Gestalten.tv

Gestalten.tv - Go Faster

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:30:00 +0100

You'd never guess it, but these big toys for big boys were at the height of their design during the 1970s – by sheer chance. Mechanics and team members – not designers or marketing strategists – adorned racecars with all of those flashy stripes, logos, numbers and colors prevalent at any Formula 1 race today. After compiling more than 100 examples of sleek cars from this glory age, Go Faster-author Sven Völker takes us for a joy ride at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart for a whip-fast lesson in competitive war paint, visual anarchy and piggish car designs.

Gestalten.tv - Ilse Crawford

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:30:00 +0100

Firmly planted in that place where interior design, product design and media intersect, Ilse Crawford runs Studio Ilse with the personal mantra that "the most important space are the six centimeters around you." Or, as The New York Times once put it, "her work doesn’t have a signature style, but a signature feeling: emotional and deeply rooted to the place". Dive into her world of democratic design and contagiousness of ideas in Gestalten.tv's latest podcast interview, shot in Crawford's homebase of London.

Gestalten.tv - Christoph Niemann

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:30:00 +0100

The visualization of data is the graphic designer's core business. For illustrator, graphic designer and art director Christoph Niemann – man behind the überpopular blog for The New York Times and numerous The New Yorker covers – it's daily business. Find out how Christoph Niemann tackles some of today's trickiest dilemmas – what does one do with that bottom arm while spooning? – in exactly the kind of humorous off-color ways that make him an ace in our latest Gestalten.tv interview.

Gestalten.tv - Olaf Hajek

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:30:00 +0100

In the verdant garden of illustration and art, many a different species thrive on the grounds. Some flourish in obscurity and some worship the sun. Every now and then you will find a plant of extraordinary beauty and resilience, marrying the magic and the real, the pop and the folk, the client's wish and its own artistic ambition. Illustrator and "Flowerhead" author Olaf Hajek is one such rare example. Watch him come into full bloom in our latest Gestalten.tv feature.

Gestalten.tv - Hoefner and Sachs

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:30:00 +0100

The site-specific temporary architecture, innovative performances and constructive interference in the urban environment by Berlin duo Hoefner and Sachs straddle the line between art and architecture. With a subversive and humorous approach, they have reinvented the vocabulary of urban intervention and ironic commentary of modern city planning. Here, the pair talks to us about the kind of irreverent topics that make us love them--bees, architecture and test driving a car filled with water.

Gestalten.tv - Airside

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:30:00 +0100

In the arena of today's visual culture it is as equally challenging to entertain audiences as it is to continually reach new milestones. Alex Mclean, Nat Hunter and Fred Deakin of the pioneering London-based design agency Airside have firmly stayed on the top of the game for more than ten years now–having among others created campaigns for brands such as Coca-Cola, Greenpeace, MTV, Panasonic and Sony, plus visual identities and web design for the Serpentine Gallery, White Cube and the Pet Shop Boys. In our latest podcast, the founding members and creative minds unlock the secret to their innovation and entrepreneurial success–and explain why their inimitable style and profound skills are more wide-ranging and vital today than ever before.

Gestalten.tv - Dieter Rams

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:30:00 +0100

How to introduce one of the most influential designers of the 20th century -- one whose clear visual language has not only defined product design for decades, but also our fundamental understanding of design's potential and function? We're guessing the "Less and More" exhibition at London's Design Museum, accompanying book published by Gestalten and this video podcast interview is a good start.

Gestalten.tv - Nils Holger Moormann

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0100

It's a bird... it's a cow...it's a lawyer... no, it's Nils Holger Moorman! The Bavaria-based designer and producer of top-notch minimalist furniture and rustic, arcadian interior designs has carved out a niche all his own. To prove this, we neither have to highlight how he's outgunned Ikea nor how he and his team of creatives have won more awards than other people warm meals. We only kindly ask you to watch how Nils keeps it real in an unreal surrounding, i.e. the international design scene and not the mountains.

Gestalten.tv - Postlerferguson

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0100

Postlerferguson is a London-based product, graphic and interaction design firm. Founded in 2007 by Ian Ferguson and Martin Postler after their graduation from the RCA, the company explores issues of technology, culture and economics through design strategies based on thorough research. Their design approach is very systematic, almost scientific, and aims at creating a frame in which mistakes can happen. Asking questions that stoke new ones, Postlerferguson reaches curious conclusions to topics like sustainability and, most noticeably, the delicate matter of weapons and their undeniable aesthetic appeal. High time for us to, well, shoot the duo themselves in their studio.

Gestalten.tv - Rankin

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0100

With a trademark portraiture style and mischievous eye, Dazed and Confused-founder Rankin enjoys a reputation as one of the world's leading photographers. So who would dare destroy him? For the charity project and book, "Destroy Rankin," former subjects -- including Basement Jaxx, Beck, Jarvis Cocker, U2, Ian Brown, Kylie Minogue, Little Boots and Marianne Faithfull -- were given the opportunity to revamp their respective photographs into something both deeply personal and reflective of their artistic style. The result is an au courant body of collaborative art ranging from paintings and drawings to collage. We met Rankin in his London studio to learn about the powerful pairing of music and iconic imagery.

Swoon

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0100

Oh, you've seen her: from New York's P.S. 1 and Deitch Projects to Hui No'eau on Maui and Berlin's gritty street corners. Notorious for constructing a giant floating raft and sailing it down river (twice!), she is neither a pirate nor a street artist. And even if her real name is known these days, that is also neither here nor there. Join us as we swing by Berlin's Urban Art Info Gallery to see what else the ineffable Swoon has got up her sleeve in Gestalten.tv's latest interview."

Katrin Olina

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0100

When Icelandic artist Katrin Olina talks about complex dual concepts - science and creativity, for instance, or Nature's Janus face - she does so with a lightness and ease that never denies the darkness but rather celebrates it. The same can be said of the cosmos behind her wholly unique visual language. Olina, who began her career as a product designer, anchors future-proof perfect ideas with strong artistic and spiritual roots, and the results are masterful: painstakingly liquid-like illustrations, ceramics, powerful art posters, holistic interior and fashion designs and animated film. Fresh off a launch with us for a limited series of illustrations for Gestalten's Art Editions, the artist chatted with us in -- where else?-- a landscape befitting of her aesthetic vision, Berlin's "Gardens of the World."

Mario Lombardo

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:30:00 +0100

Content is King, and Kings can be demanding. Especially if they have to edit and design elaborate visual substance for magazines and books while juggling projects whether it be creating movie posters, typography, photography and corporate identity or logo design. Berlin-based designer and artful thinker Mario Lombardo has managed to do exactly this, but exceptionally, for over a decade now. Having established a reputation as one of Germany’s leading designers and editors, Mario is difficult to nail down but easy to rely upon when it comes to everything visual that needs a makeover or creation from scratch. Watch for yourself, to see how this designer extraordinaire works and so graciously pulls another rabbit out of his hat.

Jen Ray

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:30:00 +0100

When a large Amazonian woman pulls up in a revved-up vehicle blasting diabolical music, don't run away! It's just the powerful work of visual artist Jen Ray. The American artist creates impossibly intricate drawings of mystical minutia, dream worlds and entities of unknown origins. It's a feast for your eyes and mind -- and in recent work, Jen Ray transforms her inherent knack for myth and storytelling into spectacular live performances. Gestalten.tv met the artist in her Berlin studio, where she answered tough questions on artistry before discussing lighter topics like American muscle cars.

Feld72 and Raumlabor

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:30:00 +0100

Bucking the conventional idea of architecture, the designers from Viennese team Feld72 and Berlin-based Raumlabor subvert the paradigm with work that reexamines the potential of space in social situations. From creating ad hoc communication tools for traffic jams to an experimental collective taxi system and transforming a natural park into a creepy temporary hotel, they show that the term "architecture" cannot be applied in its traditional sense. Watch Gestalten's latest podcast to discover just how they do it.

Büro Destruct III

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Alva Noto's "UNITXT u_08-1"

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:30:00 +0100

If only all vending machines worked like this. When a lone man approaches two stand-alone drink dispensers in the newest music video from Alva Noto, née Carsten Nicolai, a psychedelic chain of events flashes before his eyes—all to the erratic beat of incoherent French chanting. A bad trip or a practical joke? The fun begins at 1:05. More of the artist-musician's work can be found in Gestalten's Grid Index, in which the author breaks down visual systems into a systematic equation of grids and patterns.

Papercraft

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:30:00 +0100

From playful and whimsical to downright painstaking, paper is resurging among young artists and designers worldwide as an experimental material for design. This video teaser for Gestalten’s upcoming book, “Papercraft: Design and Art with Paper,” showcases the often bright, punchy and pop-culture-relevant work from artists Jeremais Boettcher, Julien Vallée, Asif Mian and more—who employ techniques as simple as cutting and folding to cutting-edge like embossing and laser cutting. A true best-of collection, the book gathers the most extraordinary creations independent of discipline; all demonstrate reaching towards new artistic heights. An accompanying DVD includes printable templates for creating paper toys plus a curated selection of stop-motion animations.

Stefan Diez

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:30:00 +0100

In its persuasive functionality, elegant simplicity and well-crafted accuracy, the work of Stefan Diez not only applies to the virtues of what could be tagged as 'German school of design' but they also reflect the personal appearance of the young German designer. With a family of carpenters in the background and studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, he has worked for renowned designers Konstantin Grcic and Richard Sapper before opening his own Stuttgart-based studio in 2003. He seamlessly combines strong conceptual designs and elementary craftsmanship that take shape as chairs, tables, tableware, products and objects that are sustainable visually in nature and in substance. We interviewed Stefan Diez during Salone del Mobile, where he had an impressive number of new products being launched for big names such as Moroso, Thonet, Rosenthal and e15 – the showroom in which the interview took place with his Houdini chairs.

Jason Forrest

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:30:00 +0100

Growing up in South Carolina and having curiously peculiar names with DJ alias Donna Summer and a music label called Cockrockdisco, doesn’t spell freak or kinky. The Berlin-based musician Jason Forrest is quite the contrary. The former photographer is a serious electronic musician and praiseworthy live performer, whose sample-based music and downright punk rock attitude towards music distribution has rightfully caused a stir since entering the global arena of audiovisual entertainment ten years ago. In fact, his cunning skills recently lead him to create a new iPhone application for a relatively known IT company. We met up with Jason in his current hometown of Berlin. Watch our latest Gestalten.tv podcast to form your own opinion on this artist extraordinaire.

Nendo

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:30:00 +0100

Nendo alias Japanese product designer, architect and graphic designer Oki Sato likes to arouse what he describes as "small '!' moments". Since those light bulb moments often get overlooked in daily life, Nendo applies his approach to a broad variety of products and designs, be it furniture, packaging design, installations, architecture, interior designs and, yes, chocolate pencils. Nendo opened his first office in Tokyo in 2002 and since then not only won numerous design awards and exhibited all over the world but also realized many collaborations with international clients s.a. Capellini, Moroso, Sony and Swedese. We met Oki Sato in Milan during the Salone del Mobile 2009 where he was contributing to the Senseware Tokyo Fibre exhibition.

Erwin Wurm

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:30:00 +0100

Erwin Wurm started out as a painter and sculptor, then swallowed the whole world digesting all its pompous grief and absurdity so as to spew out terrific sculptures, hilarious installations and stunningly grotesque pieces of spatial art and architecture that all have one thing in common - dead serious funny lightness in heavy doses. Unlike many of his professionally melancholic fellow specimen who got deliberately f***ed to become pregnant with meaning, the art of this decent great man from Austria makes us laugh, think and wonder. Although not necessarily in that order. Thus, meeting him in person in his studio in Vienna was an enlightening experience which you might like to share with us by watching the latest Gestalten.tv podcast.

Shigeru Ban

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:30:00 +0100

Long before sustainable architecture became the talk of the day, Japanese uber-architect Shigeru Ban created stunning and long-lasting buildings out of paper as well as objects that make a difference in form and function. But since being one of the world's most renowned and forward-thinking architects is no coincidence, beware of tying him down to anything but outstanding architecture and design. Or in his own words, "architecture is architecture" and design is of course a vital part of it. So, instead of categorising, we are not only thankful that he set out time for an interview with us in Milan at this year’s Salone del Mobile, but also that his juvenile aspiration of becoming a carpenter didn't really work out...

Arik Levy

Tue, 19 May 2009 11:30:00 +0100

Born in Tel Aviv, Arik Levy is one of the widest ranging industrial designers at work today. Having earned a degree from the Swiss Art Center College of Design, Levy settled in Paris, where he designed stage sets for modern dance performances and theater before co-founding the design studio Ldesign in 1997 with Pippo Lionni. Together, they have developed a broad range of projects extending from furniture, interiors, lighting, to consumer products and graphic design. His inimitable approach to design, imbued with emotion and poetry, can be seen throughout his work whether it be minimalist and functional designs for the masses or eccentric installations for the art world. We met Arik at his Osmosis exhibition in Milan where he explained why his design world is not so much about tables and chairs but about people.

Carsten Nicolai

Tue, 05 May 2009 11:30:00 +0100

Carsten Nicolai is one of the most renowned artists working at the intersection of art and science and infamous for his minimalist approach. Having exhibited internationally at Documenta X and the Venice Biennale, he is also an active musician working under his music alias Alva Noto and has staged performances with Ryuichi Sakamoto at the Guggenheim NY to the Centre Pompidou in Paris. This week, Gestalten is releasing his new book Grid Index, the first comprehensive visual lexicon of patterns and grid systems. A reference book for designers, visual artists, architects, researchers, musicians and mathematicians, Nicolai has discovered and unlocked the visual code for visual systems into a systematic equation of grids and patterns. We met Carsten in his studio in Berlin Mitte to talk about art, grids, books and the graphical language of music.

Addictive TV

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:30:00 +0100

British audiovisual artists Addictive TV began remixing moving images and music in the early 90s when most people didn't even know what a music remix was, let alone a film remix. Since then, the dream team consisting of musician/composer Tolly and former camera man/producer Graham have not only invented the groundbreaking Transambient and Mixmasters series for UK’s Channel 4, played hundreds of gigs, won awards and a huge following from all around the world, but have also created mind-blowing audiovisual collages and remixes for clients like Adidas, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and the British Film Institute to name but a few. Not to forget that they became the first to remix the 2008 Olympics live for television. We met the cutting-edge yet down-to-earth-pioneers in Berlin for an interview, whose latest efforts include official remix commissions for blockbuster films Slumdog Millionaire and Fast & Furious. But honestly, you have to see it to believe it!

Marcel Wanders

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0100

Dutch designer Marcel Wanders is undeniably one of the most prolific and celebrated international designers today, with his theatrical approach to design, being both decorative and minimal. He has garnered fame through his ingenious talent, turning conceptual visions into stunning products and dazzling environments by fusing cutting-edge technology, artistry and a love of the bizarre. The designer handmakes the mass-produced and gives flesh to fantasy in his opulently illustrated first monograph Marcel Wanders: Behind the Ceiling published by Gestalten, which marks its European release this month. We met up with him in Miami where he spoke about his design for the Mondrian South Beach Hotel and at Westerhuis, the newly opened cultural flagship in Amsterdam – home to his new office, Moooi showroom and a host of creative businesses, where he narrates for us his imaginative ideas about identity, contemporary design and the importance of humour.

Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:00:00 +0100

Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah is a member of the Kuwait Royal Family but also the visionary founder of luxury fashion retailer Villa Moda in Kuwait. Proving that his "passion for fashion" is far more than a short-lived pastime, since 1992, he has opened a handful of stores in Kuwait, Damascus as well as a hotel in Quatar. Many are designed by the world's most renowned designers and architects such as Marcel Wanders who has designed the new flagship in Bahrain, Jaime Hayon and Pierfrancesco Cravel - each destination has a unique flair and combines traditional Arab aesthetics and local craftsmanship with international style. He has also recently founded the Al-Sabah Art & Design Gallery in Kuwait, devoted to initiating and exhibiting art and design projects that encourage cultural exchange and inspire dialogue between local and international communities. He has invited designers such as Pieke Bergmans to realise unique limited edition series and has also invited Gestalten to present the Fragiles exhibition, our eclectic collection of porcelain, glass and ceramics to show for the first time in Kuwait in June 2009. We met Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah in Miami whose outstanding reputation is mirrored by his groundbreaking success in the design and fashion worlds and his creative vitality for new business.

Baupiloten

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 +0100

Founded in 2003 by Susanne Hofmann, Baupiloten is a Berlin-based architecture collective that has a unique approach to working with architecture students, giving them the opportunity to apply their creative energy to real life practical experiences. The award-winning studio specialises in realising innovative social design projects such as schools and kindergartens. Featured in one of our new book releases Play All Day: Design for Children, the Erika Mann Elementary School they designed in Berlin proves how innovative architecture can play a significant role in the creative and interactive interplay between students and their environment.

Brian Dettmer

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100

American artist Brian Dettmer’s passion for books is not of the standard kind. What once served as reading material on his bookshelves are cut up, glued and torn apart into pieces altering their original state. Epic novels transform into sculpture-like objects that hold a new and compressed meaning and significance – where there was once a story, is now a multitude of skillfully crafted tangible semantic levels. Dettmer also composes and dissects found newspapers, maps and magazines in the same way and also employs this practice to create sculptures with old cassette tapes. In Gestalten.tv’s interview with the artist, during one of his recent trips to Berlin, Dettmer rejoices about how books and printed matter continue to develop and redefine its form and function.

rAndom International

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:30:00 +0100

Working at the intersection of science, design and art, Stuart Wood, Flo Ortkrass and Hannes Koch are not just interested in designing unique design products, but inventing and creating interactive, experiential installations by marrying high-end digital and analog worlds. The trio founded their collective rAndom International in 2002, after receiving their Masters from the Royal College of Art. They have managed an impressive list of projects including PixelRoller, a paint roller that prints digital information in pixels to their recent AUDIENCE installation at the Royal Opera House in London, where they positioned digitally guided mirrors that engaged and followed the movements of the visitors. Experimentation and meticulous research are essential for rAndom International who has already won numerous awards and gained commissions by a diverse range clients and artists such as Philips Design, the BBC, MetaDesign, Studio von Klier, Olafur Eliasson, PearsonLloyd and Audi Design. Gestalten paid them a visit in their studio in London’s East End.

Julien Vallée

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0100

The striking creations of Canadian-born graphic designer Julien Vallée incorporate splendid handcraft and digital technology. For the cover art of Gestalten’s new book Tangible: High Tough Visuals, Vallée uses his multidisciplinary graphic-inspired approach and stages his design spatially by crafting three-dimensional objects and lettering. The result - a stunning almost palpable cover! Not limiting himself to print, he uses the stylistic means of graphic design to create art installations, motion graphics, animations and video designs. His playful graphics has gained him commissions and props from clients such as New York Times Magazine, MTV and Swatch to musicians like Kanye West. We met Julien, who’s recently moved to Berlin, while he was preparing his installation for his group exhibition here in the city. A Gestalten favourite, his work is also featured in a number of our books; Tactile, Fully Booked and Lemon Poppy Seed.

Stephen Burks

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:30:00 +0100

The New York industrial designer Stephen Burks is interested in the possibility of placing traditional craft techniques in a new context. While his studio Readymaderprojects plays host to a myriad of projects including contemporary home furnishings, luxury products and package designs, he takes an active role in working with non-profit organizations to develop sustainable products which bring economic and social benefit to local artisans in developing countries. He has a fresh approach to design; researching off beat tracks and experiments with low cost materials and traditional techniques but shifts the technique into a new dimension, relieving it of its usual context. In our interview Stephen discusses the meaning of conscious design and gives insight into his collaborations with artisans in Peru and South Africa.

The Future Laboratory

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100

We live in uncertain times but one thing about the future is certain: The business of trend analysts Chris Sanderson and Martin Raymond from the London firm The Future Laboratory is no fortune-telling business. They are all about the research of data, its correct interpretation and to some extent, about intuition. For ten years, The Future Laboratory has combined meticulous research and basic gut feeling which their clients have proffered from. TFL work for a broad range of international brands and companies as well as on special projects like Gestalten's recent book release crEATe.: Eating, Design and Future Food, which they helped conceive and co-edited. We met the accomplished speakers, whose lectures are as informative as they are entertaining, in Berlin to chat about the city as an indicator for trends, the importance of buzzwords and the fact that true optimism is best built upon profound pessimism.

Strike a Pose

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0100

Strike a Pose documents a new extroverted architectural language. Manifested in spectacular structures, eccentric forms and vivid colours, this expressive approach goes way beyond conventional stylistic and geographic boundaries. The book leads the reader around the globe to iconographically charged scenes and futuristic spaces, with examples of architectural playfulness and experimental wanderlust ranging from private residences to schools and operas, museums and interior design. In our latest podcast Strike a Pose Editor Lukas Feireiss comments on a publication which inspires beyond the traditional borders of genre, further indicating architecture’s pop appeal and its contagious and entertaining effect.

Temporal

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:00:00 +0100

Calma is not only artist Stephan Doitschinoff‘s street alias, but also the abbreviation of “con alma” (c’alma) in Latin, meaning “with soul”. His emblematic metaphoric imagery feeds off Afro-Brazilian folklore, pagan and alchemistic symbolism and contemporary pop culture. Doitschinoff composes spectacular murals and applies his extraordinary talent to emblazon houses, churches and walls in rural cities in his South American homeland. Temporal provided courtesy of Carol Dantas, Paula Cavalcanti (Production Executives), and Bruno Mitih (Director) documents his artistic journey through the Brazilian countryside of Bahia and features an interview with the artist – introducing the complete visual pandemonium of a young urban artist who creates powerful and unique figurative worlds.

Marije Vogelzang

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100

Marije Vogelzang is not a food designer. She is a Dutch product designer who graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven and chose to use food as her main material because of her love for it. Her work is featured in Gestalten's new book crEATe.: Eating, Design and Future Food and she has also just published her first monograph Eat Love which speaks volumes. She is the foundress of Proef, a food-design laboratory and "eating places that started out as food design studios" in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Be it the re-design and re-thinking of a typical Dutch funeral ceremony, a Christmas dinner or playful ways of making children eat vegetables voluntarily(!), all of her ideas and creations are characterised by a lively and wholehearted approach that reexamines the way we eat and think about food. In Gestalten.tv’s latest podcast, she gives us a tasty morsel of her philosophy that will surely make you want seconds and thirds!

Doshi Levien

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0100

Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien form the London-based design partnership Doshi Levien. They combine a celebratory approach to design, interweaving narratives into distinctive products, exhibitions and furniture design as well as in installations and interactive design for clients such as Moroso, Nokia, Intel, Tefal and the Wellcome Trust. Since 2000, they have brilliantly managed to bring together the best of both worlds –Nipa’s Indian upbringing and Jonathan's British background complementary materialize into Eurocentric results. We met the couple for an interview in their new studio in London's East End shortly before the arrival of Rahul, "surely" their most fascinating and praised collaboration yet.

Five Star Liner

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Nicola Carter and Luise Vormittag who founded the multidisciplinary art and design collective Container dreamed up so many playful concepts and creations across a multitude of 2D and 3D platforms while having lots of fun, that it was only a question of time when they'd back up their dream team with more like-minded artists to have even more fun. So that is what they did, and now as ContainerPLUS, we experience the full force of Luise Vormittag, Anna Fulmine, Victoria Sharokh, Patricia Niven and Nicola Carter, combining their skills as illustrators, designers, photographers, actors, typographers and then some. The creative quintet has designed the cover of Gestalten's recent release Playful Type: Ephemeral Lettering and Illustrative Fonts. If you want to find out where their laughter comes from and why even Zaha Hadid works with them, then watch the podcast feature we’ve produced on them in London during London Design Week 2008.

Fully Booked

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:00:00 +0100

Many prophesied that the printed book would be doomed by developments in digital media. Far from it! The book has not only survived, but – as tactile qualities have gained significance in our increasingly digital world – there is also more unhindered experimentation with bound paper pages now than ever before. The newly released Gestalten publication Fully Booked: Cover Art and Design for Books is devoted to current cover and book design. It presents material from printed publications that succeed in striking a crucial balance – between the market’s demands for availability, legibility and durability on the one hand and sophisticated visual and content design on the other. To dig even further into the topic of book design and the future of THE book, we met qualified experts, designer David Pearson whose work is also featured in Fully Booked and Jim Stoddart, the Art Director at Penguin Books.

Data Flow

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Visualising information may not be making headlines today, but it surely will tomorrow in graphic design and everywhere else since more and more information is being visualised. Diagrams, data and information graphics are utilised wherever increasingly complex elements are present, whether it is in magazines, non-fiction books or business reports, (food) packages or exhibition designs. Chart-like diagrams such as bar, plot, line diagrams and spider charts, graph-based diagrams including line, matrix, process flow, and molecular diagrams to extremely complex three-dimensional diagrams are employed beyond their classical fields of use. In Gestalten.tv's latest video podcast the co-editors Nicolas Bourquin and Thibaud Tissot reveal more about the concept, clues and various chapters of our newly released book Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design.

Martin Eder

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100

Despite or due to his Catholic upbringing in Bavaria, Augsburg-born artist, musician and photographer Martin Eder's dedication to his art is "fundamentalist" as he puts it himself. Some people misinterpret his obsessive paintings and photographs as provocative, but according to Eder, they are definitely not meant to be. He simply creates fragile and violent beauty by practicing his very own, very realistic artistic (self)concept of nakedness. We met the charismatic and performative, yet friendly, humble and self-critical artist in his Berlin studio, which could easily pass for a location in a David Lynch movie.

Studio Makkink & Bey

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0100

Jurgen Bey and wife Rianne Makkink of Rotterdam-based Studio Makkink & Bey weave whole narratives through their product, furniture and interior design. Bey has long been known for his investigations into everything from urban planning and dust to the ways that people wait in order to create objects faithful to the way we (wish we could) live. And through these objects and environments the stories he tells about people come through with great wisdom and clarity. It is this curiosity about the reciprocal relationship between people and things that drives the innovation and poetry of Makkink and Bey’s work. During their recent trip to Berlin, the couple visited our Berlin office. In this podcast interview, the two unassumingly tell us how they work as a creative duo – Bey the dreamer collects and dreams up ideas and Rianne with the architectural expertise materialises the visionary cloud of ideas into form.

United Visual Artists

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:15:00 +0100

In only 5 years since its founding, the London design collective United Visual Artists has built a formidable international reputation with phenomenal interactive installations and captivating environmental visual graphics that perfectly synchronise with it’s surrounding whether it be a large-scale concert, music video set, installation art or fashion event. Their commercial work for concert tours with Massive Attack, U2’s Vertigo World Tour and non-commercial projects such as the Volume installation at the Victoria and Albert and Echo live performance at The Tate Modern Turbine Hall and others share a similarly optical and intellectually stimulating quality that captures any audience. All members having their own field of expertise, UVA uses a diverse range of technologies to create seamless, brilliant, real-time, immersive, responsive experiences combining seductive imagery and light. During one of their recent trips to Tokyo, our Tokyo correspondent Uleshka met with Creative Director Matt Clark on a rooftop at Narita Airport.

DJ Spooky aka that Subliminal Kid

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:00:00 +0100

Paul D. Miller alias DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid is busy as a 21st century bee can be – he’s participated in the Venice Biennale for Architecture, produced music for Yoko Ono, remixed the Reggae label Trojan records’ back catalogue, shot a film in Antarctica, co-published magazines, lectured and played at festivals 24/7 from France to Japan to Mexico City and recently has started to work with acclaimed stage director and playwright Robert Wilson. With all this, it’s hard to believe he’s found time to compile and publish a new book. Sound Unbound is about sampling and digital culture, containing essays from Brian Eno, Jonathan Lethem, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Steve Reich, Simon Reynolds and Bruce Sterling to name but a few. If that sounds like a weird genre-crossing and namedrop-heavy remixed collage to you, fine then, because that's what it's all about. In Gestalten's latest podcast interview DJ Spooky speaks about collage and the visualisation of music.

Jason Miller

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:00 +0100

Born and bread in New York, designer Jason Miller continues to live and work in the big apple. Although he started out as a painter, he soon discovered his interest in three-dimensional designs and working with a multitude of mediums making the transition into designing furniture and interior design. After working as an assistant for Jeff Koons and Karim Rashid, he started his own studio in 2001. Since then he has produced his own products and furniture series as well as worked for clients including Areaware, Persol, Brookstone, Carlo Rossi, Kikkerland and Idee to name a few. He was also named “Best Breakthrough Designer” by Wallpaper magazine in 2007 and his work is also included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Gestalten met the playful and multi-tasking designer at the Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt where he was busy setting up his very own idea of an ideal “ambiente” for shopping pleasure.

Jerszy Seymour

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:00 +0100

Designer and "agent provocateur" Jerszy Seymour likes to disengage design objects from their precast applications. Or as one could sum up: He'd like to find utopia without falling for false promises. Having been born in Berlin and now working and living here again, Jerszy Seymour's Polish parents were ballet dancers so it might not be too difficult to get the balance right for him. The balance between being a contemporary and much sought after designer creating objects for established brands and institutions on the one hand, he is also a free-minded character who has spent years travelling the world working as a DJ, and does a lot of work that could easily be defined as art. He is surely a designer with a strong theoretical basis who in case of doubt always opts for the more challenging alternative. We met Jerszy in Berlin for an interview and he talks about current projects and eternal visions.

Oded Ezer

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:15:00 +0100

Oded Ezer creates brilliant Hebrew and Latin typography that make it hard for you to say whether he is still working in typography or already in the realm of art. He is also active in crafting object-related installations and commercial designs. Ezer's work is emotional and powerful. The beauty and distinctiveness of his typographies with their stunning shapes are exceptional in this field. The recipient of numerous design awards, Ezer is not only multitalented and hardworking, but also has fun with what he is doing, thus not drawing a line between work and play. The father of one works in Tel Aviv. When he visited Berlin recently to speak at Typo Berlin Conference, we finally met him face-to-face and talked about his plans, Typosperma at MoMa NY and his filmic hommage to Israeli poet and art critic Hezi Leskley.

Architecture of Change

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:30:00 +0100

Editors Lukas Feireiss and Kristin Feireiss whom is also founder of the Architecture Forum Aedes presented the Gestalten release Architecture of Change at Aedes Berlin and lead a panel discussion about contemporary sustainable building practices. The book features recently built and realised projects that in addition to their exceptional architectural quality make a notable contribution to a liveable and sustainable future. But the book also covers current initiatives that promote innovative research in this sector and thus encourage an emerging generation of environmentally aware architects and urban planners. At Aedes we not only met up with Lukas and Kristin but also with Christoph Ingenhoven of Ingenhoven architects and German general commissioner for Biennale Architecture Venice 2008 Friedrich von Borries of Raumtaktik to speak about sustainability and humanity in the built environment. In addition to that we interviewed architect Lucas Young of Sauerbruch Hutton earlier this year in Berlin.

Maarten Baas

Mon, 26 May 2008 16:00:00 +0100

Maarten Baas is a little bit of an enfant terrible within the design scene. He had to try more than once to convince his teachers at Design Academy Eindhoven of his talent. When he presented his Smoke series of furniture, all doubts went up in smoke and it immediately gained him a lot of attention, e.g. Marcel Wanders incorporating it into his design company MOOI. After exhibiting in Milan, London and Paris the Smoke series became an iconic collection in contemporary design. At the Salone del Mobile 2008 Maarten launched Clay Furniture. In fall 2008 he will present new exciting objects for Established and Sons and if that wasn't already reason enough to meet him for a filmed interview then it surely was the unusual down-to-earth atmosphere of the former car repair shop which he took as the ideal location for his various designs.

Joost van Bleiswijk and Kiki van Eijk

Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100

Being part of a new generation of highly talented dutch designers Joost and Kiki not only stand out of the crowd because they love each other but also because they put so much personality and mastery into their work that the objects they create are really unique and exceptionally well crafted. Both are graduates of Design Academy Eindhoven and have worked for brands like MOOOI, Swarovski and institutions such as Studio Li Edelkoort Paris. We met the two of them in Milan where they presented their collaborative efforts entitled Recollections.

Konstantin Grcic

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:00:00 +0100

Industrial designer Konstantin Grcic, whose company KGID (Konstantin Grcic Industrial Design) resides in Munich, is not only one of the most influential German designers today but also a decent man and thereby pretty much the complete opposite of your average narcissistic designer/artist. After an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker, he studied at the Royal College of Art in London as Jasper Morrison's assistant. Bavarian born Grcic prefers to stand back behind his work and choses serial (i.e. industrial) designs over limited edition exclusivity. And although his work speaks for itself and the fact that due to a flu he nearly had lost his voice when we met him in Milan, he was kind enough to answer our questions patiently and accurately. In Milan he presented two different projects, the Myto chair which he developed for Plank as well as a 'seating element for public spaces' named Landen for Vitra.

Studio Job

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:30:00 +0100

Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel are Studio Job. The dutch couple started working together after graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2000. In the beginning they were often criticised for their expressionistic symbolism, nowadays the designers are in great demand for the same reason. We met them in Milan where they were presenting their Farm collection as well as a huge globe for Swarovski's Crystal Palace.

Jaime Hayon in Milan

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:00:00 +0100

We’re back with Part 2 on the designer Jaime Hayon. It’s no surprise that the star designer had numerous presentation all throughout the city of Milan during the annual Salone del Mobile last week. Gestalten has produced a short video documentary featuring the designer and the unveiling of the first half of his Fantasy Collection for the Spanish porcelain manufacturer Lladró with fantastical porcelain pieces, specially designed shoes for Camper and the first view of his first monograph Jaime Hayon Works, published by yours truly. We also have additional footage of several other breathtaking presentations he has done this year for Bisazza and Swarovski. The presentation at the renowned gallery Spazio Rossana Orlandi was a great success where we sold out of the book even before the opening! In the midst of several other film interviews, the designer took out some time to talk to us about his various projects in Milan. This podcast will be the first of many to come on highlights from Milan including interviews with Dutch designers Studio Job, Kiki & Joost, Maarten Baas and German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. Keep your eyes peeled.

Jaime Hayon

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:00:00 +0100

Jaime Hayon is a rising star in the international creative scene. He embodies a new type of creative Renaissance man, who can realize his unique stylistic language across various areas and media, thanks to his interdisciplinary approach and extraordinary talent. To celebrate the release of his first monograph, Gestalten presents a feature podcast on the designer. Jaime Hayon was in Frankfurt earlier this week to present three new collections of large-scale lamps, Bastoni, America and Solids, for the Spanish lighting manufacturer Metalarte at the Light + Building fair. We hopped on a train to meet the designer on Monday and talked to him about his new pieces and his creative process.

Arabesque

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:00:00 +0100

The Gestalten published Arabesque investigates the creative potential of the Arab World and Iran and features examples of recent innovative and groundbreaking design work that is inspired by the richness of the region’s visual culture. Our video podcast includes an interview with Ben Wittner and Sascha Thoma, who edited Arabesque (together with Nicolas Bourquin) alongside footage that they filmed while staying in Cairo for one year. Furthermore it does give detailed insight into the book itself. The interview took place in Berlin.

Daniel Richter

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:30:00 +0100

Daniel Richter is one of the most renowned contemporary German painters of today. After studying at the Hochschule der Bildenden Künste in Hamburg from 1991 to 1995 he began his career as an artist. He has developed his own expressive style of figurative painting and showed in international galleries over the years with growing success, ultimately earning him a large-scale solo exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle last year. Coming from an alternative political background rooted in the punk movement and having created graphic artwork for chummy musicians and bands, Daniel Richter still tries to keep a low profile when it comes to fame and public attention. For this week’s podcast interview, we visited the artist in his Berlin studio where he prepares new paintings for a forthcoming exhibition in New York.

David O'Reilly

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:30:00 +0100

The animation films of David O' Reilly don't have much in common with the flashy slapstick-ridden works many of his colleagues have resigned to. Instead they are acute and subtle, containing dark humour and psychological suspense. The man from Kilkenny, Ireland who lives and works in Berlin these days has developed his skills over the years by a seldomely seen dedication for animation that owes as much to the love for the genre as it does to the hate for it. For our interview feature he took some time out from "working like a robot" to reveal all about his motivation, his influences and the importance of silence.

Brendan Monroe

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:00:00 +0100

Berkeley-based artist extraordinaire Brendan Monroe's paintings, sculptures, illustrations and toys are increasingly causing a stir. While his vegetable-heavy motifs debauch the conclusion that his art appears to be somehow organic, a quote from the web sums it up best': "Saying Brendan Monroe's art is organic is like saying Dr. Suess really liked illustrating children's books." We totally agree, since his work bears a psychotic tension and existentialist strength that offers unequaled opportunities. We met Brendan Monroe in Berlin for a little chat about scientific approaches and his penchant for collecting insects.

Spacecraft

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:00:00 +0100

In the words of editor Lukas Feireiss Spacecraft - Fleeting Architecture and Hideouts "is a very playful book that arouses curiosity through the experimental and joyful diversity and visual power of its projects". In equal measure this could be said of this video podcast in which Lukas gives further insight into a Gestalten publication that is showing roundabout 200 installations and buildings from all around the world that build imaginative bridges between the worlds of art, architecture and design.

The Velvet Hammer Burlesque

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:00:00 +0100

The Velvet Hammer Burlesque brought back the tease into striptease. Alongside the release of the book, we have prepared a video feature to introduce Michelle Carr, founder of The Velvet Hammer Burlesque, to tell you what it's all about and to give you a few impressions of what's going on in the book and on stage - short and sweet just like a good rock'n'roll song. The Velvet Hammer's shows are a potent cocktail that mixes elements from classical American revues with a post-feminist attitude. Their intricately choreographed and lovingly costumed performances have much more in common with the tradition of Vaudeville than with the sleazy table dancing of today. The Velvet Hammer Burlesque serves up true American beauty consisting of shapely curves, tattoos, tassels and lace, and fuelled by booze, smoke, rock'n'roll and the desire to live life on the wild side.

Fragiles

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Fragiles at Design Miami 07 was curated and produced by dgv. The sales exhibition presented over 200 pieces from over 50 designers with a full range of design and art projects of all sizes and editions. The documentary features interviews with a.o. designer Stephen Burks, Jason Miller, Commonwealth and artist Hans van Bentem as well as quotes from visitors, impressions of the actual location and - naturally - the amazing objects. There's still more to come with the book in March 2008 which will feature projects from the show and many more in a 272 page volume.

Hi-ReS!

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100

On the occasion of the release of Hi-ReS!: Amantes sunt Amentes we visited the Hi-ReS! studio and talked with Founding Partner Florian about the making of the book and DVD, romance, nightmares and then some. The London-based design studio Hi-ReS! (Handsome information - Radical entertainment Systems!) was founded in 1999 by Alexandra Jugovic and Florian Schmitt. The publication presents some of Hi-ReS!' renowned and award-winning work which includes original websites and motion graphics for TV programs and feature films as well as examples of their non-commercial pieces and installations. Hi-ReS!' masterly crafted, sometimes disturbing, often ironic and romantic world is pure visual pleasure. These Lovers are lunatic, indeed.

Graft

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Despite one of the many meanings of the lab's name, Lars Krueckeberg, Wolfram Putz and Thomas Willemeit of Graft architects are completely incorruptible. It was hard work, along with music in the pursuit of happiness that made up for their story of success. Graft started in 1998 in Berlin and Los Angeles (today there is another subsidiary in Beijing) as a "lable for Architecture, Urban planning and Exhibition Design". Recently quite a few magazines branded them as "the architects of Brad Pitt", which is true and a highly effective weapon for promotion but surely they don't have to stand for that since he is just one client among many, many others. Graft are active all around the world, from Tbilisi, Berlin, Singapore to LA and the Caribbean Islands. Regardless of their tight schedules two of Grafts' founders, Wolfram Putz and Thomas Willemeit, were kind enough to meet up with us for an interview. In which they tell us what Grafting means in terms of architecture (scientifically it describes a method where the tissues of one plant are encouraged to fuse with those of another), a true hybrid's nature and why German academics still live up to their names...

Marcus Fairs

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100

We can be Neros just for one day! That is the provocative thesis on the subject of green design Marcus Fairs drew in his lecture at the Design Hotels Future Forum 2007 in Barcelona. Instead of opting for the usual angst-ridden, sinful concepts of guilt and shame that "green lobbyists" force upon us permanently, dezeen magazine editor-in-chief Fairs takes on the role of a lateral thinker. In a funny, provocative and polemic way he calls his concept Neroism - Like the insane Roman leader listened to music and had a good time while Rome was already going up in flames, we should celebrate the insane times we live in. The way we try we won't change it anyway. To call that cynical does not adress the issue in its entirety, since he does have a point in that and furthermore some ideas what green design could be, i.e. what could be achieved within the small world of design and architecture. But listen yourself to some of his thoughts on green design, carbon-free cities and the human right for free w-lan. Marcus Fairs works and lives as an editor, author and journalist in London. He is writing for publications like Blueprint, The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday and Conde Nast Traveller. Besides his contribution as a lecturer at Design Hotels Future Forum 2007 he has spoken at conferences in London, Tokyo, New York, Stockholm and Cape Town, among others.

Arne Quinze and Theresienthal

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Die Gestalten Verlag (dgv) asked the trail-blazing Belgian artist and designer Arne Quinze to create a series of unique glass objects exclusively for our Fragiles showcase and sales exhibition Design Miami] from December 6 – 9, 2007. After some investigation, it soon became clear that Bavarian Kristallglasmanufaktur Theresienthal could be the ideal partner for bringing Quinze’s visions to life. Watching two worlds collide is always amazing. Watching two worlds joining forces to create something unique is even better. So when top-notch designer, artist and jack of all trades Arne Quinze was about to start work with the glassblowers of Theresienthal, we definitely wanted to witness and document this event. The task for Arne was to create several objects exclusively for the Fragiles exhibition at Design Miami curated by Die Gestalten Verlag. The task for Theresienthal’s artisans was to catch up with the zeitgeist while still being well grounded. Named after Queen Therese of Bavaria, the wife of Ludwig I, Theresienthal’s origins date back from the Middle Ages when glassmakers started settling for places of permanent production. Quinze, the zeitgeist of outstanding creativity matched with the excellent craftsmanship of Theresienthal resulted in a breathtaking collection of glass vases. The 'Fluid' collection can be seen for the first time and acquired at Fragiles in Miami as well as his collection of “PORCELAIN” vases.

Gestalten TV

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Best known as specialists in developing content for aficionados of cutting-edge visual culture, Berlin's Gestalten proudly present Gestalten TV. Gestalten TV offers a new series of bi-weekly video podcasts from all areas of contemporary visual culture, including graphic design and typography, product and furniture design, architecture, photography, art and more. Gestalten TV aims at creating a preferably broad range of documentaries, interviews and features. The video podcasts will introduce Gestalten-related subjects alongside individuals, projects and companies that make a difference within the realm of visual culture, e.g. architects, filmmakers, artists, graphic designers, illustrators and musicians. Please subscribe to our podcast RSS feed for updates on our bi-weekly program.