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The shortlist for 'ein&zwanzig', the international competition for the next generation, is complete

Mar 7, 2017

From 4–9 April 2017, the German Design Council will present the works of twenty-one upcoming talents during Tortona Design Week as part of the Salone del Mobile 2017 in Milan. The names of the twenty-one contestants will be announced on 13 March. The shortlist of the top 56 projects with a chance of receiving a spot in the exhibition in Milan is now available at www.ein-und-zwanzig.com.

A total of 574 works from 36 countries were submitted to the competition. A shortlist consisting of 56 projects has been chosen from the numerous entries. In the next step of the competition, the jury will select the 21 best works to be exhibited during Tortona Design Week in Milan. 'We're excited about the quality and international character of the entries. Milan will have yet another wonderful design attraction to its name,' said Andrej Kupetz, executive director of the German Design Council.

Expert jury selects the design talents of 2017 The members of the jury chosen by the German Design Council represent a broad range of experience and expertise. Designers of different ages and nationalities, as well as those with varying emphases and design approaches, will work in conjunction with design consultants and journalists to select the 21 best entries.

The jury members are listed below:

  • Stefano Giovannoni, Giovannoni Design, Milan
  • Konstantin Gricic, Studio KGID, Munich
  • Philipp Mainzer, co-founder of e15 and owner of Philipp Mainzer, Office for Architecture and Design
  • Barbara Friedrich, former editor in chief of A&W Architektur und Wohnen and freelance journalist with a focus on design and architecture
  • Nina Bruun, freelance design consultant, Copenhagen
  • Carole Baijings, Scholten & Baijings, Amsterdam
  • Uli Budde, Uli Budde Design Office, Berlin
  • Mathias Hahn, founder of Okay Studio London as well as of his own label, Mathias Hahn, London
  • Daniera ter Haar and Christoph Brach, Raw Color, Eindhoven
  • Simon Legald, production designer, Copenhagen

With this competition, the German Design Council promotes and supports talented young designers: Design students and graduates who are producing innovative, pioneering work in the areas of furniture, home accessories, lighting, floor coverings, wall coverings, textiles and lifestyle can compete for the awards. Of the entries submitted to the competition, the jury will select 21 outstanding works: 20 'Winner' awards and one 'Best of Best' prize.

Studio Besau-Marguerre is responsible for the design of the exhibition
The winning products will be presented in an exhibition designed by Studio Besau-Marguerre during Tortona Design Week from 4–9 April as part of the Salone del Mobile 2017 in Milan. The innovation showcase provides young designers with the opportunity to present their work to an international audience. The exhibition venue in Via Tortona offers the ideal setting for this: during the international furniture fair, Zona Tortona becomes the creative centre of Milan.

‘The young designers represent the innovations of tomorrow, with new, enthusiastic and idealistic currents and trends that are refreshingly unconventional and experimental,' explained Besau-Marguerre designer duo. Only three years ago, the designer duo from Hamburg, Eva Marguerre and Marcel Besau, were themselves among the finalists for the 'Newcomer' prize of the German Design Award in 2014. Today, their portfolio includes noteworthy projects, such as the furnishing of the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, the city’s renowned concert hall.

Here are the most important details at a glance:

  • Exhibition dates and location: 4–9 April 2017, Via Tortona, 31, 20144 Milan, Italy
  • Participation is free of charge.


Information about the competition is available on the interactive website www.ein-und- zwanzig.com as well as on the following social media channels:

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Image materials for the shortlist candidates is available in our Dropbox: http://bit.ly/2lh7CSe

German Design Council
The German Design Council is an independent and international institution that supports companies in communicating design expertise efficiently and works to increase the awareness and understanding of design amongst the general public. Originally established as a foundation in 1953 by a decree of the German Federal Parliament, the German Design Council advocates good design through its competitions, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and publications. Currently over 260 German and international companies are members of the German Design Council.