HfG Karlsruhe Jahresbericht Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung ...

PD PD
█ kkaarrlls Ausstellung
anlässlich / Show at
Salone Internazionale del
Mobile, Fuorisalone
Spazio Crispi, Milano
154 Prorektor / Vice Rector Prof. Volker Albus 155
Produktdesign / Product Design
stock of our activities, it is only natural to inform you, the friends and supporters of our uni-
versity, of our premiere in April of this year and the reactions to it. And let me start off by
saying that I am more than happy to do so.
It was definitely not without risk to venture, as it were, into the “lions’ den” by presenting
ourselves to an international, extremely demanding, and discerning audience as part of the
“Fuorisalone del Mobile Milano” at the Salone del Mobile furniture show in Milan – especial-
ly so, since until that point no one out there had a clue what that cryptic name “kkaarrlls”
stood for, and because we had to assume that, given the incredible number of about 700
events alone, recognition of our project would be somewhat limited. Yet we had not only advertised
using this distinctive name, but in the program brochure, we had also listed the names
of all our current and former professors, including the “project professors”. In doing so, we
were also able to point out the self-perception fostered at our university in a discreet and
above all personalized manner. And it worked. While we were not exactly overrun by visitors,
those who did come were extremely professional and as manufacturers, journalists, representatives
of museums and the like, they hold positions we consider important to us. All
the more to our increasing delight, we not only recorded a higher number of visitors every
day, but also noted the invariably positive comments of these experts.
This had a direct impact on the response in Internet forums. The Internet platform designboom,
for example, which is probably the most prominent design forum on the Net to date,
even went as far as presenting the entire kkaarrlls collection. The online edition of Wallpaper
did not limit itself to just one exhibit, either, but also enthusiastically presented several
of the works. A first highlight, however, was the specially-produced cover story for the October
issue of the magazine “Architektur & Wohnen” [Architecture and Living], singing the
praises of the “young Avantgarde” of the HfG. It can hardly get any better than that!
Now, even considering such candidly positive response, it would be absolutely wrong to complacently
rest on our laurels. After all, although such profound reactions do confirm the quality
of the objects exhibited and of the exhibition overall, this premiere can at most be seen
as a first step – not more, but neither less than that! The real work is only beginning, as the
number of unanimously favorable references will only stir up expectations. Will we be able
to uphold this level of quality? Maybe even raise it? Will this format enable us to eventually
place our university and particularly the Department of Product Design in the top league of
schools - RCA London, ECAL Lausanne and Design Academy Eindhoven?
We plan to continue presenting ourselves and our design potential, which allows us to pursue
new and unconventional paths, to critical audiences in Milan, Cologne, Lodz, Lisbon, Sofia,
or Beijing. And the teaching concept that we, the professors, the assistants, and workshop
staff have developed and put into practice throughout the product implementation will have
to be continuously advanced and professionalized. We do have the opportunity to do so. Not
only do we benefit from a law that liberates us from the constrictive requirements for changing
to Bachelor's and Master's degrees, but also due to the active support of the marketing
company of the city of Karlsruhe [Stadtmarketing Karlsruhe GmbH], the Friends of the ZKM
[Center for Art and Media Technology Karlsruhe], and our partner in communications, Thomas
Mayfried, provided outside of the university. Without them – and I would like to use this
opportunity to extend my heartfelt thank you to the representatives of these organizations –
such a project would not have been possible. I sincerely hope that we have met all expectations!
And if so, we must now continue to do so!
PD PD
kkaarrlls-Edition /
kkaarrlls edition
www.kkaarrlls.com