You might have spotted the theme of our new T-shirt whilst riding the U-Bahn, sitting on a bus, or drifting on a Tram. The story of the BVG Vielfalt pattern begins with its predecessor, the Urban Jungle. Designed by Herbert Lindinger in the late 1980s, Urban Jungle turned into a cultural marker of Berlin itself. With its bold, pixelated look, it reflected the energy and rawness of a city in transition after the Wall. Over the years, it grew iconic, loved for its familiarity and instantly recognized by Berliners and visitors alike. At Mean Berlin we’ve paid tribute to this legacy, releasing four T-shirts inspired by the Urban Jungle design and U-Bahn stations across the city.
But the truth is, the new Vielfalt pattern just doesn’t hit the same. BVG introduced it to represent the modern Berlin, that’s more diverse, global and evolving, but it still feels as though it’s searching for the identity that made the Urban Jungle so unforgettable. At the moment, it’s popping up slowly on buses and sustainably on new vehicles and refurbished seats. With time, Vielfalt will probably grow into something Berliners claim as their own. For now though, it’s living in the shadow of a legend.
We at MEAN BERLIN are also a product of this new Berlin. Inspired by the spirit of change, we’ve evolved over time too. Our next T-shirt is dedicated to the next generation of Berlin’s seat patterns and the diverse meanings they carry for the city.
What’s the message of the ‘Muster fer Vielfalt’?
At first glance the BVG Vielfalt pattern might just another seat design. But there is much more to it. The pattern is made from abstract silhouettes that represent the 2 million passengers that travel around Berlin every day. They come from 190 different nations and one in three have a migration background. Berlin is a city where cultures mix and overlap, and the vielfalt pattern reflects this is a simple powerful way.
So, they turned to the people themselves. Using all Berliners, regardless of age, gender, body shape, sexual orientation, or cultural backgrounds, as models for the shapes, the pattern literally embodies the people of the city. We see public transport seats every day without giving them much thought. Turning this overlooked detail into a symbol of inclusion, BVG created an everyday reminder that the city belongs to everyone.
Next time you’re on a bus or a new train see if you can find the different silhouettes in the pattern.
Berlin Without Borders
We all love Berlin for its openness, inclusivity, and diversity. It is a magnet for new ideas, creatives, contrasts and changemakers from all over the world. A melting pot of cultures, people from 170 different nations live together throughout Berlin’s 12 districts. Diversity is also represented by the 250 religious communities and the LGBT+ scene.
Many areas in berlin are full of contrasting cultures, especially Wedding, Neukolln and Kreutzberg.
‘‘All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words: ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’’- John F. Kennedy, 1963
Berlin’s Diversity and How You Can Experience It
For four days in June Berlin celebrates a festival of diversity at the Carnival of Cultures. Kreutzberg turns into a stage full of world cultures with music, dance, food, and a parade. There are over 70 groups that present their cultural roots with costumes and performances at the street parade. It’s a sign of tolerance, respect, and community in our city!
Neukölln’s Maybachufer is one of the places in Berlin that feels like a global crossroads. The weekly markets are filled with colors, voices, and scents. From fresh vegetables and handmade fabrics to Turkish specialties the locals love sharing their cultures. On Saturdays, the “Neuköllner Stoff” art and design market turns the riverside into a playground for creativity, where makers from around the world share their crafts. You could also head to Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, a culinary world tour under one roof, best experienced on “Street Food Thursday” when the hall comes alive from 5 to 10 pm.
Also in Neukolln, Café Refugio is also a perfect example of Berlin’s diversity that you could check out. It is part of the Berlin City Mission, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations. Hosting 35 people from 9 different cultures, it is a shared house where people live together on six floors cosmopolitan style. There is also a great view from the rooftop!
Every year at the end of July, hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets of Berlin to celebrate their right to individuality, equality, proud and full of color. Originally rooted in the protests of New York’s Christopher Street, Christopher Street Day (CSD) has grown into Berlin’s most prominent LGBTQ+ event, sending a powerful message of freedom and inclusion.
In Berlin, you can be whoever you want and you’ll find a community that’s behind you. A city that thrives on inclusion, strength, and solidarity. MEAN BERLIN and the rest of the city remind you that you’re never standing alone.
Why Did We Release a T-shirt?
Transport seats are a simple way for patterns to reach people every day. Clothing works the same way, or even better, letting those designs be carried out into the city.
At MEAN BERLIN we are inspired by the city we live in. From its energy, diversity, and constant evolution. The BVG Vielfalt pattern is a symbol of modern Berlin, of inclusion, movement, and creativity. We wanted to capture this spirit of Berlin in a T-shirt you can wear, a piece of the city you can carry with you on the very trains the Vielfalt pattern is on.
By wearing our T-shirt, you’re not just showing off a design. You’re celebrating Berlin’s ongoing story, the people who make it vibrant, and the new era of BVG transport. Urban Jungle shaped the past, Vielfalt now tries to match the icon, pushing forward the modern Berlin. Together they tell the city’s story.
Step into the streets, ride the buses, hop on the U-Bahn, and be part of Berlin’s evolving journey. Wear the pattern, embrace the diversity, and carry a piece of the city wherever you go.
