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Explore a selection of media and press relating to Kilian Günthner and his work.

Music Tools and Widgets

Music Tools Website

Music Tools Website

Music Tools on the App Store

Music Tools on the App Store

Music Tools and Widgets is an iOS app for musicians designed, developed, and launched by Kilian Günthner. The app rethinks everyday music utilities such as a tuner, metronome, pitch reference, and keyboard by moving them beyond the traditional app interface and into Apple’s system-level surfaces, including widgets, the Lock Screen, Control Center, Live Activities, and the Dynamic Island. Built for rehearsals, lessons, choirs, orchestras, and individual practice, Music Tools reduces the friction between musical intent and technical action. The project has been covered by TapSmart, Sheconomy, Illumulus, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, and Kölnische Rundschau, and has been recognized for its thoughtful product design, technical execution, and musician-centered interface architecture.

Music Tools and Widgets is an iOS app for musicians designed, developed, and launched by Kilian Günthner. The app rethinks everyday music utilities such as a tuner, metronome, pitch reference, and keyboard by moving them beyond the traditional app interface and into Apple’s system-level surfaces, including widgets, the Lock Screen, Control Center, Live Activities, and the Dynamic Island. Built for rehearsals, lessons, choirs, orchestras, and individual practice, Music Tools reduces the friction between musical intent and technical action. The project has been covered by TapSmart, Sheconomy, Illumulus, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, and Kölnische Rundschau, and has been recognized for its thoughtful product design, technical execution, and musician-centered interface architecture.

Learn more about Music Tools

Choir & Organ
Top 5 essential apps for choral directors and choirs
Music Tools is the best app for everyday musical utilities. Its focus on speed and convenience has made it popular among professional musicians, educators, and conservato...
TapSmart
Music Tools is a toolkit that should be on every musician’s Home Screen
"Music Tools has knocked industry giant Fender off my Home Screen. Let me tell you why."
Illumulus
Reducing Information Friction: What Cutting-Edge Interfaces Teach Us About Operational Continuity
In a deep dive into resilient infrastructure design, Illumulus cites Music Tools as a technical blueprint for the future of "decision-ready systems." The analysis breaks down ho...
Kölner Stadtanzeiger & Kölnische Rundschau (Newspapers)
Smartphone Sets Tempo in Rehearsal Room
He is an inventor with many talents: technically gifted, musical, and tech-savvy. His latest project brings all of this together. Kilian Günthner has developed an app for musici...
Sheconomy
When Design Strikes the Right Note: How a Young Violinist Helped Shape an App for Musicians
Violinist Juli Bazzazi knows that perfect tuning is more than just technique. Together with app designer Kilian Günthner, she shows how creative collaboration between art and te...

Digital Reflected-Light Microscope

The Digital Reflected Light Microscope and Graphene Mapping System is a low-cost scientific instrumentation project developed by Kilian Günthner to make advanced materials research more accessible. High-quality reflected-light microscopes capable of identifying graphene and other ultra-thin materials typically cost thousands to tens of thousands of euros, placing them beyond the reach of many schools and early-stage researchers. Kilian designed a system using custom optics, calibration hardware, and software to retrofit standard microscopes into tools capable of visualizing graphene flakes. The project won first prize in Technology at the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state level of Jugend forscht, and was later cited by researchers as an enabling tool for early graphene experimentation.

The Digital Reflected Light Microscope and Graphene Mapping System is a low-cost scientific instrumentation project developed by Kilian Günthner to make advanced materials research more accessible. High-quality reflected-light microscopes capable of identifying graphene and other ultra-thin materials typically cost thousands to tens of thousands of euros, placing them beyond the reach of many schools and early-stage researchers. Kilian designed a system using custom optics, calibration hardware, and software to retrofit standard microscopes into tools capable of visualizing graphene flakes. The project won first prize in Technology at the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state level of Jugend forscht, and was later cited by researchers as an enabling tool for early graphene experimentation.

Learn more about the microscope

12-Year-Old Kilian Günthner Builds a Super Microscope from Simple “Ingredients”
Kilian Günthner from Stotzheim made it all the way to the top: he won first prize in the field of Technology at the North Rhine-Westphalia state competition Schüler experimentie...
Kölnische Rundschau (Newspaper)
Young Researcher with a Fan Club of His Own
At the 18th state-level Schüler experimentieren competition, the best young researchers from across North Rhine-Westphalia gathered at RWE. Among them was Kilian Günthner...
Kölner Stadtanzeiger (Newspaper)
Best in North Rhine-Westphalia in the Field of Technology
A high-quality reflected-light microscope typically costs between €10,000 and €100,000. Kilian set himself the ambitious goal of building one at a cost of only €200 to €300...
First Place for the Construction of Reflected-Light Microscope
State Victory for Kilian Günthner. The best young researchers from North Rhine-Westphalia met at RWE in Bochum. Among them was...
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
Successes for Young Researchers
Kilian Günthner won the first prize in the subject area of Technology, as well as the Special Award from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)...
Blickpunkt am Sonntag
Terahertz Is the Trump Card
Kilian Günthner, winning first prize in the Technology subject area and the Special Award from the IHK, will participate in the state competition in Bochum from May 8 to 9...
Jugend forscht - State Level (NRW):

1st Prize Technology

Jugend forscht - Regional Level:

1st Prize Technology

Special Prize of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)

Flood Protection System

The Flood Protection System is an award-winning invention by Kilian Günthner that introduced a passive, self-activating approach to protecting doors and windows from floodwater. Inspired by the absorbent polymers used in diapers, the system uses superabsorbent material that expands on contact with water, sealing gaps automatically without electricity, mechanical deployment, or human intervention. Developed after severe rainfall caused water to enter his family home, the invention turned a practical household problem into a novel product design solution. Major institutions like LANXESS AG, Wallburger GmbH, and the University of Cologne invited Kilian to further develop the project. The project received recognition through Germany’s Jugend forscht competition, earned the Nicolaus August Otto Special Prize for Innovation, was covered by major newspapers, and led to Kilian being invited to sign the Golden Book of the City of Cologne.

The Flood Protection System is an award-winning invention by Kilian Günthner that introduced a passive, self-activating approach to protecting doors and windows from floodwater. Inspired by the absorbent polymers used in diapers, the system uses superabsorbent material that expands on contact with water, sealing gaps automatically without electricity, mechanical deployment, or human intervention. Developed after severe rainfall caused water to enter his family home, the invention turned a practical household problem into a novel product design solution. Major institutions like LANXESS AG, Wallburger GmbH, and the University of Cologne invited Kilian to further develop the project. The project received recognition through Germany’s Jugend forscht competition, earned the Nicolaus August Otto Special Prize for Innovation, was covered by major newspapers, and led to Kilian being invited to sign the Golden Book of the City of Cologne.

Learn more about the flood protection system

Learn more about the system

Kölnische Rundschau (Newspaper)
Flood Protection Using Diaper Technology
Kilian Günthner from Mülheim earned an award for an invention inspired by diapers: he installed superabsorbers on doors that swell and seal gaps automatically when flooding occu...
Express (Newspaper)
Cologne Researcher Detects Explosives
September 2007: heavy rain; water runs under the front door and into the hallway. Kilian Günthner reached for a baby diaper and sealed the door with it. That was the beginning o...
Köln Nachrichten - Das Online-Nachrichtenmagazin für Köln
Sixth Innovation Award of the City of Cologne Goes to Cancer Research
Kilian Günther received a special award for his flood protection invention. Cologne law firm Kreisler Selting Werner presented the young inventor with a check for...
Kölnische Rundschau (Newspaper)
Kilian Tackles Flooding with Diapers
Kilian Günthner focused on flood protection in the “Technology” category. His idea came after the September floods that left large parts of Bad Münstereifel under water. In man...
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
A Prize for Cologne Minds
Kilian Günthner developed a flood protection device that can be installed in doors and windows. When water flows in, a “super-absorber” automatically seals everything...
Kölnische Rundschau (Newspaper)
Bad Münstereifel: Kilian's “Diaper Patent” Wins Award
The best young researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia recently competed in Bochum at the junior division of Jugend forscht, Germany’s national science competition, known as Stude...
Stadt Köln - Amt für Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Lord Mayor Schramma Presented the Nicolaus August Otto Prize of the City of Cologne for Innovation
The invention allows doors and windows to be made flood-resistant in an environmentally friendly manner, with low effort and low cost, using so-called superabsorbers, a fleece m...
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
With Diapers, Kilian Made It Onto the Winners' Podium
Kilian Günthner from St. Michael Gymnasium made it onto the winners' podium when the best young researchers...
Stadt Köln - Amt für Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Award Ceremony 2008
A special prize was awarded to Kilian Günthner for the invention “Flood Protection.” The development makes doors and windows flood-resistant in an environmentally friendly way...

Nicolaus August Otto Award for Innovation

Jugend forscht - State Level (NRW):

2nd Prize Technology

Jugend forscht - Regional Level:

1st Prize Technology

Special Prize Environmental Technology

Special Prize Innovation

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