24. September 2026

Design & Development in Practice: Presenting Data-Driven Trade Fair and Event Apps at Media University

Our managing director and co-founder Stefan Grund, who teaches “User Experience” and “Web Technologies” at Media University in Cologne, recently joined a Media and Event Management seminar as a guest speaker. Together with Florian Ehle from dimedis, he showed students how complex data and features can become useful digital apps for trade fairs and other events.

Collage from the guest lecture at Media University: scenes from the talk, a presentation slide showing features and screens of the FairMate Event App, and a group photo — Bottom right (left to right): Prof. Dr. Alexander Rühle, Stefan Grund, Prof. Dr. Boris Becker and Florian Ehle. Photos by Media University. See the guest lecture report on the Media University website.

Before the new semester begins, we’re looking back at the previous one. At the invitation of Prof. Dr. Boris Becker, Florian and Stefan shared insights into the collaboration between our companies. Prof. Becker, who has been teaching the “Web Technologies” module with Stefan on the Digital Marketing and E-Commerce program in Cologne for the past two years, welcomed them alongside Prof. Dr. Alexander Rühle.

UX/UI Design and Technology for Trade Fair Visitors

Over an hour and a half, Stefan and Florian showed students how event apps can help people make the most of a trade fair: finding relevant content, navigating the venue and making the right connections.

Using the FairMate Event App as an example, they shared insights into our joint product development process. Hypercode has worked with dimedis as a strategic design and technology partner for several years, from concept development and UX/UI design to development for iOS and Android. The two shared lessons from this collaboration and explained how design and technical implementation work together.

Personalization and AI at Trade Fairs

One focus of the discussion was how content, recommendations and interactions can adapt to individual interests and the situation at hand. Florian and Stefan explained how data analysis can help deliver relevant information at the right moment. They also explored the potential of AI and intelligent matching: apps could suggest relevant contacts and offers, becoming personal trade fair assistants. It’s a topic they also explored in their masterclass at connect circle 2026.

Thank you to Media University and the students for the exchange. We’re looking forward to the new semester!

→ Read Media University’s report on the guest lecture

About Stefan’s Teaching

Stefan has been teaching “Web Technologies” and “User Experience & Web Analytics” at Media University since the summer semester of 2023. He brings experience from our daily work on digital products into the classroom, from the first product idea to the collaboration between design, development, stakeholders and service providers.