Swiss Design Awards Exhibit in Los Angeles

via ThinkSwiss.org and aplusd.org

Every two years, the world gets to enjoy the best of Swiss Design’s renowned style and creativity, as the winners of the “Design Preis Schweiz” (Swiss Design Award) take their victory tour around the world.

The “Tour” is making a pit-stop in Los Angeles at the Architecture + Design Museum, 6032 Wilshire Blvd from January 27 until February 4th, 2011

Judged by an international panel of design greats, the winners of the Swiss Design Award represent some of the most prominent companies and innovative individual designers working in Switzerland today.

The prize is awarded every other year by the Design Center Langenthal in categories such as communications, textiles, products, furniture and fashion.

Swiss designers enjoy an excellent reputation for style, creativity and detailed execution – with creators either adhering to or standing at odds with the image of immaculate cleanliness Switzerland is known for. This January, the best of their designs come to the A+D Museum with the biennial Design Preis Schweiz / Swiss Design Award exhibition.

The Swiss Design Award (Design Preis Schweiz) is a design competition that is open to Swiss designers living both in Switzerland and abroad, and to designers who make their products in Switzerland. Organized by the Design Center in Langenthal, Switzerland, and giving out its prizes every other year, the Design Preis features an international panel of judges among which is a revolving cast of greats such as Konstantin Grcic and Jasper Morrison.

With prizes awarded in categories such as communications, textiles, products, furniture and fashion, the competition has featured such prominent designers and design-minded personalities and businesses as Freitag, Jörg Boner, Pierre Keller, Nicolas Le Moigne, Alfredo Häberli, and many others.

The Swiss Design Award observes and influences the market, honors outstanding achievements and sees its role as that of giving uncompromising encouragement to adventurous ideas. It also takes a global perspective, rewarding designers who have traveled far from their home base and have enriched Swiss design trends with their experience abroad.

A showcase of award-winning and nominated Swiss design projects is currently on a journey around the world. In addition to stops in Geneva, Shanghai, Tokyo, Oslo, Vancouver, Chicago and most recently in Miami for the Design Miami/ fair, the Swiss Design Award exhibit touches down in Los Angeles at the A+D Museum from January 28 to February 4, 2011. The exhibition features works by Albert Kriemler (Akris), Colin Schaelli («V30 FREITAG SKID»), Martin Leuthold (Secret Garden), Atelier Oï, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec (Vegetal), Claude Zellweger (Touch Diamond by One and Co.), Christa Michel (Christa Michel Knitwear) and more.

The opening reception on January 27 will feature a panel discussion with L.A.-based designers, guests from Switzerland and Swiss designers who have made their mark on the West Coast design scene.

The Design Preis Schweiz / Swiss Design Award exhibition tour is made possible by swissnex San Francisco, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and ThinkSwiss Brainstorm the Future.

This exhibition is part of the U.S.-wide program ThinkSwiss-Brainstorm the Future. As a leading country in science, research and technology, Switzerland is working with its American counterparts to address key global topics. The ThinkSwiss program is produced under the auspice of the Swiss Confederation.

StreetBelt.ch – Made (it) in LA+!

Reto Schürch’s innovative, hip and trendy “Street Belts” made out of recycled Fire Hydrant Markers from various Swiss municipalities is riding a wonderful wave of success, after having showed us his cool belts during the Swiss Park celebration August First.

Two influential blogs picked up the story so far – CONGRATULATIONS to Reto and his colleagues back home in Bern!

Check out the stories on FashionClub.com and HowdyHeidi.com – Well done, Reto!