Design Perspectives

How can a country shape its future? Singapore Design Week 2025 offered a compelling answer in September. Under the theme ‘Nation by Design’, Singapore celebrated its 60th anniversary by…

The Carbonauten have declared war on climate change, adopting the motto “Fuck CO₂”. The start-up from Giengen an der Brenz offers plant-based biochar as a CO₂ sink. They also lock it into…

‘Design alone won’t save the world,’ say Nils Körner and Patrick Henry Nagel of Haus Otto, ‘but it can open up new perspectives.’ The Stuttgart-based duo bring wit and depth to their work,…

The annual exhibition ‘Dare to Design – Spaces of Care’ of the German Design Graduates shows how young designers are responding to current challenges. Director Katrin Krupka talks about the…

How can design serve not just humans, but all living beings? This is the question explored in the Design Museum’s London exhibition ‘More than Human’. Developed in collaboration with the…

To what extent should robots be anthropomorphised? At what point does their resemblance to humans become uncomfortable or even repugnant? These questions are hardly new, nor have they been…

Preserving the legacy of Charles and Ray Eames, carrying on their work and ideas – this is the mission of the newly founded Charles & Ray Eames Foundation. A conversation with founding…

Peter Schmidt spent decades shaping the visual identity of brands and institutions. His design work was as precise as it was poetic. Peter Schmidt passed away in Hamburg on 24 July 2025,…

From jet suits and robo-horses to humanoid load carriers, the future of mobility is experimental, airborne and spectacular. While autonomous vehicles have long been a reality, developers…

A new generation of designers, undertakers and start-ups is rethinking the end of life, offering paper urns, natural burials in cocoons and mourning spaces resembling artist studios. Death…

“Furniture is my great passion.” Few German designers have shaped the international design landscape in recent decades as much as Konstantin Grcic. Now, for the first time, he has stepped…

AI, climate crisis, social change: young people today are confronted with many challenges. A conversation with Julia Kostial, managing director of the Stiftung Deutsches Design Museum, about…

When searching for ‘solar design’, one often encounters technically inclined photovoltaic systems. However, Marjan van Aubel sees herself as an ambassador for solar energy that subtly shapes…

Mühle embodies a living shaving culture. Based in Saxony’s Erzgebirge region, the company is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year – and has long won over an international clientele…

The Leica M series celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024. Since the launch of the M3 in 1954, the series has been synonymous with technical precision, iconic design, and exceptional image…

Swatch watches, Freitag bags and the Helvetica typeface: To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich is showcasing some of its 580,000 items in the permanent ‘Swiss…

Everyone’s talking about smart textiles – fabrics that can do more – and they’re becoming increasingly attractive as the AI revolution continues to unfold. But what exactly does it mean?…

Robots are leaving the factory floor and entering our lives. Whether they are smart household helpers, care assistants or autonomous logistics systems, they are becoming more versatile and…

Erwan Bouroullec is considered a somewhat of a hippie among contemporary designers. His approach is unconventional and dreamy, but still precise and reliable. As part of our Designing…

Design classics never age. They do not lose their relevance because they do not have to pander to the spirit of the times. Wilhelm Wagenfeld designed such classics. Born in Bremen on 15th…

Local production, craftsmanship and innovative ways of reusing materials are the hallmarks of Salone del Mobile 2025. A journey through the international design fair, exploring lava stone,…

Der Lack am deutschen Design blättert, vor allem bei den Zugpferden des einstigen Exportweltmeisters: den Luxuskarossen. Kritiker*innen mokieren sich über grimmige Kühler und wuchtige…

Revoltech develops sustainable alternatives to leather and artificial leather from hemp and algae. The Darmstadt-based start-up received the German Design Award 2025 for its bio-based…

Das Event am 11. März im Hospitalhof Stuttgart hat gezeigt: Design ist ein wichtiger Schlüssel zur Kreislaufwirtschaft. Inspirierende Keynotes, Talks und Panels haben bewiesen, dass…

Whether it's green steel, modular smartphones or zero-waste packaging: In the publication ‘The Major German Brands - Pushing Circular Design’, selected companies were asked how they use…

Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen is a Danish architect, designer, photographer – and a judge at this year’s ICONIC AWARDS. In an interview with ndion, the co-founder of Norm Architects reveals what…

Whether it’s a smartphone, streaming, or sharing service – many (digital) products are designed in such a way that we simply cannot resist them. But what is it that makes them so alluring?…

A side table made of chrome-plated tubular steel with a height-adjustable glass top – a classic today, a design revolution in 1927. With the E1027, architect and designer Eileen Gray created…

With elections just around the corner, there is a lot of talk about manifestos, leaders and coalitions – but little about how policy is actually made. With the Gestaltungszentrale Politik,…

British economist Kate Raworth invented the ‘Doughnut economy’. She and the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) were honoured as ‘Personality of the Year’ at the German Design Awards 2025…

Während der nächsten zwei Jahre feiert Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum in München das 100-jährige Jubiläum ihrer Eröffnung. Aus diesem Anlass haben wir mit der Direktorin, Prof. Dr.…

Freitag became famous for upcycling used truck tarpaulins into bags. Now the Swiss company is working with partners such as Heytex and Covestro to develop a circular truck tarpaulin. In this…

The corporate design of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) tells a story of change and reunification. The book 'Berlin ist Gelb' documents how design created orientation and redefined a…

Our new series explores timeless classics that have shaped modern design. From furniture and technology to everyday objects, we look at how visionary designs continue to influence us today.…

Accessible, user-friendly, intuitive: inclusive design establishes diversity as the norm and develops solutions that make everyday life more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. In this…

In the second part of our feature on circular materials, we look at rigid and flexible materials. Developed from components such as sawdust, fungal structures, building rubble or discarded…

The world of design is constantly changing, driven by technological innovations, social challenges and the desire for sustainable solutions. We spoke to the five finalists of the NEWCOMER…

The young Spanish company Bõln uses an innovative bio-based polyurethane material in the design of its products. The versatile, modular furniture and elements are made from 90% plant waste,…

Creating a distinctive brand identity, managing it successfully and responding to customer expectations is becoming more and more important for business success. Jens Grefen, Senior…

Starke Marken bieten Orientierung, stehen für Sicherheit und Identität. Doch Markenführung verändert sich: Brands tragen heute mehr Verantwortung denn je und werden damit zu Wegbereiterinnen…

How can the ideals of the historic Bauhaus still provide guidance today? In an interview with ndion, Dr Annemarie Jaeggi, Director of the Bauhaus Archive, explains how the institution links…

Fresh from university and straight into industry: How designer Johannes Voelchert turned his bachelor's project into a market-ready innovation with Zurich-based sportswear brand On, and its…

Deutschland schöpft das Potenzial der Designforschung bei weitem nicht aus. Das zeigt eine neue Studie des German Design Council – Rat für Formgebung. Strukturelle Defizite und mangelnde…

Viele Neuheiten, wenige Antworten: Die diesjährige Ausgabe der Büromöbelmesse Orgatec in Köln bot zwar zahlreiche innovative Konzepte, ließ jedoch auch zentrale Fragen zur Zukunft der…

How can washing machines be made to last longer? Dean Weigand, graduate and winner of this year’s German Design Graduates, talks in an interview about repair-friendly design and the trend…

She recently made waves in Amsterdam with a monumental fountain that showcases the power of water and natural stone. The designer and artist is known for her use of sustainable materials,…

The exhibition ‘The Magic Touch: Designing Togetherness’, on show from 19 October 2024 at the Dutch Design Week, brings together projects by German Design Graduates on touch, inclusion and…

Bruno Sacco is one of the most important automotive designers of the 20th century. His vehicle designs have shaped the profile of the Mercedes-Benz brand for decades. It has just been…

In the densely built and heavily sealed Austrian capital, the first effects of climate change have long been felt. It is clear that Vienna Design Week is increasingly focusing on sustainable…

What are the design challenges for an appliance brand? And how complex is it to adopt a circular economy and how can it be done successfully? On the occasion of Miele’s 125th anniversary, we…

ERCO is undoubtedly one of the leading German design brands with a global presence. This year, the company is celebrating its 90th anniversary. To mark this milestone, we spoke to CEO Tim…

Stephan Merkle has joined ABB Building and Home Automation Solutions to build a new design team. In this interview, the new Global Head of Design explains how he is combining global design…

Museums of applied arts are valuable sources of inspiration in an age that needs to decarbonise and fundamentally rethink its production methods. The Grassi Museum in Leipzig, which is…

Terms like “Multispecies Studies” or “Multispecies Justice” demand a shift in human-centered knowledge production. This also has implications for design disciplines. How can the hierarchical…

Designing for a future we want to live in. This is how Johanna Seelmann sees her job as a designer. She sees the object as the medium and research as the basis. We visited the 33-year-old in…

Charming leisurely, humorous, and synergistic: In Chiemgau, the idyllic home of Nils Holger Moormann, a tiny design festival has emerged. Curated by Haus Otto, brands, designers, and…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the design industry. What new opportunities is this technology opening up for designers and manufacturers? A conversation with Berlin-based…

Volkswagen’s Golf is one of Germany’s design icons and best-selling cars, now in its eighth generation: With over 35 million units produced, the VW Golf is without a doubt a great automotive…

serien.lighting is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. A large exhibition recently took place at the Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt am Main, showcasing the fascinating designs…

Quality lighting has become much more visible, thanks in no small part to easier access through intelligent lighting systems. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Innovations in…

Dismountable, repairable, recyclable: These innovations from Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design show how responsible design can be applied in the furniture industry.

Furniture manufacturer COR is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Leo Lübke, managing partner and designer, discusses how the company has maintained quality over the years and…

Hot off the press from our design library: three new publications that look at sustainability in very different ways. Each offers inspiring insights and practical recommendations for a more…

From the provinces out into the world – Hartmut Esslinger founded frog design in Altensteig, made a career at Sony in Japan and developed Apple’s product language in Silicon Valley. Today,…

To some, he was a bad boy, but to Steve Jobs Hartmut Esslinger was exactly the kind of designer Apple needed. Esslinger and his team at frog design not only shaped Apple’s design language in…

On the occasion of Hartmut Esslinger’s 80th birthday, four companions provide insights into their collaboration with the designer. They describe Esslinger’s influence on design, recall…

By their very nature, certain processes of renewal are bound to occur in endless cycles. The recycling of plastics is gaining significant momentum thanks to the Dresden-based startup…

Whether linoleum, paper or aluminium, whether pressed, extruded or 3D-printed: five projects from Milan Design Week that rethink circular material flows.

Great atmosphere, international visitors: The furniture and interior design world is celebrating a big party at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Luxury always works, sustainability not…

Lion Sanguinette and Jonathan Stein were awarded ‘Best of Best’ in the German Design Council’s ‘one&twenty’ competition for young designers during Milan Design Week. They won over the jury…

New corporate design and more: Finnish glass manufacturer Iittala has completely revamped its brand identity. A new logo and the colour "fire-yellow" are intended to give the brand a fresher…

His designs are a mixture of pop and high-tech. They are original, often extravagant, sometimes extreme. The opulent exhibition of Marc Newson’s work from the last 40 years shows why the…

They felt like pirates and stole the show from big brother IBM with a small computer and an advertising clip: Forty years ago, Apple introduced the first Macintosh and fundamentally changed…

“Made in Italy” has stood for uncompromising quality standards paired with extravagant innovation that nevertheless remains anchored in tradition and cultural heritage. The book “Italian…

They organise exhibitions, design objects and intervene in current debates. Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin from Formafantasma are among the leading voices in design by addressing the…

Design beyond uniform mass production: he experimented with plastic and felt, loved bright colours, played the joker and anarchist, and never lost any of the radicalism of a child’s…

The Swedish design studio Form Us With Love creates concepts, furniture and products for well-known companies such as Ikea and Hem. We visited the two founders during the Stockholm Design…

Pioneer, teacher, theorist, enlightener, tango dancer: Gui Bonsiepe designed the famous 'Opsroom' in Chile and played a key role in the development of the discipline of interface design.…

Embracing Collaboration over Isolation: Meet Lisa Ertel and Anne-Sophie Oberkrome, the dynamic duo behind Studio Œ. Whether working as part of a collective or as a pair, their approach is…

More and more companies are focussing on materials that are based on the growth of microorganisms such as algae, fungi and bacteria. This trend was confirmed by the latest edition of…

Product design characterises brand identity and has a significant influence on consumer perception. Nevertheless, the German Brand Monitor, the decision-maker study on brand management,…

Für Werner Sobek ist es eine Pflichtaufgabe der Menschheit in den kommenden Jahrzehnten: Emissionsfrei und mit weniger Material für mehr Menschen bauen. Nicht ohne Ambivalenzen betrachtet…

Geschichte entsteht nicht von selbst. In Deutschland hat Gert Selle, Kunstpädagoge und später Professor für ästhetische Erziehung, seit den bewegten Siebzigerjahren tatkräftig an einer…

Timelessness as a vision, craftsmanship as a basis: Jil Sander, who was honoured with the German Design Award's Personality award for her life's work in 2018, is an exceptional figure in…

Many gaps, little context: Daniel Hornuff's book "Keine Kompromisse? Wilhelm Wagenfeld und der Nationalsozialismus" looks at the life and work of the influential designer during the National…

Mit ihrem Designed Realities Lab an The New School in New York überschreiten Anthony Dunne und Fiona Raby einmal mehr die Grenzen ihrer eigenen Disziplin. Gemeinsam mit Philosoph*innen,…

Städte tragen entscheidend zum Klimawandel bei. Gleichzeitig sind sie vor allem aufgrund ihrer Lage und baulichen Strukturen besonders von dessen Auswirkungen betroffen. Während die…

Bruno Sacco left his mark on Mercedes design between 1975 and 1999. Many of the models created under his aegis are now among the brand's classics. Bruno Sacco is now 90 years old.

Die Designakademie Saaleck versteht Design als zukunftsweisende und grenzüberschreitende Praxis. Damit markiert sie einen Neuanfang für die ehemaligen Saalecker Werkstätten, die einst auf…

Seit diesem Sommer steht „VERD°“ in Frankfurt am Main: Als Prototyp einer seriellen, baumartigen Struktur, die in den von zunehmender Hitze geplagten Städten für Abkühlung sorgen soll. Der…

Archizoom, Alchimia, Memphis und weiter: Andrea Branzi hat in vielen Formationen der kritischen italienischen Designavantgarde mitgemischt. Ob als Designer oder Theoretiker, im Mainstream…

Als Lichtplanerin gestaltet Ulrike Brandi Architektur und Stadträume mit Licht – und gehört in diesem Feld zu den prägenden Persönlichkeiten dieses Berufszweigs. Ein Gespräch mit Ulrike…

Sie sind reduziert, spartanisch – quasi die Underdogs des Möbeldesigns: Hocker. Zu den Klassikern dieses Genres zählt unbestritten der „Stool 60“, den Alvar Aalto vor 90 Jahren entworfen…

Von der Industrieruine zum Designlabor: Das Magasin Électrique, in dem das Atelier LUMA im südfranzösischen Arles seinen neuen Arbeitsort hat, ist ein Bekenntnis zu „bioregionalen…

Computer, in welcher Form auch immer, finden sich heute überall. Wo aber kommt das her, was wir gemeinhin als „Computer“ bezeichnen? Der opulent gestaltete Band „The Computer“ aus dem…

Es ist ein gängiges Klischee: Archive sind verstaubte, langweilige Orte, an denen sich Wissenschaftler*innen in spezielle und ungewöhnliche Themen vertiefen. Das Gespräch mit der Leiterin…

Ikea, das „unmögliche Möbelhaus aus Schweden“, feiert 80. Geburtstag. So clever hat niemand sonst Wohnversprechen der Moderne wahr gemacht und die Art und Weise revolutioniert, wie man sich…

Alison Mears und Jonsara Ruth teilen eine Leidenschaft: gesunde Materialien. Die Architektin und die Designerin gründeten zusammen das Healthy Materials Lab (HML) an der Parsons School of…

Erst Norwegen, dann Belgien, jetzt Kanada: Neue Reisepässe sollen nicht nur sicherer werden, ihr Grafikdesign soll auch originell und ansprechend sein. Das weckt Sympathien und dient dem…

Geta Brătescu und Sou Fujimoto, Thomas Ruff und Rodney Graham: Die sinnlich-minimalistischen Entwürfe des Schweizer Modeunternehmens Akris leben vom Dialog mit Künstler*innen und…

Wir verbringen bis zu 90 % unseres Lebens in Innenräumen – die unsere Bedürfnisse oft vernachlässigen. Stress- und Schadstoffbelastung sind in geschlossenen Räumen, die wenig Tageslicht…

Zwischen Sustainability-Versprechen und CO2-Zertifikaten auf Websites und in Werbekampagnen der Möbelindustrie könnte der Eindruck aufkommen, als hätte diese sich in den letzten Jahren in…

The debate about the pros and cons of "all gender toilets" has long since flared up. Because we are confronted with the question of gender diversity almost every day when we go to a public…

He mastered the subtle as well as the striking, juggled art-historical quotations and was sometimes also very commercial: there are already a whole series of voluminous books about the New…

Sie trugen dazu bei, konventionelle Möbel zu überwinden und wurden zu einem Symbol für ein entspanntes, weniger bürgerliches Leben: Die Sofaelemente Togo von Ligne Roset feiern ihren 50.…

A film about emoticons and their ubiquitous descendants, emojis, explores the question of where the revolution of small emotion signs is leading and how images are changing our culture.

The 33rd Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games‘ image emphasises republican principles, historical relevance, and creative elegance. Also, the pictograms for the individual sports follow their…

Er gehört fraglos zu den engagiertesten Persönlichkeiten der deutschen Designszene: Tassilo von Grolman. Als Designer dachte er schon früh transdisziplinär und bewegte sich auf vielen…

Ein streitbarer Tausendsassa war er schon: Am 15. Dezember wäre der Typograph, Grafiker, Berater, Schriftgelehrte, Essayist, Redner und Hochschullehrer Kurt Weidemann 100 Jahre alt geworden.

Als Student des Industriedesigns an der Ulmer Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG Ulm) erlangte Hans (Nick) Roericht mit seinem Stapelgeschirr TC 100 für den Porzellanhersteller Thomas…

Circular products conserve resources and reduce emissions. Young designers in particular are facing up to the challenges of our time with designs that leave linear economic activity behind…

Pli selon Pli: Zum Tod des japanischen Modedesigners Issey Miyake

Fritz Eichler (1911–1991) war vielleicht der wichtigste Design-Manager der jungen Bundesrepublik. Lange bevor diese Berufsbezeichnung üblich wurde, prägte er die gestalterische und…

Am 20. Mai wurde Dieter Rams neunzig Jahre alt. Seine puristischen Entwürfe für Braun haben das Industriedesign entstaubt und ihn weltweit berühmt gemacht. Einige wurden zu Vorbildern von…

Always open to encounters and suggestions: The industrial designer Peter Raacke experienced and helped shape design history in Germany. Now he passed away in Berlin at the age of 93.

The best-selling piece of furniture of all time: With “Monobloc”, Hauke Wendler has succeeded in making a great documentary that is much more than a film about design. He tracks down the…