Aachen is colorful, diverse and combines tradition and modernity in a special way. In the midst of this lively fabric, numerous committed personalities shape our city. They make Aachen better and more unique in their own areas. In order to appreciate this commitment and make their work visible, the City of Aachen's Economic Development Agency and City Management have launched the "Oecher People" exhibition and app.

The exciting and personal life stories of the "Oecher People" can be discovered in a specially developed app. Using augmented reality, you can find out more about personalities from science and research, trade, crafts and industry or the start-up scene and digital economy. All the people presented in the app are Aachen's faces. Their personal stories show the vibrancy and diversity of our city.

The augmented reality app enhances the experience with virtual, interactive real-time elements. Accessible with a mobile device, printed portraits of well-known Aachen personalities can be brought to life. When captured by the app's scanner, the application starts a video. It is as if the portrait itself begins to speak. In this way, the "Oecher People" can tell their story "up close and personal" to anyone who is interested.

To accompany the app, the exhibition will also be presented in the city: during the summer vacations, from Monday, July 14, to Wednesday, August 27, in the Aquis Plaza. There, visitors can get to know ten influential people on the topic of "city center". The exhibition can be found in the basement. Dieter M. Begaß, Head of Aachen's Economic Development Agency, is looking forward to the exhibition in Aquis Plaza: "We are very pleased that the exhibition, which was previously on display at the VHS, is now also being presented in Aquis Plaza in order to raise awareness of retail in our city center - because where better to bring retail to life than here in Adalbertstraße? We would like to express our sincere thanks for the excellent cooperation and hope that many interested people will use the new location to discover the exhibition."