The think tank "Digital Work Society" was officially opened on 11 October 2018 as a new work organisation in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. As an agile and interdisciplinary Future Lab, it has been concerned since then with the effects of digital transformation on the working society with the aim of developing recommendations for political processes.
The way the think tank works breaks with the conventional structures of the building and the opening event of the new department also left the paths of a conventional ministry event. For this purpose, the BMAS reception hall was transformed into an event hall which, with the help of an 8x8 meter LED wall and a stage in front of it, provided the right setting for staging the themes of the think tank. The hall was literally immersed in a new light through effective illumination and previously choreographed visuals. The guests were invited to reflect on thinking in the digital transformation. They were inspired to do so by lectures and discussions that approached the changes brought about by digitalisation in very different ways. How will our perception, our language or the way we think be changed by digitalization?
The aim was not to create a dystopic future scenario, but rather to see the developments as an opportunity, which also put us before new tasks. And so, the event should above all generate interest in the new think tank and form a framework for networking within the Berlin science scene, but also establish references to culture or other social groups.
In order to live up to this claim, several well-known guests from various sectors spoke in the course of the evening. These included the British journalist Paul Mason, the film director Tom Tykwer and Prof. Dr. Olaf Groth. Special artistic interludes came from slam poet Bas Böttcher and pianist Volker Bertelmann, better known as Hauschka. The multitude of ideas and thought-provoking impulses could be further deepened at the concluding Housewarming Party in joint discussions. On this occasion, the guests also had the opportunity to take a look at the new offices of the think tank.
facts and fiction was entrusted with all parts of the organisational handling. In addition to the technical handling and the coordination of all trades involved, this also included the participant and guest management and the holistic support of the event on site.
Pictures: J. Konrad Schmidt / BMAS