Earth Day - April 22: more than 200 tech companies have launched a joint campaign: Time for Climate Action. As an innovation and design studio, Phoenix Design has the opportunity to draw attention sustainability early in the product development process. We are committed to this, along with several other climate goals for 2021!
Phoenix Design is honored with 10 awards by the international jury of the Red Dot Award Product Design. With a whole series of Winner awards, the international jury recognizes the design achievements of Phoenix Design and its customers hansgrohe, Rolf Hartge, as well as Deli and Delicacy.
In the current issue 02/2021 of the F.A.Z. Quarterly, Stephan Thiemt, Senior Designer, Phoenix Design reports from his perspective and experience on the controversially discussed Design Thinking.
As a former IDEO employee, he has experienced the developments of Design Thinking in his training and career from the very beginning, so to speak. The definition of design thinking leaves as much room for interpretation as the design definition itself. The application of the so-called "design thinking" can be understood as the antithesis of a kind of "managerial thinking", whereby the latter has been making increasing use of the "design thinking" for some time. The design way of thinking, whose tools adapt to the situation, can be learned fundamentally, but should - as with all other disciplines - be accompanied by the actors with the most experience, in this case the designers.
In the world of business and management consulting, however, design thinking has been a supposedly new term for some time. Design Thinking is often described as a kind of new method, which is not result- but process-oriented. The methods of Design Thinking actually originated in design education and have therefore been used by designers for years. Put simply, it is about putting the user in the focus of all developments, as well as working iteratively and experimentally and thus acting less from the point of view of the company.
The Quarterly article, appropriately titled "Why does the shower have to smell?" lays out the different understandings of design thinking using RainTunes as an example. The end result of the hansgrohe shower scenarios in collaboration with Phoenix shows a consistent orientation towards the user, which also answers the title question. Even if it seems strange to many at first glance to equip a shower with additional fragrances, light or music, our user surveys in the design thinking process resulted in a different verdict. One question that remains open, however: Does the application of design thinking in other business areas turn designers into mere stylists, or are they now the actual experts?
About Phoenix Design: Phoenix Design is a design and innovation studio creating smart and substantial brand experiences that make eminent business sense and which touch people – today, for tomorrow. Since 1987, products, interactions, and digital ecosystems have been created based on the fundamental values of Logic, Morals, and Magic. More than 800 design awards (1st place – iF World Design Index, Design Studios) confirm the quality and continuity of the worldwide work, i. a. the award of honour "Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2018". Today, the team comprising 80 international experts at the Stuttgart, Munich, and Shanghai locations – together with its partners – are creating a joint vision of Smart Living.
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Franziska Warnke Communication Manager
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Phoenixes pass on their experience and learn a lot themselves about current topics and trends in user experience design.
Claudia Tietge, Design Business Manager, Stephan Thiemt, Senior UX Designer and Carolin Schmitt, Senior Design Researcher teach students at the Stuttgart Media University (HdM) in the Service Design module of the Information Design course across semesters.
The module focused on the current challenges of the food industry in terms of transport of goods, sustainable food sourcing and circular economy. The students were asked to address the question, "How can we design a service that empowers people to source their food in an independent, sustainable, healthy and transparent way?" For the assignment on the topic, the total of 14 students were divided into groups. The solution finding process was supported by the Phoenixes through appropriate feedback rounds. In addition, hypotheses and guiding questions for the design research were to be formulated and, based on these, an approach with a suitable method was to be selected.
The results were as varied as the needs and requirements of people for the shopping experience. In the first concept, customers scan their purchases to find out additional information about origin, transport route and Co2 footprint, for example. In another concept, students addressed the question of whether sustainability is a luxury or if everyone can afford a sustainable lifestyle. The third approach dealt with the intersection of sustainability and vegetarian food. The challenge of using service design to change behaviors and confront habits was cleverly solved by students in a variety of ways.
The designers were able to provide valuable feedback to the students through real-world experience and best practice cases. Over the six-month period, impulse presentations were repeatedly set for processing in order to get closer to the final result before the digital final presentation could take place at the end of February - an enriching exchange for both sides.
About Hochschule der Medien: Hochschule der Medien is a public university (funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg) which teaches media specialists. Since September 1st, 2001, Hochschule der Medien has brought together the combined know-how of the former Fachhochschule für Druck und Medien (HDM) – a traditional educational institution for printing- and media-technologies - and Hochschule für Bibliotheks- und Informationswesen (HBI). Hochschule der Medien covers a broad spectrum of media expertise: from printed media to electronic media, from design to business administration, from library science to advertising, from content for media to packaging technology, from computer science to information science to publishing and electronic media. About 30 accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes mirror this diversity. At the moment, more than 5000 students are enrolled at the university.
About Phoenix Design: Phoenix Design is a design and innovation studio creating smart and substantial brand experiences that make eminent business sense and which touch people – today, for tomorrow. Since 1987, products, interactions, and digital ecosystems have been created based on the fundamental values of Logic, Morals, and Magic. More than 800 design awards (1st place – iF World Design Index, Design Studios) confirm the quality and continuity of the worldwide work, i. a. the award of honour "Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2018". Today, the team comprising 80 international experts at the Stuttgart, Munich, and Shanghai locations – together with its partners – are creating a joint vision of Smart Living.
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Franziska Warnke Communication Manager
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The Phoenix cycle continues to turn... Yo-Yo presentation and farewell for some, also means a new beginning for the next interns at Phoenix Design.
On March 1, 2021, we welcomed Aditi Surana and Adrian Klewe from the Grand École de Design ISD Rubika in France and the University of Applied Sciences Berlin. We are excited to learn more about Indian culture through Aditi, as well as her design studies in India and France, and are looking forward to Adrian's input in the areas of sustainability and universal design thinking. Over the next six months, they will be supporting Stuttgart teams 1 and 2, spending what we hope will be an educational time at the Phoenix Design Academy.
We are looking forward to fresh perspectives and hope to be able to fulfill our role in promoting young talent. Welcome to Stuttgart to both of you!
Matthias Oesterle, Design Director, Phoenix Design on bathroom trends 2021 in H.O.M.E Magazine
In the current issue of H.O.M.E Magazine, Matthias Oesterle, Design Director at Phoenix Design talks about current trends in the bathroom. Thanks to his many years of experience in supporting and advising Hansgrohe, the designer has a sound overview of future developments in the bathroom.
Particularly due to the pandemic situation, the demands on living space are changing, rooms are being used more diversely. The bathroom is thereby increasingly integrated into the living space, missing Spa attendance is tried to replace by the own bath. Individual products are taking a back seat; instead, the bathroom is being thought of as an overall concept, and the focus is increasingly on the experience.
The bathroom is becoming a place of retreat by combining various technologies. Many can now be unobtrusively integrated into any bathroom, thus contributing to relaxation and making the dream of one's own wellness bathroom a reality. The networking of the individual products also plays a significant role in enabling a holistic experience.
More about the interview in the current H.O.M.E issue.
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Franziska Warnke Communication Manager
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Happy International Women's Day! Around the world, women have been standing up for their rights and against discrimination against women on March 08 for over 100 years.
On 08 March, women* in particular demonstrate around the world to stand up for equal rights for all genders and against discrimination against women. Men also strike, as a particularly popular 2018 example in Spain showed, to draw attention to women's unpaid "care work."
Demonstrations have been held on this day for over 100 years. Its roots lie in the women employers' movement of the late 19th, early 20th century to send a signal for equal rights, higher wages, better working conditions for women, voting rights for women and against discrimination. However, the motto of this year's Women's Day "more union, more equality, more than ever" shows that a large part of the goals have not been achieved to date.
The pandemic situation further exacerbates gender inequalities. Women in particular are affected by income losses, perform the majority of care work and have to reduce their working hours to do so. Nationwide events are to draw attention to the unequal conditions. Numerous physical, as well as digital, events are also planned in Stuttgart. The city of Stuttgart is even giving employees time off to participate.
For team composition and best possible results, we value balanced teams and will continue to advocate for gender-appropriate language, as well as representation of all genders at Phoenix Design.
*meaning everyone who identifies as a woman.
>>> More at German Union Confederation
About DGB - German Trade Union Confederation: The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB - Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) is the umbrella organization for eight German trade unions. Together, the DGB member unions represent the interests of over 5,9 million people. This makes the DGB by far the largest confederation of trade unions in Germany and one of the biggest national confederations of trade unions worldwide.
About Phoenix Design: Phoenix Design is a design and innovation studio creating smart and substantial brand experiences that make eminent business sense and which touch people – today, for tomorrow. Since 1987, products, interactions, and digital ecosystems have been created based on the fundamental values of Logic, Morals, and Magic. More than 800 design awards (1st place – iF World Design Index, Design Studios) confirm the quality and continuity of the worldwide work, i. a. the award of honour "Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2018". Today, the team comprising 80 international experts at the Stuttgart, Munich, and Shanghai locations – together with its partners – are creating a joint vision of Smart Living. www.phoenixdesign.com/en
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Franziska Warnke Communication Manager
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What unites us at Leaders for Climate Action (LFCA)? The shared vision of actively countering climate crisis and working today for a better tomorrow.
In an intensive, eight-hour workshop on strategy and the current MVP, we were able to incorporate our brand and UX expertise and develop ideas for the next generation of the ClimatePartner You app together with Gerrit Mewes and his team.
We addressed the following central questions: What makes ClimatePartner You unique? Which core values should be tangible? But also, very concretely - how can people be motivated to become active for the climate - far beyond CO2 offsetting?
We really enjoyed the positive discussions and the development of creative ideas with ClimatePartner You and can't wait for the next release of the app.
If you would like to calculate and offset your ecological footprint, here is the MVP.
About Leaders for Climate Action: LFCA is a coalition of leaders committed to active action against the climate crisis. The initiative emerged in early 2019 in Berlin's startup scene. The idea: to leverage the influence of leaders in their companies to achieve the fastest possible transformation to a sustainable economy. >>> More about LFCA
About Phoenix Design: Phoenix Design is a design and innovation studio creating smart and substantial brand experiences that make eminent business sense and which touch people – today, for tomorrow. Since 1987, products, interactions, and digital ecosystems have been created based on the fundamental values of Logic, Morals, and Magic. More than 890 design awards (1st place – iF World Design Index, Design Studios) confirm the quality and continuity of the worldwide work, i. a. the award of honour "Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2018". Today, the team comprising 80 international experts at the Stuttgart, Munich, and Shanghai locations – together with its partners – are creating a joint vision of Smart Living.
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Franziska Warnke Communication Manager
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Yo-Yo presentation February 25, 2021. Once again it's the time to "Design a yo-yo" for our two interns Lucas Gottschalg and Jonas Krämer, whose internship is coming to an end this week.
We would like to thank you for your active support in the teams and wish you all the best on your further way, which will surely cross Phoenix again at one or the other place!
Over 170 interns have already taken on this task at the Phoenix Design Academy - the varying results, however, do not suggest that it is always the same task: The six-month internship is followed by the yo-yo design over a period of three days. This part of the promotion of young talent is supported by designers and model makers, who assist the budding designers with their expertise. This year, the final presentation will take place partly digitally, but still in front of the entire team.
What makes this year's yo-yo designs so special? The weight! They were supposed to be particularly light this time, and in addition only manual tools were allowed to be used for their production - which makes the precise models even more impressive.
The YO-YO-book >>> YO-YO from 1987 – 2014 can be requested: Enable JavaScript to view protected content.">Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
David Samuel Weiskopf, Senior Designer, has been working in the product design department at Phoenix Design since 2017. Since September last year, he has additionally started a Master of Business Administration at Mannheim Business School to combine creative and business skills. In a short interview, we wanted to know his motivations for this additional qualification.
The part-time program takes place every two months for one week and comprises a total of 12 modules in which different focuses in the area of leadership and business skills are taught. In a short interview, we wanted to know his motivations for this additional qualification.
1. Phoenix: What personally motivated you to start an MBA? Where did this motivation come from?
DW: Business aspects are becoming more and more important in the field of design. We as designers work with our clients at all levels - from executive level to executive management - we need a holistic picture and a deeper understanding of business structures and processes.
The MBA in Mannheim, with a focus on general management and leadership, gives me a "skillset" that can be applied not only theoretically but also practically in working with our clients and partners.
As for my motivation, I would clearly say that it is a unique experience to do an MBA and additionally I get the opportunities to lift my perspectives as a creative into an economic-global context - here a thank you to my fellow students who contribute a big part to this through their personal experience and motivation.
2. Phoenix: Do you already see it as an advantage for your work at Phoenix Design? Have you already been able to apply your new knowledge?
DW: I have found that it is a development process that manifests itself step by step. Because of the way my studies are structured (one week in Mannheim every 2 months), I notice that after each so-called "core module" I come to Phoenix Design with new knowledge and skills, and I can use them more and more consciously and purposefully.
Even if it is not directly required in every project, these newly acquired skills help me to read and better understand the overall context.
3. Phoenix: Why do you think the connection between design and business is important?
DW: As briefly mentioned before, as designers we work in all levels of a company, so it's not far-fetched that as a designer it's beneficial to build business understanding and also understand process to connect context. What question I would like to bring in here again is, how do you connect business and design? So the reverse order. In Mannheim, I would describe myself as an exotic. In our semester there are 52 extraordinary people from different parts of the world and with different cultural backgrounds, of which only three people have a design background, including me. Now, to get back to the point of my question, I would like to briefly talk about the process in Mannheim. Through the intensive teamwork, I experience how difficult it can be for people who are not in the creative field to generate innovation and new approaches to solutions and to link subject areas holistically. This is what I see as the greatest advantage for me as a designer: to link subject areas in a new way through the creative approach and to lift them into a business context with my newly acquired knowledge.
4. Phoenix: What is the reaction from the outside when you mention studying in combination with your profession as a designer?
DW: So far, I have received only positive reactions and affirmation to my part-time MBA education. The appreciation is partly about the double burden of combining job and education and partly about the commitment to develop myself further in a complementary direction to design. However, as I mentioned earlier, it is a logical step in my eyes and will not have the "exotic status" in the future that it has today. In my opinion, it becomes exciting when business and design meet in feasibility and innovation: When we as Phoenix Design are at the starting point of a transformation with our customers and partners, dare to take the step into a new direction together and can act as a guide with our skills, which is based on trust and professionalism!
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Franziska Warnke Communication Manager
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In order to shape the future in a world that is moving faster and faster, it may be time to say goodbye to the idea of fixed current and target states and create space for development. This way, more flexible urban structures and more sustainable products could emerge.
The jury of the Iconic Awards: Innovative Interior 2021 honors Phoenix Design and Hansgrohe no less than five times: RainButton, LavaPura, RainPad, FinishPlus and RainTunes convince the international jury.
An icon for Offenburg – what is the value of design?
Text: Florian Czak
Co-Author: Franziska Warnke
An icon for Offenburg – what is the value of design? Phoenix Design was commissioned by the city of Offenburg to design a drinking water stele that has now become a polarizing topic of discussion. It's not even about the geometric and striking aesthetic appearance, or the focus on inclusion and ergonomics - but of course: about money. Is it really necessary to hire a renowned design studio for a project of this kind?
Criticism has been leveled at high expenditures for a "designer project." The questions about the value of design and the definition of a "design object" are almost pressing. How much is an inclusive, functional and aesthetic solution worth? And what monetary and user difference arises from a supposedly "non-design" approach? We are curious about the result of the "Offenburg icon" - well, what can we say - we know our way around icons.
How can we provide people with physical mobility that matches their digital freedom of movement?
