Distinction Special - German Design Award 2016

Received more then eight international awards, Negotiating Symbols across Time and Place, was awarded a distinction Special by the Jury of the German Design Award 2016.

The German Design Award is the top international prize of the German Design Council. Its goal: to discover, present and honour unique design trends. Therefore, every year, top-quality entries from product and communication design are rewarded, all of which are in their own way ground-breaking in the international design landscape. Launched in 2012, the German Design Award is one of the most well respected design competitions in the world and is held in high regard well beyond professional circles. The distinction Special Mention is awarded to works whose design features particularly successful subaspects or solutions – an award that honours the commitment of companies and designers.

Statement of the Jury

"This beautiful special publication consists of 225 bamboo strips attached to each other that are inscribed and rolled up into a 4.35 m large “book” in the exact format of old Chinese writing scrolls. Rolling and unrolling is reminiscent of scrolling through digital content on tablets and thus creates a connection between the long-lost tradition of reading and modern technology. The bamboo scroll book serves as an intermediary for better understanding of the cultural heritage in the age of e-books." –Kitty de Jong, Lars Harmsen, and Prof. Markus Weisbeck

Nomination Process

The competition sets the highest standards when it comes to selecting the prize-winners: thanks to the unique nomination process, products and communication design services are only invited to participate if they stand out demonstrably thanks to their design quality.

The German Design Council

The German Design Award is conferred by the German Design Council, Germany’s leading brand and design authority. Its mission is to present the latest developments on the German design scene. Established in 1953 as a foundation on the initiative of the German Bundestag, it supports the economy in consistently achieving brand value through design. This makes the German Design Council one of the world’s leading competence centres for communication and brand management in the field of design. In addition to business associations and institutions, the exclusive network of foundation members includes, in particular, the owners and brand managers of many well-known companies.