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. In January 2011, the best of Swedish design came to 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 including 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 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. 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.
This exhibition was 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.
