Stylepark special on the theme of young creative talent | STYLEPARK

YOUNG TALENTS

What subjects are currently at the top of the agenda for young creatives? What ideas do they have for shaping our future through design and architecture? In our Stylepark special on the theme of young talent, we highlight personalities of the new generation whose work has particularly caught our eye recently and provide an insight into debates, research, experiments and projects around the concept of education.

The force of choice

Working together as Estúdio Rain, Mariana Ramos and Ricardo Innecco handle the kind of projects and products that offer us new insights. In the process, they explore the very limits of various materials. In this interview, they explain what is important to them.

Designing as a Method

Johanna Seelemann is curious and does not let circumstances or her own assumptions stop her from questioning them. Her research method is designing, her laboratory the world of materials. In this interview, she gives us an insight into her way of thinking and working.

Between Art and Architecture

Sarah Behrens and Ina Westheiden from The Baukunst Dynamites in Stuttgart see their office as an architecture label that operates at the interface of art and architecture. Their "Doppelgänger reloaded" project, for which they designed an extension for the home of an art foundation, provides a good illustration of the approach.

Two in one

Sam Lombardo recently completed his studies at écal – his graduation project is "The table of the future", which can also be used as a stovetop. In this interview, he tells us how his idea differs from those of established manufacturers.

Symbiotic Ornaments

Line & Raphaël combine traditional carpentry with the possibilities of 3D printing for their furniture and objects: using contemporary tools, they revitalise the art of marquetry.

At Home on the Road

Anton Defant has attracted the attention of the design world with his Viennese thesis project entitled "Ballast". And that's not all he has to offer.

Smooth transitions

A lot has happened for the Budde design studio since it was founded four years ago. Our author Kathrin Spohr has researched the common essence of their designs and what they are planning this year.

Building Bridges

The WINT Design Lab develops sustainable futures. Based at Tegel Airport in Berlin, on the basis of practical work, the team explores holistic design strategies, new hybrid tools, and generating interdisciplinary knowledge. In the following interview they tell us what they are currently working on.

Design Without Frills

Kerstin Pfleger and Peter Paulhart founded Studio RE.D in Vienna in 2022, with their own experimental workshop and office. We spoke to the two to find out what moves, inspires, motivates them and what they expect from the future.

Re-thinking Foam

With the vision of making the world a better place, Oslo-based designer Kim Lund is researching what a sustainable sofa could look like. To this aim, he is questioning petroleum-based furniture upholstery.

Brewed Furniture

Judith Burgard studies industrial design at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle and has designed the "Instant" furniture series. Hot water is used to give it the final shape. We asked her how the design process works and what characteristics the wood-based material for the "brewing furniture" must have.

From Grey to Black

Helena Fricke and Sophie Kling have developed a water treatment system for the bathroom at home. Their graduation project at HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd should be of lasting benefit and not remain a distant dream of the future.

All-embracing

With Office of Tangible Space, Michael Yarinsky and Kelley Perumbeti design on a wide variety of scales and project types. A portrait of the interdisciplinary studio from Brooklyn.

"There is no culture of criticism in design"

He leads interviews and designs situations: A conversation with the young German designer Silvio Rebholz.

Shining future

Elena Kayser recently attracted attention to herself as part of the "Mono Residency" when she reinterpreted a classic: the teapot from the Mono manufactory. For her jewellery label Studio Èna, the up-and-coming designer works with a traditional material that has lately had a shadowy existence in design: pewter.

Materials, crafts and community

Lærke Ryom is a Copenhagen based furniture designer, curator and co-founder of the exhibition platform Ukurant. We spoke about the magic of working with hands, new aesthetic perspectives on materials, and finding your way as a designer in a post-graduate world.

Transparency of Origins

Xenia Watson is studying Product Design at the HfG Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach. The result of “Within – A Shadow in Knitwear” – her term project – is a cardigan with integrated codes and every fiber of it attests to the appreciation of wool as a material.

Open space

What can an inclusive sports and culture park look like that has its place under a motorway bridge? Students from the Urban Design department at HfG Offenbach answered this question for the non-profit association Vair e.V. under the project name "Vairplay" with designs that were recently presented during the HfG Offenbach tour.

Desirable Deviations

A visit to Berlin’s Lichtenberg district to meet young designer Matthias Gschwendtner, who is confidently at home in both the digital and analog worlds – and is happy to leave part of his design work to chance.

Transfer of knowledge

The designer and architect Patricia Urquiola is one of the mentors of the project "Mentorship Milano": The project, conceived and promoted by the city councillor Alessia Cappello and the city of Milan, is the first public and free mentoring project by women for women between the ages of 16 and 30 in the region. She explains the concept to us in an interview.

Tradition from the 3D printer

Honoka Lab, a design collective from Japan, was honoured with first place at this year's SaloneSatellite Award. For their Tatami ReFAB Project, they use 3D printing technology and recycled materials to bring a centuries-old tradition into the modern age: discarded tatami mats serve as the base material for furniture.

Connecting the dots

Levitating between art, sculpture and functional design, the works of Simon Mattisson are challenging outdated perceptions about form and function and what a piece of furniture is and can be.

All under control?

What would it be like if our society were controlled exclusively by algorithms? Under the direction of Prof. Fabian Hemmert, students from the Industrial Design department at the University of Wuppertal have developed dystopian products that are intended to sharpen our view of undesirable futures.

Leap forward

Since its foundation by Marva Griffin, SaloneSatellite has given maximum visibility to the work of young designers, many of whom are now internationally renowned. Stylepark had the great honour of being part of the jury for the SaloneSatellite Award 2023. These are the winners.

Design that supports people

Lise Vester is a young, up-and-coming designer from Denmark. In her work, she prefers to focus on lighting objects and design that have a positive effect on people’s well-being. She explains her concept in an interview.

No limits

Hong Kong and Istanbul, technology and design: Studio Yellowdot’s projects frequently blend opposites – with quite exceptional results.

A piece of her

Viola Beuscher has an unmistakable design language: pure, minimalist, and elegant. The ceramics designer places great importance on ensuring that this is consistently reflected in her products. Hardly anyone would suspect that Beuscher actually taught herself the craft of pottery.

Rethinking systems

Changing the way we understand, perceive and relate to materials: That’s the aim of Bonnie Hvillum, who’s focus is on human interaction with the world. The interdisciplinary projects she tackles straddle science, biology, chemistry, design and art.

Perfect crafts for Idealists

People like Robert Comploj are hard to find. At his studio he combines art and design with the craft of glassblowing. It is currently sidewalks, manholes, hydrants and tram tracks that represent the inspiration for his work.

The Good in Beauty

Dominique Béolet’s work as a designer ranges from specific objects to several hundred square meters of exhibition space. He focuses not only on an attractive appearance and practicality but also and primarily on sustainability: For the cosmetics company nkm he recently designed a line of bottles for a reusable system that allows an almost zero-waste recycling cycle with low carbon emissions.

Passion for light

They go by the name From Industrial Design: Cesare Bizzotto and Tobias Nitsche focus on the industrial design process involved in furniture and luminaires. Under the label From Lighting the latter are proving hugely successful at finding their way onto the wider market at present.

Alternators

He works somewhere between design, sculpture and puppetry, says Simon Schmitz about his work as a luminaire designer. One thing is certain: The Berliner-by-choice is a tinkerer who stages light like a material.

Of Chandeliers and Everyday Things

Young Vienna-based designer Anna Zimmermann takes a holistic approach to design – for everything from objects to space to the pictorial idiom she uses.

Designing with the sun

Marjan van Aubel Studio creates solar design that translates complex technology into aesthetic objects that can enrich our everyday lives – like "Sunne", a self-powered solar lamp that captures, stores and generates light indoors. She gives us an insight into her work in the interview.

The new self-evidence

Design has always been a discipline of questioning, experimenting and reinterpreting. For some years now, a particularly critical generation of designers has been entering the labour market. Ronja Reuber is an example of young designers who want to offer an alternative to the throwaway mentality.

At the interface

Antrei Hartikainen realises projects from Fiskars Village in southern Finland which can be product design as well as sculpture or installation. The designer, master carpenter and sculptor translates the transitions between the disciplines into extraordinary works.

Not made to stay in the shop window

Benedikt Stonawski and Hauke Unterburg founded ante up – a studio for circular product and furniture design – in 2020. In addition to design, they have since worked as consultants for companies on the topic of eco-design principles, sustainable materials and production methods. We met them for an interview.

Impetus for change

“Designing Design Education. White Book on the Future of Design Education” is the name of the latest publication from the iF Design Foundation – a reference work that raises questions on the form design education should take in future. In an interview, its author Prof. René Spitz gives us his summary.

Diverse in the future

Spot on for six young female designers whose work caught our attention at the SaloneSatellite and Milan Design Week.

Shaping the future

The design studio and social enterprise Weserholz from Bremen uses design as a tool: From educational programmes to classic cooperation with companies, the team offers ecological and socially sustainable design. Industrial and product designer Armando Cornejo Chavez tells us in an interview what that means exactly.

Search for meaning in design

Studying sustainable design – how does it work? Prof. Jörg Gätjens, lecturer at the public school ecosign/Akademie für Gestaltung in Cologne explains to us the concept for a design education that focuses on a sense of responsibility for the environment and society.

Overcoming boundaries

For Palermo’s Studio Marginal design is a participatory undertaking. Together with students and migrants they explore material cultures.

Drawing Circles

The exhibition “The Circle. The most iconic shape redesigned” recently opened at Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Cologne (MAKK). The curator is Wendy Plomp, founder of Dutch design collective Dutch Invertuals. In this interview, she explains the concept to us.

Good Intuition

With her creations, designer Tanita Klein offers practicable answers to complex questions. Current example: Her modular kitchen system "POSSI", which can be flexibly adapted to rooms and living situations.

Courage for the new

What distinguishes young lighting design today? It’s the desire to experiment, sensitivity for materials and traditions – and pursuing one’s own path with conviction. Including in times of crisis.

Intuitive mediation

Hemmo Honkonen designs furniture with a surprising component – preferably made of wood. Sometimes it serves as an instrument as well.

Sustained dialogue

With the exhibition "Workspace in progress" at the MAKK, Wagner Living, in collaboration with Stefan Diez, Matylda Krzykowski and students from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, offers a variety of approaches to the topic of New Work.

Design as a tool

As a young graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven, Paulien Nabben sees her task in the careful design of her environment in order to strengthen the well-being of all of us in this way. The designer is not only fascinated by the complexity of natural systems, she also wants to explore their behaviour and interactions.

Reflective and discerning

Four young designers we want to see, read and hear more of in the future.

In the area of tension

Industrial designer Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska has been running her own studio in Warsaw for almost ten years now. Alongside designing products and furniture, she works as a curator and participates in research-based design projects. She gave us an insight into her current projects in an interview.

Impetus for change

“Designing Design Education. White Book on the Future of Design Education” is the name of the latest publication from the iF Design Foundation – a reference work that raises questions on the form design education should take in future. In an interview, its author Prof. René Spitz gives us his summary.

Fresh design from Sweden

"Room Service": final-year students at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm have collaborated with Sweden's leading furniture manufacturers to develop product prototypes that are being presented as a hybrid exhibition during the current Stockholm Design Week.

Glass in motion

Jonathan Radetz is currently experimenting with solid-colored cast glass, which he uses to create a fascinating sense of dynamism, one which allows the apparent solidity of his materials to appear more diffuse.

Anti-work furniture

The studio chmara.rosinke from Berlin and Vienna has designed its first office furnishings with the OFIS Collection. Five constructivist anti-designs that question old work typologies - and literally demand a new attitude.

In the process

Which products for new work are currently being developed by young designers? Which concepts do they see as forward-looking? Stylepark has selected 15 ideas for you.

Precision work

The works by Guglielmo Poletti strike a balance between aesthetics and construction. In the interview the designer explains how he treads the fine line and giving us insights about the new table collection "L45" born from his ongoing collaboration with Desalto.

Harmony in contrast

Dimitri Bähler likes balance – between a personal and a user-oriented approach, between simple and complex, decorative and functional. Since 2014 he has been walking the line within the different poles of design from his studio in the Swiss town of Biel.

Boundless creativity

“We have a great urge to experiment,” says Yael Mer. She and Shay Alkalay founded the studio “Raw Edges” back in 2007 and have been coming up with unusual approaches in design ever since.

STYLEPARK ZOOM IN with RelvãoKellermann

Ana Relvão and Gerhardt Kellermann are among the most remarkable young designers in Germany. Their work is firmly rooted in the tradition of German industrial design, which always develops the form from the function of the respective object.

A solid start

With the “UNO” table collection, Moritz Bannach has launched his own studio in style. We talked to him about pie in the sky and those “wow” moments.

PREVIEW - STYLEPARK X IMM COLOGNE 2020

Open for everything

The young studio MUT Design from Valencia has designed “Das Haus” for imm cologne 2020. It is inspired by the fair’s focal topic of “Indoors and Outdoors”.

Let’s become more sophisticated!

Volker Albus, who teaches Product Design at HfG Karlsruhe, makes the case for offering a range of subjects with an extremely broad focus. In his opinion, this is the only way to cope with the diversity of social, technical, ecological and economic circumstances, which nowadays present a challenge to design. In his opinion, merely calling for greater artistic freedom does notachieve anything.

Proximity and distance to social circumstances

Jesko Fezer has been Professor of Experimental Design at the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg since the winter semester 2011-2. In his opinion design is no more and no less than the projective exploration of the world in creative terms, and a university of art the right place for teaching it.

Plagues by the idea of rebellion

Art has a problem with design, proposes Michael Erlhoff, Professor of Design Theory and History at Cologne's International School of Design. He focuses on the social perception of design and hopes that the technocrats will get worn down.

Design as a social force?

Encouraged by this teaching experiences at European design academies, Harald Gründl of Eoos Design Studio contributes four hypotheses on design to the debate on design training

Thought comes first

For Helmut Staubach, Professor of Product and Transportation Design at Universität Berlin Weißensee the ambiguity of the boundaries between art and design constitutes an opportunity for both disciplines.

It’s obviously just too complicated for some people

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.

What can design do? Response to a banana critic

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.

New formats? Yes please!

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.

Ways out of “voluntary self-restriction”

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.

Why are bananas curved? or “What is design?”

"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.

Design because a sub-discipline of art

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.