7 July 2025

Ingo Kreutz at the German Brand Awards 2025 ceremony in Berlin (photo: Pixum)

 

In an era where even our memories are digitised, standing out in the crowded European photo printing market is no small achievement. Pixum, one of Germany’s most established digital photo service providers, has done just that—earning the Gold Trophy at the German Brand Awards 2025. Recognised as an “Excellent Brand” in the Trade, Retail & E-Commerce category, Pixum celebrates this milestone in the same year it turns 25.

“Like a Birthday Present”

“This award is incredibly meaningful to us,” said Ingo Kreutz, Lead PR Manager at Pixum, in conversation with MoveTheNeedle.news. “It’s a success that truly belongs to the entire Pixum team because everyone contributes to building our brand. And since we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, it almost feels like receiving a birthday present.”

Founded in 2000 in Cologne, Pixum was among the first digital photo labs in Germany to embrace online ordering and has since grown into a household name for high-quality photo books, prints, wall décor, and customised gifts. The company has built a loyal customer base in Germany and across Europe by marrying German precision with digital convenience—a formula that’s only become more powerful with time, as underscored by their recent win at the German Brand Awards. The jury praised Pixum for its brand consistency and customer-centric focus—elements that are particularly important in the highly competitive and often price-sensitive photo services sector.

User Experience That Delivers

Kreutz highlights Pixum’s strength in delivering a seamless customer experience—from uploading photos to receiving a printed product in the mailbox. “Pixum stands for fast and simple design, outstanding product quality, and excellent customer service,” he explained. “These are not just claims—we’ve been recognised for them repeatedly by independent reviewers and magazines.”

A key driver of that experience is the Pixum App, which recently won the TIPA World Award for “Best Consumer Photo Print App” for the second consecutive year. “We communicate our unique selling points clearly and consistently throughout the customer journey. Our customers know exactly what Pixum stands for, and this clarity is a major factor in our ongoing success,” said Kreutz.

Navigating a Mature Market

According to market forecasts, the global photo printing market is expected to reach over $30 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for personalised photo products and premium-quality printing. Germany, Pixum’s home market, is one of Europe’s most mature photo printing markets, with brands competing not just on price and quality but increasingly on technology and user experience. Traditional desktop ordering is giving way to mobile-first workflows, and AI is redefining how consumers design and personalise photo products.

AI-Powered Innovation

Pixum has always been an early adopter of new generation technology in the printing space. “We recognised the shift towards mobile devices very early on,” said Kreutz. “That’s why we developed the Pixum App for both Android and iOS and incorporated AI to simplify product design.”

As one of Pixum’s standout features, Kreutz highlighted "Magic Books", a function within the Pixum App that uses AI to automatically create layout drafts for photo books based on the user’s uploaded images. “Customers can accept or customise the results. It significantly speeds up the process and lowers the barrier for people who want beautiful photo books without the hassle.”

Pixum sees AI as more than just a tool for convenience—it’s a gateway to value-added innovation. “We are currently working on several new AI-driven projects that we believe will deliver real value for our customers,” Kreutz added. “What’s certain is that our customers can look forward to some exciting developments.”

Looking Ahead

As AI transforms the broader print and design industries, companies like Pixum are positioning themselves not just as printing providers, but as experience brands. By staying true to its core values of quality, usability, and customer care—while integrating next-gen technology—Pixum exemplifies how heritage and innovation can work hand in hand.

For more information, go to http://www.pixum.com/