On behalf of the city of Offenbach, design student Marie Bünner at the OIMD has designed a special traffic light figure: the “Streichholzkarlchen,” a quirky everyday hero from Offenbach in the 1920s and 1930s. Karl Winterkorn was only 1.30 m tall, friendly, always in a good mood, and sold matches in apple wine bars around the market square. Based on a sculpture of “Streichholzkarlchen” on Wilhelmsplatz, a traffic light figure was created that combines Karlchen’s attributes: suitcase, cap, double-breasted jacket, hand gesture, and matches. Now, the pedestrian traffic light featuring the Offenbach original has been unveiled at the intersection of Bieberer Straße and Waldstraße. This serves as a reminder of the city’s well-known figure with heart and character, and thus also of a piece of Offenbach’s history and identity.
