Erich Sommer studied graphic design at the Braunschweig College of Art. Following an internship with Anton Stankowski in Stuttgart and one year as the creative director of a graphic design studio, he began working for Total Design in 1994. After his induction period in Amsterdam, his work involved corporate design for Dutch and German clients of Total Design Maastricht. From the end of 1999 to 2003, he was the general manager of Total Design Cologne. Since 2004 he has worked in Cologne on naming and corporate design projects of the Total Identity Group in his capacity as an independent partner.