Designpreis Deutschland 2010

Nomination for the Design Prize 2010 of the Federal Republic of Germany

The most important of all prizes…

The Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany is awarded by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology. It is the most important national prize of this type with which top design achievements have been honoured for 40 years now: it was awarded for the first time in 1969 - at that time still under the name “Bundespreis Gute Form“.

The German Design Council with its head office in Frankfurt on the Main is responsible for the organization and the awarding of the Prize. Its foundation in the year 1953 was based on a resolution of the German Bundestag. The cause for this was the growing information needs of the German economy concerning the subject of design. Today, this institution ranks among the internationally leading competence centres and supports business enterprises by qualified advice, competitions and exhibitions at the market-effective utilization of above-average communication or design quality.

No other prize demands similarly high standards as the Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany for which one can not simply apply. Only those business enterprises or products are eligible which have already won a relevant national or international prize and then are nominated by the economics ministries and senators of the German federal states or the German Design Council. That is why it is appreciatively called the “most important of all prizes“.

The jury gives an award for up to 25 achievements (category: communication design) and up to 25 products (category: product design) respectively, and in each of the two categories, up to a maximum of 20 prizes in silver and 5 in gold are awarded. In addition, an outstanding “design” person is elected, and in future, a junior designer will also be honoured with an endowed prize. These strict limitations also impressively underline the high standards which are applied. The same is true for the demanding assessment criteria. The range extends from functionality and practical value in use to design quality and degree of innovation and on to longevity and ecological compatibility. The notification concerning the results will be given in autumn of 2009, and the awards ceremony will take place in February of 2010.

Serie REFLEX: Sophisticated matt-gloss effects and a rhythmic relief structure convey the impression of coarse-woven fabric. Filigree interplays and nuances seem like traces of manual processing. The irregularly shimmering surface is reminiscent of the charming patina of old stone floors. This noble look is emphasized by the decorative borders which spread gleam and glamour. The dialogue of hand-made character and luxury creates an ambience full of unconventional poetry and severe elegance.

Serie VISION: The characteristic element is delicate "threads" lying closely next to each other. In this way, the impression of a finely engraved texture is created, which arouses associations with hatchings or stress marks in materials such as iron, wood, concrete or asphalt. This effect is underlined by the mystically shimmering decoration element and the colours of the other formats within a modular system. They convey the elaborate style in a sensuous manner without drifting into cheap showmanship.

The first hurdle has been successfully taken recently by the two series REFLEX and VISION by winning the “red dot design award 2009” and the subsequent nomination by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economics. This eligibility already is a great success and permits to bear the label “nominated“. After having met these basic conditions, the nominated business enterprises will then decide whether they are participating in the competition for the “most important of all prizes“. The sustained success of former prize winners has resulted in the fact that more than 1,200 applications were filed in the year 2009 in order to being submitted to the expert judgement of the international and independent jury, which is appointed by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology. AGROB BUCHTAL also took this chance and participated in the competition with the two series mentioned with the above short descriptions.

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