marketing concept for museums in Dresden

B.A.U.M. e.V.

DT Workshop at Annual Conference

UN International Labour Organization

Participatory policy design for inclusion of people with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan

Siemens AG

Open innovation project with multiple stakeholders

Sustainable Food Systems

Co-Creation Workshop: Communication at POS

Chamber for Industry & Commerce for Munich & Upper Bavaria

Introduction: DT for Sustainable Innovation

EIT Climate-KIC: RIS Accelerator Bootcamp

Analysis & optimization of sustainability impact of startup business models

Veolia Germany

Design Thinking workshops

Technical University of Berlin

Panel moderation at idea conference: "Digitalization and Sustainability"

German Chemical Society

Sprint workshop: Introduction to Design Thinking

Dodo Labratory

User research

Technisches Hilfswerk

Concept and support of an innovative event for THW volunteers (virtual)

Engagement Global

Sustainable Design Thinking for ASApreneurs Program

ROMEX AG

Partnership concept & B2B strategy

BVDS: Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V.

Startup Camp 2018: Pitch marathon moderation

Wirtschaftsjunioren Thüringen

"Design Thinking to Go" for Ignition Founders Fair

Bauhaus University, Weimar

Design Thinking training course

GIZ GmbH

Explorational stakeholder workshop: electrification of rural areas: mini grids (République Togolaise)

African Union

Interactive moderation & workshop at international forum: Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism (iDove)

Process Management Consulting GmbH

Professional training: Design Thinking for consultants

Latest News

Oct, 16

United Nations ILO Project in Kyrgyzstan

October 16, 2023 by Kilian Karg

“Applying design thinking to develop new service models for inclusion of adult persons with disabilities in community and labour market in Kyrgyzstan” We are happy to see that the report of one of our recent international projects is now available online. “This was one of the most interesting, impressive, and also challenging international projects, whichRead more about United Nations ILO Project in Kyrgyzstan[…]
Read more United Nations ILO Project in Kyrgyzstan

Oct, 1

UNLEASH: Mentorship for international entrepreneurs for sustainable development

October 1, 2021 by Jan von der Heyde

Protellus co-founder Kilian Karg is active in the UNLEASH Plus program as a mentor. “It is a pleasure to be able to be a mentor for the recent international cohort of UNLEASH Plus teams, offering them knowledge and experience!” “Mentorship it is a wonderful way to erase blind spots, and getting new perspectives for fieldsRead more about UNLEASH: Mentorship for international entrepreneurs for sustainable development[…]
Read more UNLEASH: Mentorship for international entrepreneurs for sustainable development
Apr, 2

Intercontinental Virtual Hackathon for iDove: Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism 2021

April 2, 2021 by Kilian Karg

It was a pleasure to design and moderate a virtual hackathon on the prevention of violent extremism in an interfaith context together with and for iDove. The close teamwork with the organizers of the GIZ and the African Union as well as the methodological exchange with an innovation expert from the UK were an importantRead more about Intercontinental Virtual Hackathon for iDove: Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism 2021[…]
Read more Intercontinental Virtual Hackathon for iDove: Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism 2021

Feb, 25

Design Thinking for the World Bank Group Fragility Forum 2020

February 25, 2021 by Kilian Karg

For the Fragility Forum 2020, Protellus, in co-creation with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), has developed an interactive conference session on utilizing Human-Centered Design to improve the delivery of security and justice services. We look forward to international exchange and new impulses for World Bank staff and development cooperationRead more about Design Thinking for the World Bank Group Fragility Forum 2020[…]
Read more Design Thinking for the World Bank Group Fragility Forum 2020
Apr, 5

Let’s stay at home – and agile.

April 5, 2020 by Kilian Karg

Agility, open, problem-focused and solution-oriented thinking, sustainability and setting the focus on the user is particularly important in turbulent times – such as we are experiencing currently. In Design Thinking we are used to work with “extreme users” and “design constraints” to come up with new ideas. In an analogue way, the current special circumstancesRead more about Let’s stay at home – and agile.[…]
Read more Let’s stay at home – and agile.

Apr, 5

Design Thinking workshop case study: Sustainability Labs Kreuzberg

April 5, 2018 by Aurélie Ferron

Can one day be a precursor to team creation and open-ended collaboration? On a sunny weekend in Berlin, strangers met under the umbrella of GreenBuzz, to participate in the first ever Sustainability Labs. They all had two things in common: a deep interest in sustainability topics and a drive to create a new venture. ConnectingRead more about Design Thinking workshop case study: Sustainability Labs Kreuzberg[…]
Read more Design Thinking workshop case study: Sustainability Labs Kreuzberg
Nov, 13

Sustainability Jam & Design Thinking to save the world!

November 13, 2017 by Aurélie Ferron

This year again, Sustainability Jams were happening at the same time all over the world! From Bali to Lima, Berlin and Munich were not left behind. Imagine a music jam session where musicians come with their instruments and diverse know-how. They decide on a key to start playing (for example C sharp), and everyone bringsRead more about Sustainability Jam & Design Thinking to save the world![…]
Read more Sustainability Jam & Design Thinking to save the world!