AMPELMANN Berlin:
The History of the Iconic Brand & the East German Ampelmännchen
What is AMPELMANN?
AMPELMANN is a Berlin-based design and lifestyle brand built around the East German Ampelmann.
Since the mid-1990s, the company has created products featuring the iconic pedestrian figures, transforming a former traffic signal into one of Berlin's most iconic brands.
Who founded AMPELMANN?
AMPELMANN was founded by Markus Heckhausen. After German reunification, the Berlin-based designer recognized the cultural significance of the East German Ampelmännchen and, in 1996, created the first AMPELMANN lamp from an original traffic light lens.
That first design eventually grew into the iconic Berlin brand we know today.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Founded: First products launched in 1996
- Founder: Markus Heckhausen
- Headquarters: Berlin-Mitte
- Known for: Products featuring the East German Ampelmännchen
- What makes it unique: A former East German traffic symbol became an internationally recognized Berlin brand.
Alright, friends,
if you spend any time in Berlin, it's almost impossible not to notice the Ampelmännchen. If you grew up here, you see these little figures every day—but rarely give them much thought.
I grew up in Berlin near the Oberbaum Bridge during the 1990s, and honestly, I never wondered why the Ampelmännchen wears a hat or why it looks so different from the pedestrian figures in many other parts of Germany. That only changed last week.
A guest asked me about the history of AMPELMANN and wanted to know why the figure looks the way it does.
I could explain that the figures originated in East Germany and that my mother has a strong connection to them, but when it came to their actual origin story, I had no answer. So I started digging a little deeper into the company's history.
It didn't take long before I knew: This had to become a blog for NO TOURiST INFO.
The more I read, the clearer it became that this story is about much more than a well-known shop in central Berlin.
Behind these little figures lies a story of traffic psychology, Berlin's history, Germany's division, reunification, and the people who made sure that a piece of Berlin's identity didn't simply disappear.
The History of Pedestrian Traffic Lights Began Long Before AMPELMANN
Before AMPELMANN was founded, the foundations for modern pedestrian traffic lights first had to be established.
As industrialization accelerated and the number of vehicles grew, traffic in many major cities became increasingly dangerous.
In 1868, London introduced the world's first traffic light. The experiment ended dramatically when the gas-powered signal exploded shortly after it was installed.
The real breakthrough came in 1914, when the first electric traffic light was introduced in the United States. Dedicated pedestrian signals followed years later and eventually made their way to Berlin.
Why Did Berlin Need Traffic Lights?
It's no surprise that Berlin played a pioneering role in this development.
During the 1920s, the city grew into Europe's largest metropolis. Traffic increased rapidly, and nowhere was the congestion worse than at Potsdamer Platz.
Around 83,000 people used the railway station there every day, joined by thousands of cars as well as countless trams and buses. Police officers still directed traffic with hand signals and trumpets—but eventually, even that was no longer enough.
In 1924, Berlin's first traffic light was officially put into operation at Potsdamer Platz. The traffic light tower, standing over eight meters tall, was operated by a police officer from a control cabin and quickly became a landmark of the modern capital.
Decades later, Berlin even installed an exact replica on the same site, commemorating the beginning of the city's traffic history.
The First Berlin Traffic Light Tower Becomes a Landmark
The five-sided traffic light tower at Potsdamer Platz was far more than just a technical innovation.
From a small control cabin, a police officer operated the traffic signals for both vehicles and pedestrians. Clocks were mounted on all five sides of the tower, turning it into an important meeting point and a key landmark for navigation. It quickly became a familiar part of Berlin's cityscape.
While drivers gradually adapted to the new traffic system, many pedestrians were less disciplined. They continued crossing the square wherever they pleased instead of following the signals.
Even so, the concept of traffic lights proved successful. The traffic light tower remained in operation until 1936 and became one of the capital's most recognizable landmarks.
From Traffic Signals to the First Ampelmann
Berlin's first pedestrian signals looked very different from today's Ampelmännchen.
At first, they consisted only of red and green illuminated lights, much like the signals used for vehicles.
Different solutions were also tested around the world. In New York, the words "Walk" and "Don't Walk" were used for a time, while in Germany, some signals even displayed the words "Go" and "Wait." None of these systems proved successful in the long run.
As a result, more and more countries developed their own pedestrian figures that could be understood instantly, regardless of language.
But none of them was created on such a comprehensive scientific foundation as the East German Ampelmännchen.
And this is exactly where the story begins—because without it, AMPELMANN would never have existed.
Who Invented the Ampelmann?
The East German Ampelmännchen was created by Berlin traffic psychologist Karl Peglau.
After training as a machinist and technical draftsman, he studied psychology at Humboldt University and went on to work for nearly 30 years in the Medical Service of East Germany's transport system. Throughout his career, he focused on one central question:
How can road traffic be made safer?
The construction of the Berlin Wall also changed the course of his own life. His diploma thesis on a braking system for Berlin's S-Bahn ring line suddenly became virtually irrelevant.
As a result, Peglau dedicated himself entirely to road safety. He developed psychological assessment methods as well as new guidance symbols for road traffic.
On October 13, 1961, he submitted his designs for new pedestrian signals—the birth of the East German Ampelmännchen.
Years later, he described his figures with a quote that still fits Berlin perfectly today:
"The East German Ampelmännchen are real Berliner Jören."
"Berliner Jören" is Berlin dialect and roughly translates to "Berlin boys" or "Berlin kids." Peglau used the expression affectionately to describe the Ampelmännchen as a genuine Berliner with character and personality.
Why Does the Ampelmännchen Wear a Hat?
To this day, many people believe the hat was simply a creative design choice. In reality, almost every detail served a practical purpose.
As a traffic psychologist, Karl Peglau knew that friendly, easily recognizable figures are perceived more quickly than abstract symbols.
That's why he deliberately avoided creating a plain pictogram. Instead, he designed a friendly figure with human features.
The round nose, small belly and relaxed posture made the Ampelmännchen appear more approachable and easier to recognize at a glance. That's also why it's called the Ampelmännchen ("traffic light (small) man").
Peglau was supported by his talented secretary, Anneliese Wegner, who contributed the figure's distinctive hat shape.
But the hat was much more than a recognizable feature. Together with the figure's broader silhouette, it increased the illuminated surface of the traffic signal, making it easier to see.
More visible light ultimately meant greater safety—and that was Peglau's real goal.
Every Detail Served a Purpose
It wasn't just the hat that was carefully designed. The posture of both figures was thought through down to the smallest detail.
The red Ampelmännchen faces forward with both arms stretched wide. Its silhouette resembles a barrier, instantly signaling one clear message: Stop. Don't cross.
The green Ampelmännchen does exactly the opposite. With its long, confident stride, it appears dynamic and conveys movement.
Even children, older adults and people with limited visual perception were meant to understand the signals as intuitively as possible.
Karl Peglau didn't design these figures to make the streets look better. He designed them to make traffic safer.
Decades later, research confirmed that his idea worked. A study by Jacobs University Bremen found that the East German Ampelmännchen offers measurable advantages in signal recognition compared with the slimmer West German pedestrian figures.
The design wasn't just more likable—it was demonstrably more effective at doing its job.
Why Do East and West German Ampelmännchen Look Different?
After the East German Ampelmann was introduced in the late 1960s, East and West Germany took different approaches to pedestrian signal design.
In East Germany, Karl Peglau's distinctive figures became the official standard. West Germany, on the other hand, adopted much simpler pedestrian pictograms.
Both served the same purpose, but the East German Ampelmännchen stood out with its hat, broader silhouette and friendly appearance. Those distinctive features made it instantly recognizable and unforgettable to many people.
That recognizability would later play a crucial role in the story of AMPELMANN.
AMPELMANN Nearly Disappeared After German Reunification
The fall of the Berlin Wall changed more than just the city—it also transformed its streetscape. Many East German institutions and symbols gradually disappeared, including the East German Ampelmännchen.
At countless intersections, the familiar figures were replaced by the standard West German pedestrian signals.
For many people in East Germany, however, the little figures had long since become more than just traffic symbols. They were part of everyday life and one of the few East German designs that was almost universally appreciated.
As more and more Ampelmännchen disappeared, public opposition began to grow.
What had once been a traffic symbol suddenly became a symbol of preserving everyday East German culture.
It was at this moment that the story of AMPELMANN truly began.
Who Is Markus Heckhausen?
While many people were replacing the East German Ampelmännchen, one man was immediately fascinated by it:
Markus Heckhausen.
The product designer from Tübingen regularly visited East Berlin in the late 1980s. His first stop was always Alexanderplatz, already home to landmarks such as the TV Tower, the Red Town Hall and the World Time Clock.
At the time, Berlin was experiencing a creative awakening. Vacant buildings were being transformed into studios, galleries and new cultural spaces. That unique atmosphere also left a lasting impression on Markus Heckhausen. You can still experience a piece of that creative spirit today at places like Holzmarkt 25 or the Monbijou Theater.
What most people saw as nothing more than a traffic signal, he saw through the eyes of a designer. The figures appeared friendly, human and instantly recognizable.
When they gradually disappeared from the streets after German reunification, Heckhausen didn't see it as modernization. He saw it as the loss of a piece of Berlin's design history.
That observation eventually led to the idea that would later become AMPELMANN.
How Was AMPELMANN Founded?
As Markus Heckhausen watched more and more East German Ampelmännchen being removed, he refused to stand by and do nothing.
To many people, the figures were simply remnants of East Germany.
To him, they were an extraordinary piece of design history with a story that deserved to be preserved.
When another traffic light was dismantled at Rosenthaler Platz, he secured one of the original traffic light lenses.
What began as a simple keepsake soon became the foundation of a Berlin success story. In his workshop on Auguststraße, Heckhausen transformed it into the very first AMPELMANN lamp.
In 1996, this became the first product of what would later grow into the AMPELMANN brand.
A Cup of Coffee That Changed Everything
Markus Heckhausen first presented his lamps during an open gallery event in the entrance hall of his apartment building in Berlin-Mitte.
The response was overwhelming. Visitors stopped to take a closer look, newspapers covered the unusual idea, and interest quickly spread far beyond his circle of friends.
Shortly afterward, Heckhausen received a phone call with a special question:
Would he like to meet the inventor of the East German Ampelmännchen?
Of course, he said yes.
What began with a cup of coffee at the home of Karl and Hildegard Peglau in Berlin-Pankow soon developed into a close friendship.
Heckhausen didn't just want to tell the story of the Ampelmännchen—he wanted to preserve it together with its creator.
The two agreed on the use of the copyrights and worked closely together to document the history behind the figures.
For Karl Peglau, this long-overdue recognition meant a great deal after the difficult years following German reunification.
From a Design Object to an Iconic Berlin Brand
The first lamps gradually grew into a company. Markus Heckhausen founded AMPELMANN GmbH with a vision that still defines the brand today:
Not simply to sell souvenirs, but to preserve and share Berlin's design history.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Ampelmännchen, AMPELMANN organized an exhibition showcasing its first products.
Shortly afterward, the first AMPELMANN shop opened in Hackesche Höfe, near Museum Island. From there, the brand continued to grow step by step, becoming well known far beyond Berlin.
Today, it's almost impossible to walk through central Berlin without seeing its distinctive products. They've become just as much a part of the city's streetscape as the Nikolaiviertel or a shopping trip to KaDeWe.
To this day, AMPELMANN remains privately owned.
Behind its products is more than a familiar design. They tell the story of a traffic symbol that was once meant to disappear from Berlin's streets.
That unique combination of design, Berlin's history and a deep respect for the East German Ampelmann is what makes the brand so special to this day.
For many years, the company has also supported Berlin's cultural scene and social initiatives, seeing itself as an active part of the city.
Why Did the Berlin Ampelmännchen Become World Famous?
This is a question I kept asking myself throughout my research.
After all, pedestrian symbols exist all over the world. So why is it the Berlin Ampelmännchen that almost everyone recognizes?
The answer probably lies in its story.
It wasn't designed by an advertising agency, nor was it created with the intention of one day appearing on mugs or T-shirts.
Karl Peglau wanted to make road traffic safer. Decades later, Markus Heckhausen wanted to preserve a piece of Berlin's design history from being forgotten.
It was only these two stories together that turned a simple traffic symbol into a world-famous brand.
That's exactly what makes AMPELMANN feel authentic to this day.
Perhaps that's why the Berlin Ampelmännchen is now recognized around the world—even though it was never originally intended to become a brand.
Conclusion: Every Ameplmännchen Tells a Piece of Berlin's Story
Today, when you walk past an AMPELMANN shop, the first thing you'll probably notice is the familiar red and green figures in every imaginable form.
After reading this blog, you might see them a little differently.
Their story doesn't begin with a souvenir shop. It begins with Berlin's rapid growth in the 1920s, the city's first traffic light at Potsdamer Platz, and a traffic psychologist who wanted to make the streets safer.
It continues through Germany's division, reunification, and a designer who recognized the value of these figures when many others had already written them off.
Perhaps that's exactly what makes AMPELMANN so special to this day. The brand tells not only the story of a company, but also the story of a city that continues to change while never losing its character.
Whether you're in Volkspark Friedrichshain, exploring Berlin's market halls, or walking through the streets around Hackesche Höfe, you'll still come across these little figures almost everywhere.
They've long since become more than just traffic symbols—they're simply part of Berlin.
Berlin isn't a tourist attraction. Berlin is a city.
See you in the honest Berlin—or here in the next blog.
Take care. 🖤
Sources: Website “[https://www.ampelmann.de”](https://www.ampelmann.de”) | Website “[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampelmännchen”](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampelmännchen”) | MOST IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SAMPLE IMAGES AND DO NOT COME FROM THE BRAND ITSELF.
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