Guest Contribution by Pascal Panagiotidis

Fresh from the mint is a team of six graduates from the product design department of the  Academy of Art and Design in Offenbach am Main who exposed for first time in Satellite Milan 2010. A series of different projects from a group of new talented designers.

Beaugars by Meike Langer
A couple of metal arcs and a wooden bench are joined together under the creative touch of Meike Langer who gives his own point of view about the meaning of multi- functionality and the possible ways furniture may be used. The metal arcs can rotate in 360 degrees giving endless possibilities regarding the shape and the perspective of the furniture piece.  The beaugars are movable and can be either compact or expansive.  No matter how you put it, this is a piece of furniture that adjusts to everyone’s needs and why not, imagination.

Stooltypes_01-04 by Nico Reinhardt
Nico Reinhardt explores the connection and interference among materials, forms and purpose. These basic elements orientate the design process and define the final result. The process leads to a methodology which can be used to connect semi-finished products.  The Stooltypes_01-04 project is characterized by strong geometrical forms following the concept “material, form and purpose”.  The project is the outcome of this material orientated design process.

Hin und Weg by Kathrin Schumacher
A concept and its elements, different parts that can be united in order to give the final image of a concept:  a puzzle that is formed by different parts and each one of us is challenged to assemble it.  This is perhaps the best way to describe Kathrin Schumacher’s concept.  A bank, an upholstery element, a flexible bucket and a storage box, all different elements which can be used in various ways leading to unique results. The only element that remains the same is the starting point; the rest is left to the imagination and creativity of each one of us.

LUZet lamp by Anna Seibel
Anna Seibel “switches on” our imagination with her LUZet lamp.  Starting from the user-object interface on/off she creates a concept, a lamp that is switched on by pulling a band; the durability of the light depends on the length of the band.  As a result when the band has been pulled back into the LUZet the light switches off.  An original project that plays with the way we measure time and the consumption of light.  LUZet is created in such a way to be playful in terms of positioning; it can be either laid on the floor or hanged.  By placing it in a different way the LUZet creates different effects and adds a sophisticated light ambience in every space.

Eclipse by Catherine Werdel
Catherine Werdel customizes the human need for light with her lamp project.  Eclipse is formed by two glass cylinders, wood slats and a metal construction. The higher you place the internal cylinder the less light you get.  Once you move the cylinder down the wood slats open and the light diffuses.  Eclipse changes both light intensity and shape according to anyone’s needs by creating a manual dimmer.

2te Heimat by Susen Windrich
2te Heimat is a concept by Susen Windrich referring to the transformation of two stools.  This is a good example of how a piece of furniture serves different purposes and changes from seating to storage.  Both stools have an additional cubby hole in order to keep small things safe.  The “2te Heimat” (“2nd Home”) refers to a pile of textiles and thin wooden plates. The “Hamburg” uses the textile as a construction inside whilst the “Frankfurt” shows it on the outside.