german design council’s 'one&twenty' competition honors 21 graduates at milan design week

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

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

YSHELF | image © Jan Penko

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’ 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

award ceremony: 15 April, 2024

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

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,