german design council’s one&twenty honors 21 awards at milan design week 2024

the 21 winners of ‘one&twenty’ by the german design council

Every year, the German Design Council honors outstanding design students and graduates in the fields of product design and lifestyle with the international competition ‘one&twenty’. The 21 winning projects for 2024 impressively demonstrate the determination of young talents to find solutions to the pressing challenges of our time. Characterized by the use of advanced technologies and choice of materials, the winners are scheduled to be presented from 15 – 21 April, in a public exhibition during Milan Design Week 2024. Through the 800 projects that were chosen over 50 countries, the projects portray a deep understanding of the interplay between sustainability, interdisciplinarity and collaboration.

(above) Mantis | image © Esther Betz, Elisa Bessega & Sylvia Chen

(banner) Morari | image © Jesse Altmann, Klara Schneider & Valentina Lenk

all images courtesy of the German Design Council

The ‘one&twenty’ competition, organized by the Foundation Council for Design, supports promising design students and graduates by giving them a platform to showcase their innovative ideas. These young talents are seen as the future of design, shaping a more sustainable and inclusive world. Established in 1953 in Frankfurt am Main, the German Design Council serves as a leading global center for communication and knowledge exchange in design, branding, and innovation. Through various initiatives, support for young designers, and memberships, it connects with the global design community, fostering exchange and networking opportunities worldwide. Through events, competitions, and expert circles, the council facilitates dialogue among its members and international design experts, driving innovation in the global economy. With over 330 member companies, the council is committed to promoting young talent by providing them with presentation opportunities and chances to connect with industry leaders.

ORIORI folding woven textile | image © Emilie Palle Holm

the german design council puts an end to throwaway culture

The 21 winning projects show that sustainability can’t be an afterthought, but instead should be an

integral part of the design process. Several winners tackled the problem of the growing throwaway culture, in which repairing broken items is no more financially viable than buying new ones. The solution lies in circular design approaches: If objects are made from easily replaceable components from the outset, repairing them is easier and more attractive than disposing of them.

‘The award-winning design talents show what is possible when innovation meets responsibility. These projects demonstrate the power of design to create real solutions for the future and thus drive forward the ability of companies to transform themselves in a sustainable way. The challenge for companies is to integrate these concepts and visions of young designers and create the space for creative and solution-oriented design,’ points out Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director of the German Design Council.

YSHELF | image © Jan Penko

who is the ‘Best of Best’ winner’ of ‘one&twenty’?

In addition to announcing the 21 winners, the jury consisting of designers Hanne Willmann (Studio Hanne Willmann), Eva Marguerre and Marcel Besau (Studio Besau-Marguerre), Philipp Mainzer (E15), Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto (Studiopepe), Daniera ter Haar and Christoph Brach (Raw Colour), Min Chen (Chen Min Office), Yoko Choy (Collective Contemporist, China Editor Wallpaper*), Joa Herrenknecht (Studio Joa Herrenknecht) and Sabine Marcelis (Studio Sabine Marcelis) has selected one project as ‘Best of Best’. On the 15th of April, in Milan, the winning designer will be announced and receive the award.

Hotspot | image © Moritz Walter

‘Hotspot’ by Moritz Walter is certainly a hot tip for chilly times, revolutionizing the indoor climate. The project stands as an outstanding example of the innovative spirit of the one&twenty winners, dedicated to the challenges of future room heating. The product provides a visionary answer to the question: How do we want to heat in the future? By developing a decentralised, electricity-based heating system that creates small, individually adaptable heating zones, the project breaks new ground in room heating. The product family, consisting of a heating panel for large-area heating and mobile, modular heat storage units for heat close to the body, is characterised by flexibility and seamless integration into living spaces. The trendy yet miniature design of the foldable heating modules ensures that they also fulfill a function as attractive design objects in the warmer months.

Among the winning projects, one that stands out for its accessibility is ‘Opencyclone.’ Using the principles of open source hardware to redefine the boundaries of collaboration, Lion Sanguinette and Jonathan Stein created a production system for open source hardware as part of their studies at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design. On the website os-systems.eu, individuals and companies can download blueprints to build their own handheld vacuum cleaner with just a few tools, skills and materials. The project can be built to different levels of complexity, making it suitable for both DIY enthusiasts and businesses. This project illustrates the possibilities that open up when design knowledge is freely shared – an inspiration for a new generation of designers who value openness and collaborative growth.

Cable Mania | image © Josua Roters

STUHL | image © Cornelius Richter

project info:

competition name: one&twenty | @1_and_20

organization: Rat für Formgebung – German Design Council | @germandesigncouncil

award ceremony: 15 April, 2024

location: Amy-d Arte Spazio, Via Lovanio 6, Brera, Milan

winners:

1. Jesse Altmann, Klara Schneider & Valentina Lenk, Morari, Fachhochschule Potsdam, Germany

2. Marcus Angerer, Layer, ECAL, Switzerland

3. Eva Benamou & Antonia Gauß, Off the Grid, Bezalel Art and Design Academy, Israel & Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart, Germany

4. Esther Betz, Elisa Bessega & Sylvia Chen, Mantis, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany, Politecnico di Milano, Italy & Pratt Institute, USA

5. Daniela Cimen, RE•IN•WASTE, Hochschule Hof, Germany
6. Marcus Götschl, New Gen, Schulen fü r Holz und Gestaltung Bezirk Oberbayern, German

7. Gaspard Fleury, Soft Objects, The Swedish School of Textiles, Sweden
8. Sofia Kocher, SATTEL, Universitä t fü r angewandte Kunst, Austria
9. Lirjeta Maxhuni, GyneCare, ECAL, Switzerland
10. Juni Sun Neyenhuys, Designing the Afterlife, Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin, Germany

11. Nir Neria, Copine, Bezalel Art and Design Academy, Israel

12. Lilian Onstenk, ButtonUp, ECAL, Switzerland
13. Emilie Palle Holm, [ ORIORI ] :: folding woven textile, The Swedish School of Textiles, Sweden

14. Jan Penka, YSHELF, Universitä t fü r angewandte Kunst, Austria
15. Cornelius Richter, STUHL, Folkwang Universitä t der Kü nste, Germany Seite 3/4

16. Josua Roters, Cable Mania, Kunsthochschule Burg Giebichenstein, Germany

17. Valerio Sampognaro, Radiator Flask, Hochschule fü r bildende Kü nste Hamburg, Germany

18. Lion Sanguinette & Jonathan Stein, Opencyclone, Kunsthochschule Burg Giebichenstein, Germany

19. Manuel Steffan, Running on (h)air, ECAL, Switzerland
20. Moritz Walter, Hotspot, Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin, Germany
21. Zixuan Zhou, ANTI throw-away mentality, Akademie der Bildenden Kü nste Stuttgart,