Modern condition: highlights from Vienna Design Week 2017
Compact but impactful, Vienna Design Week hosted its 11th edition this year. Numerous shows had a defined craft focus, but the annual expo also highlighted the work of ascendent talents and graduates, some with a keen eye on the merging of design into the identity of the charming, and culturally diverse city.
Dubbed ‘Was Ist Loos?’ – a pun referring to Austrian modernist architect Adolf Loos and the German phrase ’What’s going on?’ – Ineke Hans’ showing embraced her studies of contemporary living challenges with a humorous approach, in an exhibition raising questions on how design influences society. The collection is divided into three central themes – ‘Making & Making Sense’, ‘Dealing With the Digital’ and ‘Less’
MA students from the university of ECAL and Swiss bag brand QWSTION joined forces to create ten functional prototypes using their signature CottonShell: a water-resistant and lightweight sustainable material. © ECAL/Younès Klouche
German designer Matthias Lehner teamed up with traditional coppersmith Hegenbart to create a beautiful service consisting of a carafe, tumblers and a tray, all made from naturally aged copper and polished surfaces, which will gracefully oxidise and patinate with use. © Matthias Lehner
‘Design Everyday’ saw a selection of furniture and everyday objects created with the intention of shedding light on Austria’s younger generation of talented designers. Twenty-eight. Photographhy: Christine Wurnig© Vienna Design Week/ Kollektiv Fischka
Designer Katharina Eisenkoeck approached Austrian horn maker Thomas Petz to create an elegant collection of minimal lights in brass and horn, developed with the traditional technique seen in the combs the eponymous Petz brand has been producing since 1862, when Thomas’ grandfather founded the workshop
Celebrating its 200th year, Viennese brand J&L Lobmeyr welcomed designer Jólan Van Der Wiel to delve into its vast company archive for his ‘Passionwege’ project. Applying his playful take on natural phenomena, these fragile vases are inspired by the shape and flow of water. The show also saw the launch of a new book, Lobmeyr Contemporary, featuring a statement by Wallpaper’s Tony Chambers. © Kramar/Kollektiv Fischka
Collective Spazio Pulpo explored the technological effects on humans and how being offline could now be a form of freedom and luxury
Vienna-based design studio mischer’traxler presented an array of geometrically skewed ‘Perspective Boxes.’ © Maria Noisternig/Kollektiv Fischka
Graduates from the RCA met with local craftspeople from Werkraum Bregenzerwald in western Austria, in a workshop merging backgrounds from urban contexts and the regional craft community. © Kramar/Kollektiv Fischka
Sebastian Menschhorn designed a screen inviting viewers to become voyeurs and look into an intimate microcosm consisting of an island sofa, a lamp and a porcelain breakfast set. Photography: Daniela Jakob. © Vienna Design Week/ Kollektiv Fischka
Included in Spazio Pulpo’s showing were these phones, the aim was to display ’design for the (good old) real world’
Work from the esteemed, historical Wiener Silber Manufactur – its roots go back back to 1882 – were evidence of the brand’s meticulous craftsmanship. © Kramar/Kollektiv Fischka