ABK Ensemble

With the introduction of a repair index, France is taking a first step away from the throwaway culture. Products are assessed in terms of documentation, disassembly, costs and availability of spare parts. The project pursues three different approaches to meet these requirements. A central starting point is the focus on standard parts and standard components.
The beamer relies on standardized manufacturing processes. An aluminum extrusion forms the central element.
The mixer uses standardized electronic components that remain visible through the housing.
The fishing rod draws on proven standards from nature and combines them with the new standard of 3D printing.

As a stackable outdoor chair, it meets the requirements of outdoor gastronomy. The chair 35 consists of just two bent tubular parts. The way in which the two parts are handled is indicative of the draft’s manufacturing efficiency, coupled with its design aspirations. The textile seat covering flexes slightly and adapts to the body. The weather- resistant canvas fabric is not affected by higher outside temperatures and is therefore comfortable to sit on.
Material: 35 mm aluminum tube, powder-coated.

Dear Plastic celebrates the shapes, colors and narratives of the plastic world without using the controversial material. In various objects, the collection translates the formal language of plastic into self-confident objects. Design elements from the fast-moving, disposable world of plastic are transformed into sculptural and high-quality products made from natural materials such as cherry wood, glass and beeswax.

The Eri-Lamp features a clamping mechanism that allows the lampshade to take form. The desk lamp is supported by a solid wood base. This design eliminates the need for complex internal structures, resulting in a light and elegant look. Two magnetic pins hold the shade in place, ensuring easy on-site assembly. The flat-stackable shade saves space and shipping costs while reducing damage risks. The lamp balances the weight of solid wood with the lightness of the shade, creating a cozy atmosphere through indirect lighting.

While the object still belongs to the typology of screws, it surprises with properties that are not usually associated with these. The screw is neither small nor sturdy. It can no longer be used as a connector, the thread can no longer fulfill its purpose, and the head cannot withstand a wrench. This paradox defines the object. Details resulting from the manual manufacturing process, such as casting seams, adorn the soft screw. The manual manufacturing of the foam screws also stands in a contrast to mass produced screws. Our casting mold allows for reproductions in any color and softness, but nevertheless requires a lot of labour, time and precision for each piece. Since the soft screws are handmade and each casting is a new chemical reaction, each screw comes out a little different.

A shelving system between the floor and ceiling that is based on the stacking principle. The individual modules consist of hard paper tubes and define the distances between the individual shelves and are also largely responsible for the structure of the shelving. The connections between the individual modules are released by the „Keilverbinder“ system, allowing the shelving to be quickly assembled and disassembled. The modularity of the system also allows it to be adapted to different spatial conditions.

This diploma project is a modular seating system inspired by the traditional Arabic Majlis but designed with a modern approach. It consists of flexible, easily assembled elements adaptable for various occasions. Made from treated pine wood and metal connections, it combines stability and aesthetics. The moisture-resistant cushions allow for both indoor and outdoor use. Its lightweight and easy storage provide maximum flexibility. The design creates a welcoming atmosphere, encourages social interaction, and preserves the cultural identity of the Majlis.

There is a certain dynamic in balance. Once equilibrium is found, calm sets in. Libra is a desk lamp, reduced to the essential both in form and function. It uses balance to simplify its mechanism, combining a LED light source with its characteristic swaying motion to create the softest and most pleasant light possible. The result is a lamp that creates atmosphere and can also serve as a task light.

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With Profilé, Alexis Schmeler reimagines the art of pasta making through the lens of industrial design. At first glance, the object resembles a precise piece of workshop equipment – yet it’s a culinary tool, designed to extrude pasta in carefully developed forms. Schmelzer’s concept bridges two worlds: the emotional, tactile rituals of cooking and the rigorous, technical language of manufacturing.

What makes Profiléparticularly compelling is the formal connection between the tool and its output. The three custom-designed pasta shapes are not arbitrary; they are deliberately modeled after extrusion profiles – a visual echo of the machine’s mechanics. In doing so, the design makes its inner workings legible in the final product. The form of the pasta becomes a direct expression of the process behind it.

This interplay between function and form reflects a deeper idea central to Gaggenau’s philosophy: that precision and sensuality are not opposites but partners. Profilé doesn’t just make pasta – it communicates how pasta is made, and in doing so, turns production into performance.

The UAE Speaker is an innovative loudspeaker developed with BASF. Its housing consists of two mirror-symmetrical parts produced using BASF’s Ultramid® Expand process, which allows essential components—chassis, seals, cable routing, and electronics—to be seamlessly integrated into the body as if cast from a single mold. The optimized geometry of the sound chambers, with targeted reinforcements, softly rounded edges, and a winding bass reflex channel, ensures precise, clear sound. The material’s high stiffness enhances acoustic quality, while the nylon particle foam provides low weight and exceptional durability—ideal for mobile use. Visually, the design reflects its materiality and manufacturing process: recalling foam packaging and thermoforming, the housing appears to be the protective shell for its delicate internal components.

Improvisation and Design

„I’m interested in the moments of dialogue between designer and model that emerge during the design process—those iterative, responsive exchanges that ultimately lead to a product. These moments are inherently improvisational. Approaching the topic from a design-theoretical and philosophical angle, I explore what could be called an improvisational identity. This takes shape through a theoretical text, interviews with improvisation experts, and an essay framing improvisation as a designer’s virtue. My practical work begins with Fragments of Aka , a format of free play . Drawing on methods from the arts, I engage with found fragments, offcuts, and objects on the academy grounds as starting points for formal experimentation. The second part is a more conventional design proposal: a modular extension for track lighting . It serves as a case to trace how improvisation appears within the design process and continues to echo in the final result.“

The Flow workshop cart combines lightweight construction with high strength. Its riveted aluminum structure ensures maximum durability with minimal weight. Stackable modules, each featuring two lockable, double-sided drawers, enable flexible transport and efficient organization. The innovative design ensures easy handling and optimal accessibility for tools and materials.

Vault is a modular storage system designed to bring the pantry into view – both functionally and aesthetically. Created from extruded ceramic elements, the structure allows for individual configurations that adapt to different kitchen settings and household needs. The focus is on foods that are often overlooked or poorly stored: potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage – produce that suffers from the limitations of modern refrigeration.

The material is key. The unglazed clay, fired at a low temperature of around 900°C, retains its ability to absorb and release moisture. This creates a self-regulating microclimate: humid air is stored and slowly returned, helping to prevent spoilage from drying out or mold growth. Inside, the high-quality hardwood crates hold the food – stackable, removable, and transportable, ideal for market visits or seasonal harvests.

Formally, Vault references the language of extrusion: bricks, hollow blocks, structural profiles. The ceramic modules are both precise and rough, while the wooden crates add a familiar, tactile warmth. Together, they create a visible, breathable food archive – a reinterpretation of the pantry that blends storage, material intelligence, and architectural clarity.

RB-16×6 is a storage basket made from recycled HDPE film. The supporting structure is seen as a design element and deliberately placed in the foreground. “RB-16×6” is the first version and the result of a previous series of tests and is therefore not a finished product. 16×6 refers to refers to the grid, which can be varied and scaled as desired.

Nightstands combine intimacy and function, reflecting our habits and personal routines. With a focus on formal exploration, Close examines their use and the criteria that seamlessly integrate them into our daily lives. The three resulting nightstands range from open, versatile structures to clearly defined, purpose-driven forms, creating a contrast between functionality and individuality.

Drilling literally takes a twist on tradition: A slim stainless steel strip is precisely cut to size and twisted, forming a delicate curled handle that lends the cutlery both grip and an elegant, timeless charm. What is usually a purely functional gesture, the twisting of metal, here becomes the defining aesthetic. The result is a series of utensils that unite precision and poetry, industrial technique and handcrafted refinement.

Selective Renewal is a modular speaker system that addresses the problem of electronic products being difficult to partially replace and often discarded entirely due to integrated design.
The product is divided into two parts: functional modules and outer shell structures. Users can selectively replace only one part—depending on technological upgrades, component failure, or aesthetic changes—while keeping the rest. For example, internal modules can be upgraded while keeping the outer shell, or the shell can be replaced while retaining the electronics.
The project goes beyond “repairability” and, based on an understanding of consumption patterns and product renewal needs, proposes a scalable, more rational, and more sustainable way of updating products.

What would we do if buildings were abandoned because professions were replaced? We would spend more time with family, friends and even neighbors. As a result, we will need more space. It would make more sense for communities themselves to take action to meet their own needs and those of their communities.

With this in mind, Longtang was developed as a forward-looking community project to revitalize the community. It can be put together by the community in any combination to fill up abandoned buildings and reuse them as community centers.