I am

Stephan SONNENBURG

Marketing
Permanent

Presentation

Biography

Stephan Sonnenburg is an Associate Professor of Branding, Creativity and Innovation Management at ICN Business School. He has 20 years of academic and corporate experience in the fields of Marketing and Advertising. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and a Master in Communication Studies from the University of the Arts Berlin. Stephan has published in the Creativity Research Journal, Creativity and Innovation Management, the Encyclopedia of Creativity, the European Journal of Innovation Management, and the Journal of Interactive Marketing. His research interest focuses on co-creative branding, team flow and creativity training. He is certified as a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and Design Thinking Facilitator. Stephan is second spokesman of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kreativität.

Degrees and Training

Year Title Institution Country
2006 PhD in communication in social and economic contexts Berlin University of Arts Germany
1999 Degree Diplom-Kommunikationswirt Berlin University of Arts Germany
1997 Pre-diploma in Art History Technical University of Berlin Germany

Courses Taught

Year Title Country Institution
2023 Creative Thinking France ICN Business School
2023 Creative approaches to facilitating sustainability France ICN Business School
2023 CreaCtive Learning Expedition France ICN Business School
2023 AtI Arts and Diversity France ICN Business School
2023 ELE Management by improvisation France ICN Business School
2022 Brand design and campaigns France ICN Business School
2022 Comprendre le comportement du client France ICN Business School
2022 CreaCthon France ICN Business School
2022 Imagining Tomorrow France ICN Business School
2022 Intercultural Management France ICN Business School
2022 Marketing / Strategic Planning France ICN Business School
2022 Strategic Challenge France ICN Business School
2021 International Marketing & Brand Management France ICN Business School
2021 Current issues in branding and marketing France ICN Business School
2021 Specialized transversal seminars / Softskills France ICN Business School
2020 Luxury and Fashion Brands France ICN Business School
2020 Startup development for Innovative Brands France ICN Business School
2020 German culture & Arts in Berlin Germany ICN Business School
2020 Creativity & Innovation Management Germany ICN Business School
2020 Design Thinking Germany ICN Business School
2020 Project development Germany ICN Business School
2008 Performing media Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Approaching brands Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Brand stories Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Brand strategies Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Creative industries Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Creativity in context Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Creativity & Innovation Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Key concepts for the study of management as culture: Cultural turns Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Research colloquium Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Change & Innovation Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Corporate communications Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Culture marketing Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Einführung in das Internationale Marketing Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 International marketing strategy Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Modern brand metaphors Germany Karlshochschule International University
2008 Strategic marketing Germany Karlshochschule International University

Research Interests

  • Branding
  • Marketing
  • Design Thinking
  • Lego Serious Play
  • Creative Industries
  • Cultures Management
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Publications

Year Type Reference
2025 Journal article PRIMUS, D., S. SONNENBURG, “How to get and stay ‘in the zone’: The link between team flow and creative output in Design Thinking workshops”, International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, February 2025, vol. 21, no. 8
2025 Journal article MNISRI, K., S. SONNENBURG, M. GABRIELE ARNOLD, “Edito – The Interplay Between Creativity and Sustainability Moving from Presence to Future”, International Journal of innovation and Sustainable Development, July 2025, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 385-388
2024 Journal article PRIMUS, D., S. SONNENBURG, “Learning design thinking well:”, R&D Management, November 2024, vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 905-929
2024 Book SONNENBURG, S., I. BROKERHOF, Defining Hybrid Heroes – The Leadership Spectrum from Scoundrel to Saint, Anthem press, 2024
2024 Interview, debate, Broadcast SONNENBURG, S. – “Forscher verrät: So könnt ihr eure Kreativität fördern” – 2024, SWR 1 Leute, Berlin, Germany
2023 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., D. HEINBUCHER, “Creativity Development Through Life Spans: A Systematic Literature Review Exploring how Creative Competences can be Fostered in Adolescence” in R&D Management Conference 2023, 2023, Seville, Spain
2022 Journal article ZENK, L., D. PRIMUS, S. SONNENBURG, “Alone but together: flow experience and its impact on creative output in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®”, European Journal of Innovation Management, December 2022, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 340-364
2022 Book Chapter KUEPERS, W., S. SONNENBURG, “‘Being t/here apart-together’: Co-creative work(ing) in bodily-digital ‘inter-places’” in The metamorphosis of cultural and creative organizations: Exploring change from a cultural perspective., Federica De Molli, Marilena Vecco Eds, Routledge, chap. 5, pp. 53-65, 2022
2022 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference KUEPERS, W., S. SONNENBURG, “Co-Creating by Being There Apart But Together in Bodily-Digital Places” in ARTEMOCC – 4th edition, Artem organizational creativity & sustainability International conference, 2022, Nancy, France
2022 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference HINDLEY, C., S. SONNENBURG, “Temp-plates for Creative Imagination in Organizations: From Gothic Construction to Experimental Composition” in ARTEMOCC – 4th edition, Artem organizational creativity & sustainability International conference, 2022, Nancy
2022 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Instant creativity – Kreativität auf knopfdruck” in Berlin Science Week, 2022, Berlin, Germany
2022 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., E. BOLAT, “Chair session – Multidisciplinary Education and Competencies: Insalata Mista or Something New?” in AASCB Europe, Middle East, and Africa Annual Conference, 2022, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
2022 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Multidisciplinary education and competenciesInsalata mista or something new?” in AACSB Europe, Middle East, and Africa Annual Conference, 2022, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
2022 Interview, debate, Broadcast SONNENBURG, S. – “Potential of creativity, strategies for creative” working, what the alps have to do with it” – 2022, Berlin Science Week, Germany
2021 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., C. HINDLEY, “Templates’ for creative imagination in management education: Inspiration from Chartres Cathedral” in 20th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business Management (ECRM), 2021, Online, Portugal
2020 Book SONNENBURG, S., Routenplaner Kreativität: So kommen Sie im Alltag und Job sofort auf richtig gute Ideen, Springer, Wiesbaden, 2020
2020 Book Chapter PRIMUS, D., S. SONNENBURG, “Flow” in Encyclopedia of Creativity, 3rd edition., Runco, Mark A.; Pritzker, Steven R. Eds, Academic Press, 2020
2019 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., C.HINDLEY, “Organizations as cathedrals: The Geist of the Gothic” in Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism, 2019, York, Great Britain
2019 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., J.ANZENGRUBER, D.PRIMUS, “Measuring individual flow experience with EEG” in ISPIM Innovation Conference, 2019, Florence, Italy
2019 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Thresholds, Templates, Tarot” in HKU Kunst en Economie Series, 2019, Utrecht
2018 Journal article PRIMUS, D., S. SONNENBURG, “Flow experience in Design Thinking and practical synergies with Lego Serious Play”, Creativity Research Journal, January 2018, vol. 30, pp. 104-112
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “In-between thresholds and transformations” in Art of Management & Organization Conference, 2018, Brighton, Great Britain
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “The heroine or hero with a thousand ideas: Melding myth and management” in Art of Management & Organization Conference, 2018, Brighton, Great Britain
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Pathways from the hero’s journey: A tribute to Joseph Campbell and the 30th anniversary of his death”, Panel-Organizer” in Creativity Conference, 2018, Ashland, United States of America
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., D. PRIMUS, “Team flow rhythms during design thinking: Flow inhibitors, flow inducers and the link between team flow rhythms and co-creative quality” in ISPIM Innovation Conference, 2018, Stockholm, Sweden
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Marke – Mythos – Medien: The hero wears Prada” in Corporate Architecture Conference, 2018, Künzelsau, Germany
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Lernende Organisationen: Back-forward Gedanken” in (Keynote Speaker), New Work Future, 2018, Hamburg
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Kreativität ist ein Funkeln im Unbekannten” in Medienplantage, 2018, Bremen
2018 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Möge die Macht mit Dir sein: Employer Brands brauchen Heldengeschichten” in SAM Ausbildungstag, 2018, Karlsruhe
2017 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., M. , A. RUNCO, “Pathways to the Hero’s Journey: A Tribute to Joseph Campbell and the 30th Anniversary of His Death”, Journal of Genius and Eminence, December 2017, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 1-8
2017 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., “From zero to hero: A metaphorical amplification of design thinking”, Journal of Genius and Eminence, December 2017, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 104-114
2017 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., L. MANZ, “Moments to despair in the co-creative process”, Business Creativity and the Creative Economy , January 2017, vol. 3, pp. 75-87
2017 Book KUEPERS, W., S. SONNENBURG, M. ZIEROLD, ReThinking Management: Perspectives and Impacts of Cultural Turns and Beyond, Springer International Publishing, Berlin, 2017
2017 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Flow experience in Design Thinking and practical synergies with Lego Serious Play” in ISPIM Innovation Conference, 2017, Vienne, Austria
2017 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., C. REBOLA, “Human-robot-hybridity in performance: Approaching a new da-sein by disability” in Utopia after the Human, The Fifth Symposium of the Imaginaries of the Future: Historicizing the Present Leverhulme International Research Network, 2017, New York, United States of America
2017 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “From zero to hero: A metaphorical perspective on design thinking” in International Conference “Creative Society: Ideas, Problems, and Concepts”, 2017, Florence, Italy
2017 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “From Zero to Hero: Kreativprojekte sind Heldenreisen” in (Keynote Speaker), Content World: International Content Marketing Conferenc, 2017, Hamburg
2017 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “From Zero to Hero: Vom Was der Digitalität zum Wie der digitalen Transformation” in (Keynote Speaker), Netzgestalten, 2017, Berlin
2017 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Lego … Logo … Luke: A journey to creativity” in BBDO Creative Clash Day, 2017, Düsseldorf
2016 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., D. WEE, “Introduction to touring consumption”, Journal of Consumer Culture, March 2016, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 322-333
2016 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Moments to despair in the co-creative process” in ISPIM Innovation Conference, 2016, Porto, Portugal
2016 Communications in an Academical or Professional conference SONNENBURG, S., “Creativity unlimited: Thinking outside or inside the box” in Imagining Tomorrow Workshop, 2016, Utrecht
2015 Book SONNENBURG, S., D. WEE, Touring consumption, Springer, Wiesbaden, 2015
2013 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., L. BAKER, “Business co-creativity with an eye towards MENA”, Journal of Strategy and Management, May 2013, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 123-138
2012 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., “Brand performances in social media”, Journal of Interactive Marketing, April 2012, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 189-197
2004 Journal article SONNENBURG, S., “Creativity in communication”, Creativity and Innovation Management, December 2004, vol. 13, pp. 254-262