about project burnout

Design against Burnout by Pieter Brenner


Project Burnout is a one month social design project, which took place in Germany, August 2012. Pieter Brenner was able to re-integrate four out of five burnout patients to their former workplaces through a therapy process of destruction and creativity. The results are these phenomenal works of art. 

The healing of destruction

The patients destroyed a complete advertising pillar with up to 300 layers of advertising posters. The unique pieces are the result of a decollage and de-art process through destruction, reduction and reframing. The more layers they destroyed the less material is present. Check out more about the artworks here. 

Prevent economic loss through art therapy

Increasing productivity, increasing worker engagement and satisfaction, while preventing economic loss as well as turnover rate through art therapy:

“We started the project from the point that every sick day of a worker costs up to 2000 Euros for a company and that we could limit the economic losses with design.” says Pieter Brenner. “Everything is and will be designable even health and psychological burden.”

After different companies released five employees from work that had been in a very critical psychological stage, Pieter Brenner set up a therapeutic process with an interdisciplinary team for one month. Check out the design process for healing here.

Using this process patients could destroy advertising works and elevate their anger and destruction into art. Through this change of context four of five patients are back at their former workplaces since the project has ended. One of the patients, Maurice* decided to quit his job to pursue a self-created future.

* Nondisclosure agreements and privacy regulations prohibit the release of company names as well as those of patients.

 

Reviews

"Incredible approach for an unbelievable designer."  Dr. Michael Erlhoff 

"Social design will be the paradigma for design in the 21st Century."  Science Magazine

"Design can save the world:"  Inhabitat

"Pieter Brenner is a genius once more."  Times

"As in a fairy tale: a little crazy and happy, our everyday objects become a regressive pleasure..."  Marc Brétillot

CONTACT:

Pieter Brenner is a designer who works internationally. He is known for his extraordinary design approaches such as his sugarchair (2011). He works in New York, Buenos Aires, Munich and Cologne. Find out more about Pieter Brenner.


Contact:
Pieter Brenner
Agency for Art and Design
press department: Adrienne Heller

[email protected]
[email protected]
www.projectburnout.com
www.pieterbrenner.com 
www.sugarchair.com