Design Preis Schweiz
January 28, 2011 - February 4, 2011
Swiss designers enjoy an excellent reputation for style, creativity and detailed execution – with creators either adhering to or standing at odds with the image of immaculate cleanliness Switzerland is known for. This January, the best of their designs come to the A+D Museum with the biennial Design Preis Schweiz / Swiss Design Award exhibition.
The Swiss Design Award (Design Preis Schweiz) is a design competition that is open to Swiss designers living both in Switzerland and abroad, and to designers who make their products in Switzerland. Organized by the Design Center in Langenthal, Switzerland, and giving out its prizes every other year, the Design Preis features an international panel of judges among which is a revolving cast of greats such as Konstantin Grcic and Jasper Morrison.
With prizes awarded in categories such as communications, textiles, products, furniture and fashion, the competition has featured such prominent designers and design-minded personalities and businesses as Freitag, Jörg Boner, Pierre Keller, Nicolas Le Moigne, Alfredo Häberli, and many others.
The Swiss Design Award observes and influences the market, honors outstanding achievements and sees its role as that of giving uncompromising encouragement to adventurous ideas. It also takes a global perspective, rewarding designers who have traveled far from their home base and have enriched Swiss design trends with their experience abroad.
A showcase of award-winning and nominated Swiss design projects is currently on a journey around the world. In addition to stops in Geneva, Shanghai, Tokyo, Oslo, Vancouver, Chicago and most recently in Miami for the Design Miami/ fair, the Swiss Design Award exhibit touches down in Los Angeles at the A+D Museum from January 27 to February 4, 2011. The exhibition features works by Albert Kriemler (Akris), Colin Schaelli, Martin Leuthold, Atelier Oï, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Claude Zellweger (One and Co.), Christa Michel and more.
The opening reception on January 27 from 6-9PM will feature a panel discussion with L.A.-based designers, guests from Switzerland and Swiss designers who have made their mark on the West Coast design scene. Aaron Britt, senior editor at Dwell Magazine, will act as panel moderator for the discussion and Swiss panelists include; Sandra Kaufmann (Strada del Sole designer), Colin Schaelli (Design Bureau Colin Schaelli) , Heidi Wegener (Director, Design Preis Schweiz).
The celebration of the Design Preis Schweiz/Swiss Design Awards continues January 28th from 6-9PM for an inCONVERSATION event with industrial and graphic designer, Colin Schaelli, winner of the Swiss Design Award in the Newcomer Category in 2009.
RSVP required for both Swiss Design Award events (rsvp@aplusd.org).
The Design Preis Schweiz / Swiss Design Award exhibition tour is made possible by swissnex San Francisco, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and ThinkSwiss Brainstorm the Future.
This exhibition is part of the U.S.-wide program ThinkSwiss-Brainstorm the Future. As a leading country in science, research and technology, Switzerland is working with its American counterparts to address key global topics. The ThinkSwiss program is produced under the auspice of the Swiss Confederation.
