Genau

Genau was the first design I made specifically for sale. It was inspired by a friend from California who has lived in Germany for so long that she has started bringing German expressions into her English. She was always saying “exactly”, but it was as though she had simply adopted the German word “genau” and was using it in English.

Germans say “genau” all the time. It can mean “exactly”, but depending on the context it can also be more like “right”, “okay” or “sure”. It is also a wonderfully useful way of showing that you’re listening and following along. When I explain it to tourists, I sometimes use the example of one person talking while the other person just nods and says “genau, genau, genau”. The design started on bags and has since ended up on all kinds of things, including mugs, hats and stickers. People really seem to love it.