Phoenix Design is celebrating its 30th anniversary! Time to remember, to celebrate the present, and to look into the future. Our anniversary is marked by opening our own studio in Shanghai, China, and by introducing our new blog.
Tianchen Liu worked for his master's thesis at Delft University of Technology on the drum kits of the future in collaboration with the Phoenix Design Academy. "Collector" is the concept for an intelligent drum kit that fundamentally brings emotions that connect drummers and their drums into new acoustic possibilities. More >>>
A successful article in the well-known Chinese magazine Art and Design after an interview with Andreas Diefenbach (Stuttgart) and Yifan Zang (Shanghai), both managing partners of PHOENIX DESIGN:
Fresh product for hansgrohe: RainPad a modern control panel with a glass surface that combines the functions of the shower in a central environment in a clear and simple manner and always remains clearly visible thanks to the illuminated icons. Temperature and quantity can be adjusted quickly and intuitively using the rotary control.More >>>
With the exclusive hansgrohe Aquno Select M81, a new chapter in the kitchen begins. In the design, PHOENIX considered the optimum workflow at the sink as well as the careful handling of water with maximum functionality and clear design. A new archetype of kitchen mixer is defined. More >>>
How do you keep up a collaborative creative spirit when you become remote-first overnight? Understand how our creative process became more inclusive, collaborative, transparent, and ultimately more independent from our office space and location in our newest article >>>
Phoenix Design is honoured to receive 11 awards at the Red Dot Design Award 2020, among them one Best of the Best for the hansgrohe kitchen faucet Aquno Select M81. The international panel of nearly 40 jurors honoured only 76 of the more than 6,500 submitted products from 48 categories with the competition’s top accolade, the “Best of the Best”.
Everybody’s talking about DesignOp’s – but exactly what is it? This is the topic of one of the title leads of PAGE 05.2020. How PHOENIX has been developing this theme in collaboration with client Stiebel Eltron, was published in the May edition of PAGE magazine. “Consistent design must have top priority for C-level management,” says Claudia Tietge, Design Business Manager, PHOENIX. >>>
An interview with PHOENIX for the Red Dot Yearbook 2020. Andreas Diefenbach, Managing Partner and Matthias Oesterle, Design Business Manager answer questions about the Best of the Best for the hansgrohe Aquno Select M81 kitchen mixer.
"The opportunity for change has never been as great as now." Putting the question: ndion Interview with Andreas Diefenbach, Managing Partner from PHOENIX: ndion is the content platform from the German Design Council, which has been promoting awareness of the economic, cultural and social importance of design, branding and innovation since its inception in 1953.
Great success for Phoenix Design.3x GOLD at the German Innovation Award 2020. The renowned award went to the Aquno Kitchen Mixer and the RainTunes Shower Scenario, both products from our long-standing customer hansgrohe. Another GOLD award is given to the LUQEL Water Station. Together with our customers, we are very happy about this great GOLD result.
Architecture magazine BAUMEISTER in conversation with Andreas Diefenbach, Managing Partner of PHOENIX. Phoenix Design has worked with large bathroom and plumbing companies for decades. Andreas Diefenbach, designer and managing partner of Phoenix Design, explains in an interview how to develop a brand language and what the upcoming trends in the bathroom and sanitary industries are. The interview was conducted by Alexander Russ and will be published by Baumeister in the May 2020 issue.
A bit of a goodbye – at a distance. Silvia’s time as duly employed Head of Communications draws to a close this month. Her new title: Independent Lady. But those who know her are confident that Silvia Olp will continue to turn the wheels in the network of design and architecture.
AN ECOSYSTEM REVOLVING AROUND FOODSTUFF NO.1 – WATER.
Phoenix Design has developed a revolutionary, multifunctional platform around the digitisation of drinking water. In this way, a range of products has come about which blur the distinction between the digital world and the analogue world. A project with this scope has been shaped from scratch throughout several years of cooperation with a start-up company, evolving via numerous phases and resulting in an holistic and tangible ecosystem.
PHOENIX, together with their client hansgrohe, wins the highest award in the iF DESIGN AWARD 2020 competition: an iF DESIGN AWARD in GOLD for the RainTunes shower scenario. Plus another 9 iF DESIGN AWARDs in various disciplines – an outstandingly brilliant result for PHOENIX and their customers.
We’re making progress again. After the coronavirus froze us in our tracks in February 2020 in Shanghai, we’ve now received beautiful pictures from today’s studio worklife.
On the evening of 12. March 2020, Bomajoined us at our Stuttgart studio for our event series ‘Phoenix & Friends’. The evening was hosted by Andreas Diefenbach, designer and managing partner of Phoenix Design, and Stefan Balzer, CEO and Founder of Boma Global.
What moves us – briefly written in our current Phoenix Magazine FIRST. NOW. NEXT. Come with us and discover the origins of Phoenix Design. Enjoy our success today together with us. And read our thoughts about the future. Download now!
The new top labels of the renowned iF International Forum Design compare those designers who in the past repeatedly achieved leading ranks at competitions. In four index groups, in the categories Independent Design Studios 2016–2020 the label BEST OF for PHOENIX – the top rank.
YO-YO presentation winter 2020 ... also say goodbye from a part of our interns. Here the impressions of the students Marlene, Jonas, Daniela and Shengnan. Thanks for the great support and all the best for the futher. And we are sure we will see us again.
3x Gold and 10x Winner. Grandiose result at the German Design Award 2020 and the festive award ceremony on 07.02.2020 in Frankfurt. PHOENIX and its customers AXOR, hansgrohe, Bora, Stiebel Eltron, Isimat, Jotec, Luqel and Vorwerk are delighted about these awards. Creating smart, meaningful and substantial brand experiences is the claim in PHOENIX's design language, and it runs through all industries. Here it is kitchen-household, bathroom wellness, medical technology, industrial products and even apps. The jury has honoured these achievements.
Once again, PHOENIX is promoting the discussion of "design in school" at the Werkgymnasium Heidenheim/Germany. At the end of February, young people between the ages of 14 and 16 were introduced to the design process from the first idea to product development. Designer Steffi Moser accompanied this one-day workshop.
Internship: In the winter half-year there were more girls, in the summer half-year it's the boys' turn - they study in Berlin, Graz, Schwäbisch Gmünd and Wuppertal. Welcome to the internship form February till August 2020 > Florian, Igor, Jona and Lukas.
When we speak about the development of medical aids, the highest precision is required. PHOENIX thinks ahead, what influence does design have in the course of time?
Our 2 German Design Award Winners demonstrate this added value!
Smart Living with logic, ehtics and magic. The Inflight magazine "Discover Germany" and Andreas Diefenbach, Managing Partner, PHOENIX, about the responsibility of designers, about the needs of everyday life. The magazine flies with airlines such as Lufthansa, British Airways, Eurowings, Austrian Airline and Swiss Air.
The hansgrohe Talis M54 faucet is a true eye catcher in the kitchen, due to it’s high design quality and material treatment. It’s attention to color and finish has been an important aspect of the design process. As a result, it comes in several color and finishing options offering a broad choice for individual kitchen designs.
PHOENIX has been awarded the ICONIC AWARD 2020: Innovative Interior - 3 times. The international jury awards a “Best of Best” to the hansgrohe shower program Rainfinity and the Water Station from LUQEL. A "Winner" goes to "Intra" an conference chair from Wilkhahn
Eine Reportage von Thomas Lindemann für das Suplement Quarterly der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung Ausgabe Januar 2020. Im Interview mit Andreas Diefenbach, Managing Partner von PHOENIX.
Im Rahmen der imm cologne 2020 ist Matthias Oesterle, Design Businiss Manager bei PHOENIX, zum Design Talk eingeladen. Besuchen Sie die spannende Talkrunde über die Zukunft und wie Designer diese gestalten wollen. Halle 3.1/H011, Campus Forum, Di. 14.01.20, 14:45-15:15 Uhr
At the "Best of Year 2019" award ceremony by INTERIOR DESIGN Magazine New York, the AXOR MyEdition faucet collection from hansgrohe was awarded.The teams from PHOENIX and AXOR are extremely happy about this international award.
In the Suplement Raconteur of the newspaper "THE TIMES", an interview with Joon-Mo Lee and Andreas Diefenbach, both managing directors of PHOENIX Stuttgart and Munich: "It takes courage to seek inspiration where others do not look." To the online article >>>
Leading Design: Using design strategically. How companies develop their full potential! The specialist book by Prof. Jan-Erik Baars fascinated our designers and was the occasion to exchange ideas during a stopover at PHOENIX in Stuttgart from Schwäbisch Gmünd to North Rhine-Westphalia. At the "after-work talk" there was a good discussion about the digital transformation and how to create new values for customers as a designer.
Andreas Diefenbach, Managing Partner of PHOENIX, was keynote speaker at the Designblok in Prague as well as guest lecture in the Department of Architecture at the Technical University (CTU), Prague. Extracts from his lectures can be found here >>>
For deli, one of the leading brands of stationery in China, PHOENIX has created another printer. The X10 by deli is a compact printer able to print on a wide variety of different materials.
The Verband Deutscher Industriedesigner e.V. (VDID) [Association of German Industrial Designers] presents on 9 November 2019 – within the framework of a follow-up event to its conference “Intelligence of the Future” – Mojin Robotics featuring Caro-O-Bot 4 at the Fraunhofer Institute (IPA). Jens Wingerath, Design Business Manager, PHOENIX, reports on the design processes for this service robot.
On 17–21 October 2019, the Prague International Design Festival will take place at the exhibition grounds of the Industrial Palace as well as in renowned design stores and galleries throughout the city. Andreas Diefenbach, Designer and Phoenix Design Managing Partner, will be on-site as a speaker on the first day of the event on behalf of our client Hansgrohe.
At the Focus Open 2019, the international design award of the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, the winners have been chosen. GOLD goes to the water station LUQEL – Design by Phoenix Design. We are very happy indeed!
On 9 October 2019, on their way to Schiltach in the Black Forest, interior designers from China and Taiwan stopped by at Phoenix Design in Stuttgart – the birthplace of many AXOR and hansgrohe products. "Design made in Germany" is still magical!
Phoenix Design, together with its clients Hansgrohe and LUQEL, wins three ICONIC AWARDS 2019: Innovative Architecture. All three submitted products receive the highest award "best of best" in this international competition.
Wir gratulieren Silvia Olp, Head of Communications bei Phoenix Design, zur 1. Vorsitzenden des aed Stuttgart e.V.. Anfang Oktober war die Mitgliederversammlung des aed e.V. mit der Wahl des neuen Vorstandes und des neuen Beirates. Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Werner Sobek war in 2004 Initiator der aed Idee und bis Ende September 2019 Vorsitzender des Vorstandes, auch Silvia Olp war von Anbeginn im Vorstand des aed aktiv. Als Ehrenpräsident wird Sobek dem aed e.V. auch in Zukunft mit Rat zur Seite stehen.
Phoenix Design accompanied the international Conference for Digital Transformation on 25–26 September 2019 in Berlin with a speech and subsequent round of discussions. Together with its client STIEBEL ELTRON, Phoenix Design represented by Design Business Manager Felix Mattes showed how an initially small design project may end up transforming an entire company.
China fever: young interior designers from Zhengzhou (10 mio city in China) visit PHOENIX in Stuttgart. They would like to know which stories our products tell, what are the trends in the sanitary sector and what digital topics will be relevant in the bathroom of tomorrow?
Since the beginning of 2019, the new Management team, consisting of Managing Partners Andreas Diefenbach, Harald Lutz, Yifan Zhang, and Managing Director Joon-Mo Lee, runs the PHOENIX studios in Stuttgart, Munich, and Shanghai.
For a few months now, Andreas Diefenbach has been part of the Phoenix Design management team. In an interview with Wirtschaftsforum, he relates which changes his new role in the company entails, and what common denominators exist between Japanese calligraphy and his company.
Cycling in urban areas is becoming increasingly popular. As part of his bachelor thesis, Christoph Wackher has developed a sustainable concept which among others optimizes the daily cycle routes according to personal preferences. The cyc service could complement existing general micro mobility solutions – smart devices.
Light and shadow can be experienced both in a desk lamp. The Phoenix Design Academy is a platform for the visions and studies of the Phoenix Design Team. With the "subtle shadow" concept, Tiantian Xu has succeeded in creating a luminaire design that controls the individual lighting requirements and also integrates acoustically effective elements.
By the year 2050, the number of people over 65 will have risen from 17 million today to about 23 million, according to the German Federal Statistical Office Recognising such a topic, evaluating it, and coming up with well-reflected solutions are essential methods used in the Phoenix Design Academy. In this way, a new interpretation of the classic walker has been created.
Good climate is important to us. Stiebel Eltron App, designed by PHOENIX, guarantees the promise. 100% transparency. “How much CO2 have I saved thanks to my heat pump, compared to a traditional gas-fired heating?”. Taking responsibility as a basic brand value, sustainability is being communicated to the end user as motivation and feedback.
hansgrohe presented their new shower family “Rainfinity”, designed by PHOENIX, at the ISH 2019 in Frankfurt/Germany. In combination with the “hansgrohe Home” App, also designed by PHOENIX and RainTunes the innovative, digital shower system for the bathroom.
The new top labels of the renowned iF International Forum Design compare those designers who in the past repeatedly achieved leading ranks at competitions. In four index groups, in each of the categories Design Studios and Industry "Bath" 2015–2019 the label BEST OF for PHOENIX – the top rank.
“Design a Yo-Yo!” Close to 100 Phoenix Design Academy trainees tackled this task since 1989, and each time the Yo-Yo idea was interpreted in a surprising new way.
Wilkhahn shows its newest product designed by Phoenix Design to the public: the Conference Chair "Intra". At the ORGATEC in Cologne/Germany, the internationally leading trade show for modern working environments, the furniture manufacturer presented his answer to increased dynamics and more agility in the office environment.
The award of honour “Red Dot: Design Team of the Year” was awarded this year to Phoenix Design with its design teams in Stuttgart, Munich, and Shanghai. We are very happy about this special award! The Award Winning Ceremony and Exhibition Opening took place in Red Dot Designmuseum, Essen/Germany.
All information, publications, and photos regarding the award of honour for Phoenix Design sumed up.
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Smart Living with Logic, Morals, and Magic
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.
As designers, we are responsible for re-inventing the world we live in. We believe we can serve people best by focussing on those things that will always be important: living and well-being – at home, at work, and on the go. All efforts by Phoenix Design are thus tailored to meet real everyday needs and desires of real people regardless of age, background, or lifestyle.
In order to create a holistic brand experience, Phoenix Design is working with a multi-disciplinary approach, supporting its clients from the first idea via design all the way to the final data set, often in long-standing partnerships. Change and re-invention are building blocks of success, deeply ingrained in the PHOENIX DNA. Driven by curiosity for everything that arises, the studio is permanently changing itself and its partners in order to ensure the substantial further development and future-readiness on both sides.
Phoenix Design History
The career of founders Andreas Haug and Tom Schönherr is closely linked to the rise of modern German design. They have turned the studio they founded in the late 1980s into one of top names in industrial and product design. “What’s important to us are the motives and goals of our clients who include us in their strategy so that we can provide impulses. We pay attention to keeping the interaction between client and the team of external experts seamless and smooth. And we are proud that we have managed to achieve this time and time again, in some cases over decades.” Both have been honoured by the Lucky Strike Award for their lifetime achievement, and with the German Design Award “Personality” for their entire work.
1981
Andreas Haug was the founder and co-owner of frogdesign (1982*) after studying design at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart – from 1984 to 1987 as a design consultant and vice-president. Also Tom Schönherr studied at this university. In supporting the thesis of Tom Schönherr learn the two know each other. From 1982 to 1987 Tom Schönherr worked as senior designer at frogdesign also.
1982
Andreas Haug is co-owner of frogdesign. As a freelancer in the design team of frogdesign Tom Schönherr working on the first portable Apple Computer (snow-white concept) and meets at this time on Steve Jobs.
1986
On the sailing ship of Klaus Grohe (Hansgrohe) the idea of a joint studio was born. The starting point for 28 years of joint history: Phoenix and Hansgrohe.
1987
Start of the design studio Phoenix Design in Ruppmannstrasse in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. From the beginning there were the departments product design and model construction, the latter reflects an important aspect in the operation of Phoenix Design - until today. Under strict secrecy created 1:1 models, in close cooperation between the customer and Phoenix Design.
1987
Hansgrohe - The very first customer and still trying. "The relationship between Phoenix Design and Hansgrohe is very respectful - like a good marriage. Each of the partners respects what the other one does: Phoenix has really developed a technical understanding of the inner workings of our products, while our technical personnel has come to appreciate the extraordinary design work done by Phoenix … In the meantime, this cooperation works so seamlessly that many questions can be answered in short telephone conversations. Or a cloud of data comes flying directly down in the Black Forest from Stuttgart!”. Klaus Grohe
1988
First contact with Loewe: “The discreet manner of Mr Schönherr. We realised: Here’s someone who not only thinks like us, who also acts like we do.” Dr. Rainer Hecker, former Member of the Board at Loewe. For this meet was an intensive 25-year co-operation in various fields of design (Design Consulting, Corporate Design, Corporate Language, Corporate Product Design). From no-name manufacturers to premium brand.
1989
Caro – the first bathroom product line for Duravit – best-selling right from the start. Caro is still produced - unchanged. Already in 1989 Duravit was the leader in bathroom furniture and bathroom ceramics. Till today three bathroom series have created. Most recently: P3 Comforts (P3=Phoenix Design the Third ) - awarded in 2015: iF Design Award in Gold.
1990
In close cooperation with Kaldewei until today emerged a complex product range, are matched in the product lines and price segments precisely coordinated. Kaldewei is part of the exclusive circle of strong German brands. Franz Dieter Kaldewei (owner): "Our business is steel and enamel. There are not many designers that can work with this sturdy, yet fascinating, material properly… In Phoenix Design, we have found a partner who forms our durable products in a manner that ensures that their design will also be ageless. They design our whole range of products from the basic through to the premium bathtubs and we could set standards in the market.”
1995
Moving from Stuttgart-Vaihingen to the present location at Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt.
1997
Following a won competition, the collaboration with Viessmann starts.
1998
Awarding of the "Lucky Strike Designer Award" to Andreas Haug and Tom Schönherr for their overall achievements.
1999
Fire in the design modelling workshop / rebuilding.
2009
The mobile phone industry is growing steadily and is an important field for interaction and product design at Phoenix Design from now on.
2010
Opening of the representative office in Suzhou near Shanghai / China.
2011
1987-2011 More than 450 design awards for design services from Phoenix Design. No. 1 position in the iF Award Ranking "Design Offices".
2012
New business areas: Start of the cooperation with Trumpf, one of the world's leading companies for machine tools and laser machining.
2012
Awarding of the German Design Award "Personality" by the German Design Council to Andreas Haug and Tom Schönherr for their overall achievements.
2014
Class A Surfacing, Technical Design and Design Modelling – physical and digital is no longer delimitable and ushers in a new era.
2014
More than 50 % of Phoenix Design's design services today are in the field of Interface Design.
2015
Reorientation of the company's strategy and brand positioning.
2015
Since October 2015, we have been represented in Munich with a further Studio, creating the basis for growth and the support of new exciting projects.
2016
Wall of Fame: Since 2008, Phoenix Design has held the first place in the iF ranking creative "design offices" of the iF Design Award. Since its inception in 1987, Phoenix Design has received over 700 design awards, of which more than 450 have been awarded over the past six years.
2016
In-house model making since 1987. This is where Phoenix Design’s heart is beating. Top secret, fast and perfect – that’s how first prototypes, functional models and design studies come to life here. Highly professional design modellers in a top-equipped model making workshop. For us, model making is a fundamental element in product development. Fast connections and short distances allow designers to coordinate with model makers right away and get their concepts up and running right as intended.
2017
Phoenix Design celebrated its anniversary! And a lot happend in 2017: We opened our own studio in Shanghai, appointed Joon-Mo Lee and Andreas Diefenbach to the Management Board and started with a new Corporate Design. Early November saw the climax with our big anniversary party at the BIX Jazzclub in Stuttgart with more than 200 guests. Then, created was the unique Phoenix Sound – a percussion performance starring our clients' products.
2017
After six years of running a representative office, we further enlarge our design presence in the Chinese design capital Shanghai. The new Phoenix Design (Shanghai) Ltd. has been officially inaugurated. A team – still small – of experienced designers has been working on projects for mainly Asian clients.
2017
Redesign of the brand. From product design to innovation design partner: Phoenix Design adjusts its visual appearance. With the new Corporate Design, Phoenix Design not only parts with its red square, the logo is also shortened to one single concise word: PHOENIX.
2018
The year 2018 starts with 8 German Design Awards and 9 iF Design Awards for Phoenix Design. In the iF Ranking Creative in the "Design Office" category, we are again in 1st place in 2018. The number of design prizes from the most diverse competitions since 1987 is steadily rising: 798 design awards in the spring of 2018.
2018
As part of the Red Dot Gala event on 9 July 2018, the Phoenix Design team was officially selected as the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2018. It thus take its place in a celebrated roster comprising great names like Apple, adidas, LG Electronics, Porsche, Grohe, Veryday, Bosch, Blackmagic, and Canyon at the Hall of Fame of international designs.
2019
The new top labels of the renowned iF International Forum Design compare those designers who in the past repeatedly achieved leading ranks at competitions. In two index groups, PHOENIX get in the categories "Design Studios" and "Bath" 2015–2019 the label "Best of" – the top rank.
2019
Phoenix Design – Generation Change. After 32 successful years, Andreas Haug and Tom Schönherr, founders and Managing Partners of Phoenix Design, handed over the management to the next generation in early March 2019. Left to right: Tom Schönherr, Yifan Zhang, Harald Lutz, Andreas Diefenbach, Marius Bauer, Andreas Haug, Joon-Mo Lee
2019
With Rainfinity, PHOENIX has designed an innovative and digital shower experience together with its client Hansgrohe. The new shower family in combination with the "hansgrohe Home App" appeals to all the senses at the same time. Via the app, various shower scenarios (RainTunes) may be selected and played back. Each RainTunes scenario is synchronised with the temperature and intensity of the water, thus controlling lighting, music, and other multimedia applications. Rainfinity shower family was awarded i.a. the iF Design Award Gold and Red Deot Award: Best of the best.
2019
For many years, Phoenix Design has been accompanying Audi AG, both as a process partner and in pixel-perfect implementation, as well as in bringing digitality to life in the vehicles of tomorrow. Working closely under the direction of Audi design team, we bring brand values and user needs to a common denominator, helping to bring the slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik” to life.
2019
Together with ist clients, Phoenix Design receives a total of 22 awards at the three most prestigious design competitions in Germany including four times the highest award. One German Design Award "Gold" is for the AXOR Showerpipe 800, hansgrohe Rainfinity wins the iF Design Award "Gold" and Red Dot: best of the best which is also awarded for Trumpf Track & Trace.
Phoenix Design Academy
The Phoenix Design Academy is the platform hosting the visions and studies of the Phoenix Design Team.
The Phoenix Design Academy is considered a design laboratory for conducting experiments and creating concepts. Here, non-commercial projects may take shape, unfettered by specifications and client directives, and here entirely new design aspects can be developed. This forum of creative latitude is where seasoned designers and young talents can meet and team up to design the world of tomorrow.
Moreover, the Phoenix Design Academy is expressly devoted to developing up-and-coming designers. Talented students can work on their final thesis here while being supported, both workwise and financially, by experienced designers and model builders from the Phoenix Design Team.
Touchingly meaningful, dynamic and aesthetic. Balance beam, side horse and asymmetrical bars in a new shape, not only sporting the athletic quality of gymnastical achievement, but also – and even especially so – their aesthetic quality.
Collector - Intelligent Drum Kit. Stereotypically, drummers are the symbol of loudness and powerfulness. However, the essential emotion that connects drummers and drumming is curiosity – the eagerness to explore. Collector is an intelligent drum kit that empowers drummers to freely explore the world of sounds to fulfill their curiosity. The concept consists of three products: the drum kit, the smart module, and smart drumsticks. The smart module and drumsticks allow drummers to collect sound samples for their drums by exploring the surroundings. The drum kit is designed to be effortless to set up and tear down, flexible to transport, and easy for drummers to customize the configuration. The design is compact and lightweight, with a minimalistic and modern design language, which fits in various contexts. Collector can be played well through headphones at home - no more trouble with the neighbors.
Credits: Tianchen Liu, Master Thesis, Delft University of Technology. Mentoring: Jan Willem Hoftijzer, Dicky Brand; Sven Feustel, Principal Designer, Phoenix Design Academy.
Subtle Shadow – Shadow Light. Tension and relaxation in the right proportions ensure well-being and promote creativity. With the concept of the shadow lamp "subtle shadow" for the desk, the user has the opportunity to control his own individual need for light and shadow. The minimalist design can be integrated into the modern office landscape, the personalisation option guarantees its longevity. Acoustically effective paper technology with grooves on the surfaces are used for sound insulation, the fine shadow stripes throw a subtle calm onto the table. Paired with an OLED plate and bending sensor as well as flexible spring steel links, the subtle form of "subtle shadow" adds that extra touch of poetry that enriches the office environment. Impressions on Youtube >>> Credits: Tiantian Xu, Diploma Thesis, University of Offenbach. Mentoring: Prof. Peter Eckart; Sven Feustel, Principal Designer, Phoenix Design Academy.
Cycling in urban areas is becoming increasingly popular. As part of his bachelor thesis, Christoph Wackher has developed a sustainable concept which among others optimizes the daily cycle routes according to personal preferences. The cyc service could complement existing general micro mobility solutions – smart devices. The cyc service is controlled via an app that corresponds to a data carrier on the bicycle. The app provides digital access to your own cycling behavior as well as daily updates (big data). At the same time, information gained by all users can be the basis for general infrastructural measures. As an IoT solution, "cyc empowering cyclists" brings together the different requirements of the various parties involved in the system. Credits: Christoph Wackher, Bachelor Thesis, University of Pforzheim. Mentoring: Prof. Thomas Gerlach; Sven Feustel, Principal Designer, Phoenix Design Academy.
DUOTEC – Autonomous Building of the Future. Architecture represents the spirit of its age and societal conditions. The dilemma between an immensely growing demand of construction materials and finite resources calls for a new thinking in the construction industry. The necessity for ecologically sensitive building means that traditional practices must change. The analysis of biological constructions and their execution in architecture and technological systems plays an ever more important role. Architecture and construction will, in the future, move even closer together at the interface of computer-aided design, additive manufacturing, material technology, and synthetic biology. The DUOTEC concept represents a mobile robotic system for realising extremely lightweight and stable architectural structures according to prototypes found in nature. One of the robots builds individual modules of the structure which are then combined and closed in a planar manner by the second robot. State-of-the-art coiling and printing processes using fibre compound materials make it possible to use only minimal material quantities while offering individual design opportunities. The aim of the concept design is to illustrate the potentials of new technologies, to inspire, and to present food for thought. Credits: Tony Jankowski, Bachelor Thesis, HTW Berlin. Mentoring: Prof. Birgit Weller; Sven Feustel, Principal Designer, Phoenix Design Academy.
Mobilität ist eines der höchsten Güter des Menschen. Das Ziel der Selbstbestimmung und Unabhängigkeit bis ins hohe Alter wird zunehmend eine größere Herausforderung für unsere Gesellschaft. Bundesweit sind u.a. aktuell mindestens 2 Mio Menschen im höheren Alter auf Rollatoren angewiesen. Die Zahl der über 65-Jährigen von heute 17 Mio wird bis zum Jahr 2050 auf etwa 23 Mio steigen, so das statisches Bundesamt. Das Erkennen solch einer Thematik, es zu bewerten und reflektierte Lösungsansätze zu erarbeiten, sind essenzielle Methoden in der Phoenix Design Academy. Hierbei ist zum Beispiel eine Neuinterpretation eines klassischen Rollators entstanden. Die Interaktion und die Nutzung im jeweiligen Kontext standen im Focus. Mit dem E-Rollator LOOP wurde in der Phoenix Design Academy ein sehr charaktervoller Archetyp geschaffen, der durch seine selbsterklärende Bedienung besticht und technischen Support in den Hintergrund stellt. Durch den elektrischen Antrieb wird dem Benutzer ein größerer Aktionsradius angeboten, somit mehr Sicherheit und Unterstützung auf den unterschiedlichsten topografischen Gegebenheiten im Alltag. Komplettiert wird der E-Rollator durch eine intelligente Beleuchtungsanlage – bessere Orientierung und bessere Sichtbarkeit: sehen und gesehen werden. Be connected and safe: eine ganzheitliche Betrachtung. Auch über das Smartphone wird eine Standortübermittlung möglich sein. LOOP eine weitere Lösung für eine neue dynamische Mobilität.
AR Airport Navigation App. Augmented Reality (AR) is finding its way into our daily life. This technology which has been explored in experiments for quite a while in the large research laboratories and universities is now ready to enter the mass market, being already accessible as smartphone applications or special hardware. The areas of application extend from games via learning environments all the way to practical deployment in warehouses or production facilities. The basic principle – overlaying reality with additional digital information – offers promising possibilities for displaying information in a large number of contexts, wherever it is needed. In the course of the project "AR Port", Yijian Lan and Alexander Kübler have dealt with the topic of Augmented Reality. In a first step, they analysed which technological possibilities exist today, and how design principles might be deduced from these via an experimental approach. In parallel, they developed an exemplary interaction scenario in which they transfer the principles defined by them to the context of an airport. From navigation via searching for information all the way to practical travel tips, a concept and prototype has evolved which shows the benefits of Augmented Reality. Credits: Yijian Lan / Alexander Kübler, Bachelor Thesis, Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd. Mentoring: Florian Geiselhart; Prof. Jörg Beck; Moritz Kemper, Senior Designer / Phoenix Design.
Today, a journey takes place via many different stations from a starting location to a destination location. However, the stations are often independent of one another, offering no coherent connection. The airplane offers the opportunity to get from point A to point B fast and conveniently. However, the service user experience is not at all central; rather, the focus is on DIN standards and efficiency. Amid the fierce airline competition, however, passenger service can present a competitive edge. An holistic, innovative “Food Service Experience” in particular can play an important role here. The concept includes a new approach to on-board services, both in terms of thinking and packaging: new and innovative packaging (heated at the push of a button), a bottle as a travel companion, and two intelligent refillable service units. All these components together constitute a new “Food Service” system, making it possible to simplify service processes, to make life easier for the flight attendants, and to offer passengers a personal, individual, holistic user experience. Credits: Philipp Emmert, Bachelor Thesis, Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts & Design. Betreuer: Prof. Detlef Rhein; Sven Feustel, Design Team Manager.
NONO – Change the way you hear the world. In a world that’s always getting faster and more bustling, where more and more people move to the cities, and where our surroundings get louder and louder, we often feel overwhelmed by the background noise. What if each of us could design their own soundscape? What if we were free to hear and listen to what we want to, whenever we want to? NONO now offers each user the option to design their very own personal sound backdrop. The basic idea is a further development of the principle that ANC headphones are already using today: the counter-sound produced by the headphones cancels out bothersome sound. But with NONO each user can decide for themselves which sound is to be filtered out. Timbre, echo, volume and clarity of a sound can be altered as well – thus, each user can individually create their perfect sound environment. Credits: Malvina Krzywinska, Master Thesis, FH JOANNEUM in Graz/Austria. Academic adviser: Prof. Michael Lanz; Sven Feustel, Design Team Manager.
Bat - Mobility in Darkness. The night, a short time frame rife with opposites. Filled with darkness and mysticism, but also with beauty and fascination when we fill it with light. It seems as if we human beings feel the urge more and more frequently to be active in this precise time frame and to enjoy the silence of the night. We want to be out and about as individuals and discover our surroundings while feeling safe and self-confident at all times. The Bat concept is a flying light with accompanies you wherever you are and which shows you the way. It's next to you when you go jogging, it tracks you on the ski slope or sees you safely home. Bat is small and compact when it is transported. Unfolded, it is agile and creates a lighting atmosphere where otherwise none would exist. Bat is intelligent, tracks its environment and is able to react to you and your gestures. Now there is a new kind of interaction: the interaction between human being and mobile light. Credits: Tobias Tsamisis, Diploma Thesis, University of Darmstadt. Academic Advisor: Prof. Tom Philipps; Sven Feustel, Design Team Manager, Phoenix Design Academy.
Juicy Bites – der personalisierte Smart-Snack. Konzept für einen 3D Food Printer und über "Werte" im Umgang mit Lebensmitteln. Juicy Bites ist der Ausdruck von Selbstbestimmung, das Wohlbefinden und einem bestimmten Lebensstil. Du entscheidest selbst was Dein Körper an Nährstoffen braucht um die perfekte Tagesperformance zu erhalten. Juicy Bites informiert nicht nur in Textform über den Nährwertzustand, sondern ermöglicht es auch seinen Zustand physisch zu fassen und sogar zu schmecken. Je nach Tagesaufgaben erhältst Du durch den selbstgemachten Smart-Snack die wichtigsten Vitamine, die in einer normalen Ernährung ausbleiben. Als Zutaten werden Obst und Gemüse verwendet, die nicht den allgemeinen ästhetischen Vorstellungen entsprechen und vom Markt aussortiert wurden (2. Wahl, Ugly Foods). Juicy Bites der personalisierte Smart-Snack.
Credits: Lun Yeh, Diplomarbeit; Hochschule Darmstadt, Betreuer: Prof. Thino Melzer; Sven Feustel, Design Team Manager, Phoenix Design Academy.
neigborSWAP – local networking against food waste. In Germany alone, 11 million tonnes of food are thrown into the garbage each year although they were still fit for consumption, 61% coming from private households alone. At the same time, increasing urbanisation makes people wish for more social networking. What can we do against this development? How do you get people to treat food with more consideration, and which role can social networks play here? The result has been developed in dialog with users, via different personae and scenarios: neighborSWAP, an app as a local shopping network. It enables people to do collaborative shopping as well as share left-over meals, unused food or home-grown produce via a sharing functionality. At the same time, it inspires users to adopt a diversified, conscious diet. Credits: Jan Schröter, Master Thesis, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. Academic adviser: Prof. Steffi Hußlein, Prof. Constanze Langer; Sven Feustel, Design Team Manager, Phoenix Design Academy.
Tomorrow’s textbook: “Mate”: though digital media are practically omnipresent all day long, they are somewhat underrepresented in schools and learning environments for children – despite the fact that they offer a wealth of possibilities for interaction, allowing to customize the learning process individually for each child. “Mate” is a digital textbook that chooses exactly this approach: Pupils themselves can influence what exactly they will learn, and how they want to go about it. They are active participants in using and creating the book and can introduce and integrate their own content, e.g. photos or videos. Multi-media offers cater to different types of learners. Class topics are developed individually and actively. And all the while, the book adapts to the personal needs of the learner, compiling content correspondingly. “Mate” accompanies pupils throughout their school career, analysing their skills and needs, providing focussed support. Credits: Rahel Flechtner, Bachelor’s thesis; Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, advisors: Prof. Bernhard Schmid-Wohlleber, Dipl.-Psych. Dipl.-Inform. Johannes Schäfer, Phoenix Design Academy. First Place aed neuland Award.
“Das Zeug zum Fliegen” (the stuff for flying) deals with Wearable Technology for Parkour athletes. In this sport, it’s all about finding and pursuing the most direct and efficient route across urban space. This means surpassing obstacles, climbing facades, mastering precarious balancing acts. In the focus: this shoe, specifically developed for this sport. It features a dampening sole which adapts to the foot shape of its owner both during phases of pressure and relief. The cushioning action prevents negative impact over the long term, e.g. joint wear. Thanks to sensors integrated into the sole, analytical results can be accessed and analysed via an app. This comprises data about distances run and altitudes surmounted as well as load and stress values and information about community members. The community is a special function where you can arrange to meet for training sessions or compare analytical results. Credits: Vanessa Woznik, Diploma thesis; Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG), Offenbach [Hessen State University of Art and Design], advisors: Prof. Frank G. Zebner; Sven Feustel, Design Team Manager, Phoenix Design Academy. Finalist aed neuland Award.
Ordersystems - Design with all senses. Concept: When we are storing food, we fall back on using systems, that don‘t serve our demands regarding emotional aesthetics and functionality at all. „animo“ is a system, that stages visually appealing aliments appropriately and gives the user the possibility to build his own unique order by moving the individual elements. The permanent presence of the food that is stored, leads to an better overview: Amount and best-before-dates won‘t get out of sight anymore. The established grid, existing of drawers and cupboards, gives way to a flexible ordersystem, which combines storing fresh & durable food at the same time with aesthetics and communication. „animo“ develops food into a design-feature of the kitchenarea - and that‘s just the focus it deserves.Credits: Rosi Weiße, Diploma, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Tutor: Prof. Oliver Grabes, Prof. Matthias Schönherr, Phoenix Design Academy, Stuttgart.
The subject of Philipp Oster's end-of-term paper is a new concept for a washing machine. Is this household product positioned in the best place? He suggests designing the washing machine that it can also be put up in the living or dressing room, just like a piece of high-quality furniture. In this concept for the future it could be possible to wash clothes with carbon dioxide in a gentle way which is not harmful to the environment and to use smart capsules with individual scents instead of commonly used detergents.
„Hilfe für Helfer"– Rettungsboje nimue. Jährlich kommen viele Menschen durch Ertrinken ums Leben. Das Konzept soll deshalb sowohl präventiv vor Gefahren in Gewässern schützen als auch aktiv bei Unglücken eingreifen können. Hierfür befindet sich die Boje "nimue" auf der Wasserfläche. Sie sammelt Daten zur allgemeinen Wasserqualität, stellt diese über eine Internetplattform zur Verfügung und warnt vor potenziellen Bedrohungen, etwa durch chemische Verschmutzungen oder eine nicht tragende Eisschicht. Badegäste oder Wintersportler werden über ein Kamerasystem durch biometrische Bewegungserkennungen auf Gefahrensituationen analysiert. Wird eine Gefährdung erkannt, kann eine Unterwasserdrohne in Bewegung gesetzt werden, die unter die verunglückte Person taucht und diese durch einen aufblasbaren Airbag über Wasser hält. Credits: Stefan Hasselwander, Diplomarbeit; Hochschule Darmstadt, Fachbereich Gestaltung, Betreuer: Prof. Justus Theinert; Jens Wingerath, Design Team Manager, Phoenix Design Academy; Anerkennung bei Mia Seeger Award.
Architecture on the Water: The „Yena“ catamaran concept does not interpret sailing as a challenging sporting activity but focuses instead on the relaxation aspect – enjoying the sun and the sea on a sailing yacht in peace and quiet without needing the help of serveral crew members. The type of sail and the mast positon are important aspects of the concept. Credits: Ralf Kittmann, Diploma, Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee, Tutor: Prof. Helmut Staubach, Phoenix Design Academy, Stuttgart.
Here you will find all products of the Phoenix Design Academy
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Studio Shanghai
Phoenix Design Shanghai Ltd.
Yanping Road 98, Building A, Floor 3, Room 313-314
Jing'an District
200042 Shanghai/China
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