Free radio networks are free, WLAN-based radio networks that are not offered by commercial providers, but by private individuals, associations or similar organisations. The users are also the operators of the infrastructure, which can network houses, districts, villages or entire cities from simple home networks.

In 2013, I initiated the association “Freifunk Mainz” and we laid the foundation for free communication in Mainz and a free, i.e. publicly accessible and non-commercial use of digital data networks. The association is not only concerned with the expansion of hotspots in Germany, but also with protesting against legal uncertainty for WLAN operators. There are now over 1,000 access points in Mainz and an independent radio relay network. Almost 2000 people use the network every day.

The internet as a digital network and interface of modern media and a small association that has made it its business to provide people with free internet access by means of self-built infrastructure. Modern meets low budget. What was needed here was a design that combined these two components. The large-scale use of old archive pictures of the radio pioneers served as inspiration. The open-type fonts that give the association its appearance are also low budget. The self-built bi-quad antenna appears in bright red as a graphic key visual.