MaiCycle

This project is a one-week workshop project led by Anna Luz Pueyo and is part of the International Week at Köln International School of Design (KISD). The program focuses on DIGGING: digging into our cultures, into soil, or a brick into a wall. It explores multiple possibilities of "digging" within the field of design, encouraging participants to change their perspectives, harness the power of observation, and engage in hands-on work.

Background: the tradition of MaiBäume

The MaiBäume (May Tree) is a pagan ritual across countries celebrating the foliage and fecundity of trees in spring. It generally consists of planting a symbolic tree or pole during the month of May. In Cologne, the tradition of MaiBäume goes back to the 16th century but has still been very popular to this day.

On the last night of April, someone in love buys a birch tree, decorates it with ribbons and a wooden heart and places it in the garden or under the window of the loved one, guarding it overnight from other lovers or mischief makers. The city wakes up on the first of May with love declarations all around. At this tradition, the birch trees are sometimes cut from the forest illegally, or in collaboration with foresters. Local businesses emerged from this tradition, offering their services in the name of love.

The birch tree in Cologne city I

The birch tree in Cologne city II

PROBLEM FRAMING

How can the May Tree tradition be preserved while giving it more modern significance? By repurposing abandoned MaiBäume in the city and utilizing local resources, this project explores how to blend traditional rituals with contemporary values like circular thinking and local sourcing, giving this ancient custom new life and relevance.

After brainstorming, we decided to extend the May Tree tradition by transforming its focus from romantic love to a broader celebration of spring and the beauty of life. At the end of May, as Cologne transitions from spring to summer, we envisioned a ceremony that preserves the ritual while elevating it—celebrating the renewal of life, nature’s warmth, and the arrival of summer. This would shift the love symbolized by the May Tree into a collective celebration, connecting people to nature and each other.

The birch tree recycled from the city

The note of the brainstorming session

HOW MIGHT WE?

Here’s the HMW question derived from the problem framing:
How might we preserve the May Tree tradition while adapting it to modern values of sustainability and community, shifting its focus from romantic love to a broader celebration of life, nature, and the changing seasons?

With these HMW questions, we came up with the idea of holding a spring ritual after the MaiBäume tradition, using the recycled birch trees in the city. Citizens are invited to craft with these birch trees to celebrate spring, welcome summer, and send love to one another:

HOW TO CRAFT using birch trees？

botanical dye

We tried to use the recycled birch trees for botanical dyeing with other natural materials, using common botanical dyeing techniques.

The botanical dye material we have prepared.

Processing the birch trees for later use.

Preparing the botanical dye materials I.

Preparing the botanical dye materials II.

The process of botanical dye.

The dyed fabric was waiting to dry.

botanical dye & screen Printing

After the success of the first round of botanical dyeing, we experimented with screen printing. Using the prepared botanical dye, we printed the slogan onto the dyed fabric.

Preparing the screen printing materials I.

Preparing the screen printing materials II.

Preparing the screen printing materials III.

The screens were waiting to dry.

The printed fabrics.

The printed fabrics were waiting to dry.

THE PRESENTATION? THE CELEBRATION!

At the end of this program, instead of presenting our ideas with slide, we decided to hold a spring ritual, to celebrate the spring, to celebrate life. At the same time, to show the product we have made.

Preparation

Preparing special tables for display.

The rehearsal process for the display.

Preparing poster for the celebration.

Setting up the scene: hang the fabrics on the ropes.

The scene was set.

Adding the material for the display.

Celebration

Anna began by delivering a speech to introduce our project, sharing the background story, how we repurposed the recycled tree, and our vision to transform it into a celebration of spring.

Following this, each team member presented one of the steps we took to process the birch tree and dye the fabric.

Finally, we invited the audience to have a look at the dyed fabrics and join us in celebrating the arrival of spring together.

The poster about the celebration, mading from birch bark.

The dyed fabrics were presented.

The audiences were checking the fabrics and asking questions.

A glimpse of the celebration scene.