Spiegel Institut

Spiegel Institut is a German research and consulting institute specializing in consumer research and user experience (UX) consulting. Founded in 1950 by Prof. Dr. Bernt Spiegel as Germany's first market-psychology institute, the company has evolved into an internationally active consultancy that helps companies develop user-centered products and services. Its purpose is to empower companies to make user-centered products for people, bringing the user and consumer perspective into the product creation process. The institute is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, and operates additional offices in Ingolstadt, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Braunschweig, Munich, Beijing, and Shanghai. This network allows Spiegel Institut to serve a predominantly international clientele, many of whom are global players. National studies are conducted in its own test studio in Mannheim. The company's service portfolio spans consumer research (customer experience, concept, product, image and brand), user experience consulting (ideation, innovation management, human-centered design, UX evaluation), usability engineering and testing (context analysis, user requirements, interaction design, usability testing, technical documentation), UX empowerment (UX process consulting, UX design implementation, UX strategy development, UX coaching), and data consulting (data science, data mining, exploratory data analysis, data modeling). In 2025, Spiegel Institut celebrated its 75th anniversary. The same year, the Spiegel Institut Group was acquired by Visteon Corporation, a global automotive technology company, making it a subsidiary. Prior to this, the group had expanded through acquisitions, including the Munich-based HMI prototyping specialist Usaneers GmbH. Leadership transitioned to Dr. Andree Kang as CEO as part of a succession plan. The company has a strong commitment to social engagement, supporting initiatives such as Aufwind Mannheim since 2017, and in 2023 received the Lea-Mittelstandspreis for social responsibility in Baden-Württemberg. With a team of thinkers, optimists, UX professionals, consultants, designers, researchers, and inventors, Spiegel Institut continues to bridge the gap between manufacturers and end customers, ensuring that human needs remain at the center of technological innovation.

Spiegel Institut was founded in 1950 by Prof. Dr. Bernt Spiegel in Mannheim, Germany, as the country's first market-psychology institute. This pioneering step laid the foundation for a company that would consistently bring psychological and user-centric perspectives into product development and market research. In the 1960s, the institute continued to establish itself as a specialist in market psychology. The 1980s and 1990s saw further growth and consolidation of its research methodologies. By the 2000s, the institute had broadened its focus to include user experience consulting, reflecting the growing importance of usability and human-centered design in technology-driven industries. The 2010s marked a period of geographic expansion. In August 2010, activities in the Stuttgart region began from the Mannheim location, and in July 2012, a dedicated office was opened in Stuttgart to meet growing demand, particularly from technical industries. In 2012, offices were also established in Shanghai and Beijing, China, to better serve international clients operating in the Chinese market and to support Chinese companies. In 2013, a project office was opened in Hamburg, followed by a project office in Munich in 2014, driven by increased project volume and field tests in e-mobility. Later in the 2010s, offices were founded in Weissach and Braunschweig. In the 2020s, the institute continued to evolve. It acquired Usaneers GmbH, a Munich-based HMI prototyping specialist, expanding its capabilities in human-machine interface design. A leadership succession saw Dr. Andree Kang become CEO. In 2025, the Spiegel Institut Group celebrated its 75th anniversary and was acquired by Visteon Corporation, a global automotive technology company. This acquisition integrated the institute into a larger corporate structure while allowing it to maintain its brand and specialized services. Throughout its history, Spiegel Institut has remained committed to its core purpose: empowering companies to make user-centered products for people. Its long-standing expertise, international presence, and dedication to social responsibility have solidified its reputation as a trusted partner for global players.

• 2025

  Celebrates 75th anniversary and is acquired by Visteon Corporation.

• 2023

  Awarded the Lea-Mittelstandspreis for social responsibility in Baden-Württemberg.

• 2017

  Begins supporting Aufwind Mannheim.

• 2014

  Project office opened in Munich.

• 2013

  Project office opened in Hamburg.

• 2012

  Offices opened in Stuttgart, Shanghai, and Beijing.

• 2010

  Activities in the Stuttgart region begin from the Mannheim location.

• 1950

  Founded by Prof. Dr. Bernt Spiegel as Germany's first market-psychology institute in Mannheim.

Premium research and consulting institute bridging technology and human needs, with a strong international focus and a heritage as Germany's first market-psychology institute.

• Consumer Research

  Customer experience, concept, product, image and brand research.

• User Experience Consulting

  Ideation, innovation management, human-centered design, UX evaluation.

• Usability Engineering & Testing

  Context analysis, user requirements, interaction design, usability testing, technical documentation.

• User Experience Empowerment

  UX process consulting, UX design implementation, UX strategy development, UX coaching.

• Data Consulting

  Data science, data mining, exploratory data analysis, data modeling.

1. 1Spiegel Institut | Consumer Research & User Experience Consultingspiegel-institut.de
2. 2Unsere Meilensteine: Die Geschichte des Spiegel Institutspiegel-institut.de
3. 3Das sind WIR | Spiegel Institutspiegel-institut.de
4. 4Soziales Engagement | Spiegel Institutspiegel-institut.de
5. 5Spiegel Institut (Germany) - Wikidatawikidata.org