Design - German Design Council

Adding value through
Design
the highest guar antor of design quality

Members of the
German Design Council
companies:
aloys f. dornbracht gmbh & co. kg anthologie quartett architektur & wohnen atelier markgraph gmbh audi ag
avcommunication gmbh berker gmbh & co. kg bmw ag braun gmbh bree collection gmbh & co. kg brühl & sippold gmbh
bsh bosch und siemens hausgeräte gmbh bulthaup gmbh & co. kg burkhardt leitner constructiv gmbh & co. kg
büro uebele busch jaeger elektro gmbh c. josef lamy gmbh canyon bicycles gmbh carl mertens besteckfabrik gmbh
carpet concept objekt-teppichboden gmbh christian weisser brand communication gmbh cor sitzmöbel helmut lübke gmbh & co. kg
creative inneneinrichter gmbh & co. kg daimler ag mercedes benz dan pearlman markenarchitektur gmbh
d‘art design gruppe gmbh demat gmbh designaffairs gmbh deutsche bank ag deutsche telekom ag
die gestalten verlag gmbh & co. kg dyson gmbh e15 design und distributions gmbh edag gmbh & co. kgaa eight inc.
elmar flötotto services & holding gmbh erco-leuchten gmbh expotechnik heinz soschinski gmbh factor design ag
ferdinand holzmann verlag gmbh festo ag & co. kg form zeitschrift für design – birkhäuser verlag gmbh
franz kaldewei gmbh & co. kg fsb franz schneider brakel gmbh+co. kg gaggenau hausgeräte gmbh
gantenhammer werbung & design gmbh & co. kg ganter gmbh glaskoch b. koch jr. gmbh & co. kg grohe ag hansgrohe ag
hewi heinrich wilke gmbh hg merz gmbh hyundai motor europe technical center gmbh iconmobile gmbh
interbrand zintzmeyer & lux ag interlübke gebr. lübke gmbh & co. kg keuco gmbh & co. kg kms team gmbh koelnmesse gmbh
konradin verlag - robert kohlhammer gmbh koralle sanitär gmbh leica camera ag leica microsystems gmbh loewe ag
lsg sky chefs catering logistics gmbh mauser einrichtungssysteme gmbh & co. kg merten gmbh & co. kg messe frankfurt gmbh
metadesign ag miele und cie. kg minox gmbh mode…information h. kramer gmbh modulor gmbh netvico gmbh
neuhaus einrichtungen gmbh & co. kg nimbus group gmbh nya nordiska textiles gmbh pantone europe gmbh
people interactive gmbh performa möbel und design gmbh phoenix design gmbh & co. kg poggenpohl möbelwerke gmbh
porsche design gmbh quooker deutschland gmbh reisenthel accessoires robert bosch gmbh rodenstock gmbh
rolf benz ag & co. kg rosenthal gmbh roset möbel gmbh s. siedle & söhne telefon- und telegrafenwerke ohg
sabine mescher limited edition scholz & friends berlin gmbh sdr+ gmbh & co. kg seibel designpartner gmbh siemens ag
steelcase werndl ag stilwerk center-management gmbh stylepark ag the store designers® uniplan gmbh & co. kg
viessmann werke gmbh & co. vitra gmbh volkswagen ag walter knoll ag & co.kg wiege entwicklungsgesellschaft mbh
wilde+spieth designmöbel gmbh & co. kg wilkhahn wilkening+hahne gmbh+co. kg wini büromöbel georg schmidt gmbh & co. kg
w. l. gore & associates gmbh wmf württembergische metallwarenfabrik ag wodtke gmbh
institutional members on the inside back cover

and and design awards
brand and design consulting
exhibitions and trade fairs
conferences and seminars
design research and knowledge transfer
support for young designers
the german design council
Design is a key factor contributing to a brand’s success. And it is a factor that it is hard to assess
and budget, for there are all kinds of di�erent services o�ered in the �eld of branding and design.
Indeed, the criteria for successful design do not seem wholly transparent. Which is where the
German Design Council plays such a crucial role. As an objective arbiter of design, it provides
companies with expert advice on evaluating design. Moreover, with its �rst-rate expertise it guarantees
long-term brand success.
In the 50-plus years since the German Design Council was founded, its early involvement in the
design process has time and again proven exceptionally bene�cial. Down through the years we
have developed a ra� of custom-made services adapted to the individual needs of our clients.
For two reasons. Firstly, the best solutions get found if the objectives are clearly laid out from the
start. And, secondly, design requirements can be as di�erent as the companies themselves. Here,
we focus on the following:
» brand and design awards
» brand and design consulting
» exhibitions and trade fairs
» conferences and seminars
» design research and knowledge transfer
» support for young designers
Brands win through design.
Validated at the highest level.
One cannot not communicate.
And likewise no one can do without design. Because, for a brand
to be successful, it is important that the design is right.
Which is where we provide invaluable support.

the german design council
brand and design consulting
exhibitions and trade fairs
conferences and seminars
design research and knowledge transfer
support for young designers
brand and design awards
Enhancing your image
with awards.
In an environment of constantly
increasing competition, brands and products can all too easily simply
become interchangeable. Design competitions are a valuable tool for
differentiation and distinction. They can be used to position
brands and products successfully and quite uniquely.
In this context, the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany, which we organize on behalf
of the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, is considered the “Prize of Prizes” with good
reason. No other design competition sets such high standards for the entrants. Products can only
be submitted if they have already won a national or international award. Moreover, each must have
been nominated by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology or by one of the
equivalent ministries at the state level. Since 1969, the Design Award has been bestowed annually
for outstanding product and communication design – and to an outstanding individual who has
shaped design as an economic factor. Since the year 2010, the Design Award of the Federal Republic
of Germany is also given to a young designer. This award carries a grant, and aims to support and
promote young designers in all �elds in their post-training phase. The internationally renowned,
independent jury is appointed by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
Given the increasing interchangeability of products and growth in competition, design awards
o�er genuine added value and represent a valuable feature of product di�erentiation. Thus the
Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany draws the highest international attention from
the media. It underlines the expertise of companies and designers. Not least, it positions brands
even more successfully in the market.
We also support businesses and associations in organising competitions for their own industries,
or competitions on particular topics, by o�ering our services as a trustee or organiser at all stages
of a design competition.
fig.: award winner // award ceremony »design award of the federal republic of germany 2009«

the german design council
brand and design awards
exhibitions and trade fairs
conferences and seminars
design research and knowledge transfer
support for young designers
brand and design consulting
Design is a major
success factor.
Design quality is an imperative for a brand
to be successful. We support businesses in their design process,
on questions of strategy, planning and communications.
Our Support makes sure that design brings added value
and a strong return on investment.
Design enables consumers to experience a brand in a direct and intuitive way. It sends the critical
non-verbal messages. For design to act as a valuable ambassador for a brand, however, it must
meet a whole array of speci�cations. Thanks to our long-standing experience in the �eld, we support
businesses in sharpening their brand pro�le – through design. To this end, on the basis of
in-depth research and analysis, we develop and manage the requisite brand and design processes,
deploying develop tailor-made brand and design strategies.
Together with our design partners we elaborate the basic principles for an e�ective realization of
the strategy and, if required, supervise the subsequent design process. In addition, we devise concepts
for the e�ective communication of your design expertise. Our services also include trend and
theme studies, as well as brand and design audits handled through our world-wide partnership
network. This comprehensive support and advice ensures that design adds tangible value below
the line.
fig.: workshop - strategies for the german timber industry

the german design council
brand and design awards
brand and design consulting
conferences and seminars
design research and knowledge transfer
support for young designers
exhibitions and trade fairs
Design enhances image.
If placed on the right platform.
Displaying the value of design is a skill
that delivers manifest commercial benefits. We have the international
experience to take the expertise in design which businesses
and institutions possess and to place it in the limelight.
Design expertise can give you a competitive edge, especially if it is communicated well. What better
place than on the high-pro�le platform a�orded by our national and international exhibitions...
be it in New York, Tokyo or Frankfurt. Thanks to our outstanding links to government, media and
the business world, we are a major presence in many of the world’s design shows.
Businesses, trade fairs and public institutions all have a strong interest in highlighting the design
expertise of their brand or location, and “brand and design” exhibitions are an ideal medium
here. Which is why we support them, assisting with the respective communications and exhibition
concepts. Our experience in international trade fairs is especially noteworthy, as are our contacts
in government and our sure feel for new trends. Our portfolio includes not only physical exhibitions,
but likewise multimedia presentations and publications. These activities are linked by one
outstanding characteristic: their superlative quality. Expressed not least by our “selected by the
German Design Council” quality seal.
fig.: the dimension of the plane - exhibition dedicated to german communication design on behalf
of goethe institut // design deutschland - exhibition in tokyo in context of germany-in-japan

the german design council
brand and design awards
brand and design consulting
exhibitions and trade fairs
design research and knowledge transfer
support for young designers
conferences and seminars
Expanding horizons
to improve perspectives.
It is a well-known fact that
corporations and institution alike benefit strongly from constantly
expanding their horizons. Our Academy of Branding and Design
assists, by putting information at their finger tips on current
and future topics in the field of brand and design management.
To build a skill set, it is important to explore new avenues and approaches. Our Academy of Branding
and Design o�ers employees and managers the opportunity to constantly update their own
specialist knowledge, embrace new ideas and be inspired. Our conferences, congresses and seminars
are supported by top-flight speakers from the business and research worlds. The focus is on
the theory and practice of brand and design strategy.
Conferences and congresses showcase the success factors in brand and design management.
Here, participants are o�ered a comprehensive overview from di�erent perspectives and �elds of
interest. Indeed, it is fair to say that the annual German Brand and Design Congress has become
an institution. In addition, we host numerous other events that explore speci�c topics. While the
Architecture for Brands conference series focuses on the successful presentation of three-dimensional
brand concepts, and the biannual “Communication for Brands” congress series seeks to
identify the future of e�cient brand management.
Our seminar program is geared towards both employees and executives. Particularly the latter appreciate
the fact that the seminars focus on �nding solutions to previously unanswered questions
about e�cient brand and design management. Our seminars impart not only specialist knowledge
but are, time and again, a great opportunity for exchanging experiences.
fig.: workshop - sinnflut, the brand germany // participants of the conference architektur für marken

the german design council
brand and design awards
brand and design consulting
exhibitions and trade fairs
conferences and seminars
design research and knowledge transfer
support of young designers
We increase knowledge
by sharing it.
To get further, we must think further: That is
why we are constantly researching and developing design. And we
offer an interdisciplinary network of information,
bringing its users a vital head start in competition.
To strengthen design as a business factor going forward, we work jointly with universities, polytechnics
and businesses in running research projects which are of relevance to design. Our goal
is not to promote design research per se. As we seek to make it generally available and to use it to
generate practical and commercial bene�ts. Knowledge keeps companies ahead and in an age of
increasingly rapid change it is therefore vitally important to have immediate access to an entire
network of information. In this regard, we have put in place a platform to accelerate knowledge
transfer on all brand and design issues.
This platform is destined to encourage and promote interaction between nations and cultures, between
media and government, between businesses and designers, and between theory, research
and practice. We further provide online access to our own dedicated design library. With more than
14,000 volumes and over 100 specialist journals from Germany and abroad, it is the best open collection
in Germany on the subject.
The future lies in the hands of talented young designers. Be it in the �eld of product design, architecture,
fashion or communications, it is they who will ensure that Germany remains at the cutting
edge of design world-wide. Which is why we foster young talents by building bridges between
them and companies.
fig.: library of the german design council // d3 contest - exhibition in context of imm cologne

and and design awards
brand and design consulting
exhibitions and trade fairs
conferences and seminars
design research and knowledge transfer
support for young designers
the german design council
Creating value added.
Generating benefit.
As one of the world’s leading design
institutions, we offer a unique range of services. In addition,
members of the German Design Council Foundation make direct use
of our network of experts. And as the premier German institution
for design, we make certain first and foremost that
we serve the public and private sectors alike.
We seek to help our clients maintain a competitive edge through design that pays real dividends.
In this context, we draw on experience gained in over half a century of work on behalf of day and
the support of our international network of experts. Both are key elements in our ability to o�er
custom-made solutions that deliver real value added for a brand.
Moreover, foundation members enjoy exclusive access to a unique network of experts and leading
�gures in the design world. In this way, our members can directly draw on crucial know-how. They
bene�t from the contacts and likewise from exchange among themselves, mutually creating an
important knowledge edge that translates into remaining one step ahead of the rest. Moreover,
we invite our corporate patrons to exclusive events and o�er them special rates for many of our
services, including them in our marketing activities, and making certain their brand and products
receive plenty of attention. Last but not least, by dint of being our patrons companies make it abundantly
clear that they champion outstanding design expertise.

Members of the
German Design Council
institutions:
bdi - bundesverband der deutschen industrie e.v. bdia - bund deutscher innenarchitekten e.v.
ddc - deutscher designer club e.v. deutscher designertag e.v.
deutscher werkbund e.v. dihk - deutscher industrie- und handelskammertag
ihk - industrie- und handelskammer frankfurt am main markenverband e.v. the design management institute
vdid - verband deutscher industrie-designer e.v. vdm - verband der deutschen möbelindustrie e.v.
vki - verband der keramischen industrie e.v. zvei - zentralverband elektrotechnik und elektronikindustrie e.v.
honorary member:
prof. dr. h.c. dieter rams
company members on the inside front cover

at für formgebung | german design council
ludwig-erhard-anlage 1 | 60327 frankfurt am main | germany
info@german-design-council.de | www.german-design-council.de
telephone +49 (0)69 74 74 86 0 | fax +49 (0)69 74 74 86 19