Animations for RIMOWA: Narrative, Journey & Collaboration
German luggage house RIMOWA joined forces with illustrator Klaus Kremmerz to craft a series of animated illustrations under the title “Gifts for the Journey Ahead”.
Klaus Kremmerz, represented by the agency Dutch Uncle, contributed his signature illustrative style enriched by narrative-driven visuals.
In one prominent film within the campaign, the narrative follows a protagonist throughout a year in her life—transitioning through career, friendships, everyday moments—concluding with a home-coming for Chinese New Year.
The RIMOWA cross-body bag serves not just as product placement, but as the visual element linking these life-moments continuously.
At its heart, this collaboration conveys a story of journey, identity, and continuity.
The suitcase/cross‐body bag is framed as a companion through life: not just luggage, but a symbol of present, past and future.
The narrative loop culminating in a Chinese New Year homecoming underlines roots and return, as much as forward travel.
Kremmerz’s style, characterised by bold outlines, flattened perspective and rich but muted palette, brings warmth and emotional weight rather than cold luxury detachment.
The message can be summarised as: gifting a RIMOWA is gifting a journey ahead, a thread connecting chapters of life—whether work, friendships, travel, home. The visuals reinforce that the product is embedded in life’s narrative.
For illustrators and brand-builders alike, this project offers lessons:
An artist with a well-defined voice (Klaus Kremmerz) can collaborate with a luxury brand without losing authenticity.
A brand product (in this case a travel bag) can be elevated to a narrative symbol rather than mere object.
Integrating movement (animation) and still illustration deepens engagement—the project wasn’t just static images but an animated journey.
Contextualising brand within cultural moments (e.g., Chinese New Year, year of the Rabbit) allows resonant storytelling.
In sum, the Kremmerz × RIMOWA collaboration is a successful synthesis of distinct visual language and brand narrative: the illustrator’s characterful, human-oriented style merges with the luxury travel brand’s story of mobility, roots and gifting.
The suitcase is more than functional—it becomes a vessel of life’s passages.
