Designer Guild: Specialist product design

As a rule, porcelain is hard. However, it can sometimes be almost cuddly to the touch. Wallpaper is generally hung smoothly from walls. But sometimes it comes with three-dimensional edges. These strange and special transformations are made possible thanks to three designers, who got together to found speziell produktgestaltung in Offenbach in 2002: Sybille Fleckenstein, Thilo Schwer and Jens Pohlmann. The three thirty-somethings met while they were studying at the Offenbach Design College. Even then, they had the chance to test out how well they worked together as a team. The three of them produced a new Corporate Interior Design for drug manufacturer Stada – and got to know each other well during the project, “We saw how each of us reacts at the different stages of a project of this kind,” remembers Thilo Schwer. And they also saw that they had the same preferences when it came to design. So this was the perfect start from which to work together on developing ideas after graduating as product designers. They turned to the dictionary to help find a name: “speziell” is German for ‘special’. Exactly what the three of them wanted to achieve with their designs. Discovering new contexts within known structures, and creating surprising connections between people, products, technology and manufacturers. The members of the three-strong team can also contribute the experience they gained before their studies: Sibylle Fleckenstein is a certified goldsmith, Thilo Schwer completed a foundation course in graphic design in Basel and Jens Pohlmann is a qualified carpenter. A special blend that they have already used for companies like the Swiss lighting manufacturer Belux, for Kahla (the soft porcelain!) and for bathroom specialists Keuco. At the last Tendence Lifestyle in Frankfurt, you could see the new ideas the three had, from flecking for chests of drawers to fruit bowls and other things – everything is highly functional and, of course, very special.

Authoress: Barbara Dicker

<<< back