German design

Enlarge image (© picture-alliance/ dpa)

Bauhaus and the Ulm College of Design

Design has a long tradition in Germany. At the beginning of the 20th century, Peter Behrens designed products, posters and buildings for AEG, the electrical goods firm. In 1907 the Deutscher Werkbund was founded with the purpose of promoting the “refinement of working life through the combined influence of art, industry and the craft trades”. The Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius in 1919 and which existed until 1933, became world famous. The same is true of the Ulm College of Design, which was founded in 1953 by Inge Aicher-Scholl, Otl Aicher and Max Bill. While it initially followed in the footsteps of the Bauhaus, it soon pursued concepts of its own and set internationally acknowledged standards for design during the 15 years of its existence and strongly influenced many prominent designers.  

Functionality with complexity and technology
For many years, the name Braun was closely linked, especially abroad, with the concept of German design, which combines functionality with complexity and technology. Braun design was largely defined by Dieter Rams. Other German firms set and indeed still set styles with their products: Wilkhahn in Bad Münder and Vitra in Weil am Rhein for furniture, Lamy for writing implements and Erco for luminaires.  
In the information age, the importance of design in creating new media is assuming an ever greater role. Apart from the aesthetic dimension while deciphering complex information, design plays an important intermediary role between IT advances and the cultural and social developments.  

Promoting German design
Enlarge image Rams with his "snow white coffin" - a combined radio- and LP-player (© picture-alliance/ dpa)

The German Design Council advises and supplies information in matters of design to trade and industry, cultural institutions as well as the public. One of the focuses of its activities is presenting German design outside Germany. On behalf of the Federal Minister of Economics and Labor it awards the 'Federal Prize for Product Design' and on alternate years the 'Federal Prize for Design Promotion'.  
In addition to the German Design Council there are a range of other design institutions in Germany. Among the most important are the International Design Center (IDZ) in Berlin, the “designcenter” in Stuttgart, and the Essen-based Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen.  

German Arts Council
The interests of designers vis-à-vis the political sector and the public are represented by the German Designer Forum, which among other things constitutes the Design section of the German Arts Council, the umbrella organization of the federal arts associations.

source: Facts about Germany