Neugestaltung der Länderwappen 

@ 1999 Hesse 

Until the 16th century the words »weapon« and »arm« had the same meaning in Middle High German. The weapons are since than far fewer martial than the arms. Also in Germany feudale Middle Ages survived all following political systems symbolically. Thus the arms of quite a few German states still frighten with their trutzigen? Emblems carrying the crowns of long forgotten dynasties. Tradition clinges to those scary signs in the shields. Perhaps, because Germany felt always somehow threatened and also antagonized the one or other. But suddenly all enemies were gone. Whom to frighten now? 

Thanks to Gorbachev the time of the big enemies is over. Germany can be attained on the best way to become service oriented and therewith a communication society. Function, use, life proximity and cultural qualities are focal points, where ever high results are produced. Why should this be valid not also to the »brand Germany« and its sub-brands? Not only the fact of minimizing costs offers the opportunity for such a change but also ongoing communication from screen to screen or, like in this case, a large-scale pitching for redesigning of the plenary assembly hall of the Upper House of Parliament in summer 1999. Hesse Design met the challange by redesigning all German state arms for the beginning communication age. The official arms of the states (status 1999) were used as models. Hesse’s entry for the pitch won but was not implemented - which often happens in official creative competitions. The arms shown on these sites are only a stylistic concept suggested by Hesse but they are not officially accepted. Under respect of full consideration of the old motives, Hesse developed an illustration style reunifying the sixteen countries stylistically. Proportions, colours and line strenghts were standardized. Wether etched in metal, shaped in wood, used for postal stamps, TÜV-stamp, flags or fingernail- large pixel button for the Internet - the new coats of arms are multimedially applicable.