Magazin

In terms of graphic design, Switzerland is a world leader. Züricher Museum für Gestaltung, the Zurich Design Museum, is currently demonstrating why, in a show that provides an overview of all Swiss design has to offer and is well worth seeing.

Roman Signer: Street imagesMoMA: Cindy ShermanAlbert Oehlen: The old and the newBlickfang: 20th jubilee

Georg-Christof Bertsch, Honorary Professor for Intercultural Design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach, warns designers against making a laughing stock of themselves by striving to be auxiliary artists. It is in fact the increasing complexity of industrial design as a profession itself that is presenting the challenges facing this sector today.

Of course, Coca-Cola, Campbell’s Tomato Soup and Zippo lighters are familiar even to Europeans. But have you heard of Lasko’s “Box Fan”, the “Snuggie” fleece blanket or “Little Red Wagon” for kids? If not, then it’s high time for an excursion into the wonderful world of American consumer goods.

The "Testify! The Consequences of Architecture" exhibition at Deutsches Architektur Zentrum in Berlin explores individual experiences with architectural projects worldwide.

Evidently Friedrich von Borries has the one or other problem with bananas. That being so it cannot harm to read exactly what the fruit has to do with design, low sensations and art – and which concept of design will pop out of the banana skin in the end.

Demographics, infrastructure and resources are key factors driving urban development. Audi is for the second time holding the Audi Urban Future Award, an architecture prize designed to foster research into the mechanisms of urbanity.

Are teachers who are themselves barely able to lay claim to noteworthy practical experience in design in a position to train others? This is a question that has been raised by Egon Chemaitis, retired Professor of Design Foundations at Universität der Künste Berlin. He cites four reasons, which from his point of view have contributed to the shift in design education in the direction of art.

Max Ernst: Laurels and strawberriesJohn Pawson: Photographic perspectivesGuggenheim: Being singular pluralMannheim: Competition Neue Kunsthalle

Design education at HfbK Hamburg has been reorganized, and we reported on the implications. In the highly diversified event entitled "Warum gestalten?" (Why design?) the Design department explored various perspectives from radical urban criticism through to multi-perspective developing.

The new underground extension at Frankfurt's Städel Museum is connected to the outside world by circular skylights. They provide the new hall built under the garden with daylight, which, however, does not quite reach all the exhibits in sufficient measure.

While Deutsche Bahn has long since given up trying to educate their passengers by naming their trains after artists, musicians or writers, in Austria such candid slogans are making their way across the country every single day, providing passengers with food for thought and a voice for social interest groups.

The Stockholm Furniture Fair was dominated by Scandinavian manufacturers offering products that combined high design quality with traditional production in their own special way. An overview of the trade fair that considers itself to be the largest marketplace for Scandinavian design.

TED: Spreading knowledgeSchirn: George CondoETH: Architecture Photography PositionsRoman Ondák: Within ReachJimenez Lai: Cartoonish ArchitectureBetahaus: Salon #4 Design Kritik

Maharam stands for exclusive upholstery fabrics from Eames’ “Dot Pattern” to Hella Jongerius’ “Repeat Classic Stripe”. The book “Maharam Agenda” published by Michael Maharam documents the US textile manufacturer’s development from the very beginnings to the present day. As accomplished as the treatment of the textile collections and multifarious company philosophy may be, the book does not offer us a real peak behind the scenes.

The oft-heard trope "never work with animals or children" may be somewhat extreme but it must be said that when animals are used in advertising, agencies do not always achieve the desired effect. The ploy not only leads to a great deal of speculation when it comes to the animals' emotions (which in turn results in an adherence to clichés) but at times such commercials can even become rather preachy; as evidenced not only by cheetahs, walruses and sharks but chimpanzees too.

"Is design becoming the auxiliary of art?" Thomas Edelmann asked in an article in the Stylepark Magazine where he debated the practice of design training at art academies. Among other things, he specifically addressed current changes at the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts. Friedrich von Borries was prompted by the article to outline his ideas on design.

MoMA: Millennium MagazinesEins Extra: Finding forms through dialogIDD congress: Method to the madnessBerlin: Art from Los Angeles 1950 to 1980Herford: 5th Recycling Design Prize

Are elephants sporting? Hardly. Or have you ever seen a pachyderm out jogging? However, in our digital world they can be both big and very skillful. And contribute to the switch to regenerative energy sources. Believe it or not.

In a special exhibition the Bauhaus Archive in Berlin is presenting images of a 350-year-old imperial villa in Kyoto. Although this may sound somewhat contradictory at first, one look at Yasuhiro Ishimoto's austerely composed photographs and any such misgivings disappear into thin air.

Initially for one year DMY from Berlin is receiving the license to realize “Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany”. After a few initial problems the Federal Ministry of Economics and technology has now presented its new partner for the organization of this highly traditional award. Innovations include the fact that entries will be shown to a broad public during the DMY Festival in the hangar of the former Tempelhof Airport.

Socks for furniture, man-made big cats, glittering crystals or pink colored chandeliers – Maison&Objet in Paris always keeps visitors in suspense. But those who enjoy browsing will also come across a host of subtle beauties.

Ecology: Bundespreis EcodesignMunich: Long Night of ArchitectsStädel Art Academy: Annual exhibitionMesse Frankfurt: AmbienteSmart Interfaçades: Intelligent buildings

New trends in teaching and curricula are influencing future design. In Hamburg design is now only part of art courses. At other art academies, it is becoming a marginal subject. But there's no sign of designers putting up a fight.

Sometimes advertising is just advertising. But sometimes things get serious. At least when things get warlike. Or is it just fooling around? At any rate the commercials by VW and Greenpeace are funny and not to be taken too seriously. And there's even a surprise coming up for Game Day.

From 2014 onwards, the London Design Museum will be at home in the former Commonwealth Institute on Kensington High Street. No less an architect than John Pawson has been commissioned to redesign the building, which has stood empty for a decade, to fit its new purpose. The plans have just been presented in London.

With around 1,300 exhibitors and more than 115,000 visitors, this year's "Swissbau" in Basle was an innovative and highly successful trade fair that satisfied exhibitors and visitors alike. In 2014 "Swissbau" will be held in the architects Herzog & de Meuron's new extension to the complex. In a series of images we present you with the highlights of this year's fair.

Design Museum: Sound DesignJuan Herreros: Dialogue ArchitectureMuseum der Dinge: Istanbul AlphabetBraun Preis 2012: A Better Everyday

Trade fair: Object RotterdamKunsthaus Zürich: Winter TalesDe Singel: Andrea BranziGuggenheim Museum: John ChamberlainMAK: Chinese Stuff

With sustainability and energy efficiency as its topics, the "Swissbau" trade fair in Basle has impressively positioned itself as a smaller Swiss alternative to "Bau" in Munich.

On January 23 to great song and dance, and of course fireworks China welcomed in the Year of the Dragon. We can expect profound changes and plenty of luck. But only those who know the dress code.

Trade fairs thrive on good products and interesting novelties. Only then will the trade fair be attractive in the long term. At the imm in Cologne in 2012 there was quite a lot waiting to be discovered. The Italian big-hitters were back, but the eye-catching designs were to be found at other booths.

What would be more fitting than to show contemporary industrial design in former industrial buildings? Between factory halls, parking lots and graffiti the organizers of Passagen at the Cologne Furniture Fair put on a great show, with high-grade design and local oddities.

What is "Pure Village" in Hall 3.2 at imm cologne? A new trade fair format with a strange name? A self-perpetuating village? However we interpret the "village of purists", it enables the trade fair to present both young companies and brands and established labels in one place.