In the past few months we’ve had the privilege and misfortune of viewing several student showcases. These have ranged from the wonderful, such as the kkrraalls show in Milan from the students of the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe, over the disappointing (Cranbrook College in New York) and not especially good (Weimar Uni. Milan and Berlin) onto the outright pointless  – in particular we think on the show in Milan by a nameless north European-based college.

Stella by Stephanie Knust, Burg Giebichenstein

The show from the students of Burg Giebichenstein College, Halle fits into the upper half of what we have seen.
We sadly missed Burg Giebichenstein in Milan – although we believe their tents were not too far from ours – and so can only base our judgement on what we saw here in Berlin.

And what we saw was undeniably a student show; containing as it does all the elements student shows must contain.
Which isn’t to be dismissive. As a general rule students shows are not about products intended for sale; rather, they are about showing how the students handle different tasks and challenges, as well as what they understand from function, form, aesthetic and the like.

Jecket by Ilja Oelschlägel, Burg Giebichenstein

And so while there were some articles where the designers had clearly just been toooooo clever, the majority of the pieces on show demonstrated a solid understanding of both the designers responsibility and the design process. And in couple of cases even a good commercial judgement.

But most importantly regardless of the assessment of the individual item, one could always see and appreciate the undoubted talent that lay behind the works.

Which at the end of the day is the most important factor in student showcases.

We were suitably impressed.

More details on the products and designers can be found on the Burg Giebichenstein “Graduate 09” exhibition homepage.

Abfallprodukt by Bastian Müller, Burg Giebichenstein

DMY Youngsters in the Arena Berlin

While the “big name” designers show their wares at the IMA Village, the future stars are grouped together as DMY:Youngsters in the Treptower Park Arena
Admittedly the classification is based on the organisers own perception and marketing concept – why, for example should the students from Bauhaus Uni Weimar be considered “Allstars” while those from Burg Giebichenstein in Halle are classed as “youngsters”? It makes no sense. Especially given that the Burg Giebichenstein show considerably better is than that from Weimar. But people know “Bauhaus”

Such complaints aside, the youngsters exhibition is also a mix of the wonderful and the less so and well worth a visit.

Fuller reports to come, but for now we were especially impressed by the work of Bao-nghi Droste, Wohngold and My Own Super Studio

Beanbag heaven at DMY Youngsters - students, comfy beanbags, sleep etc...

Berlin didn’t become the pulsating metropolis its is by blithely doing what everyone else does.

Oh no, Berlin became Berlin because it was Berlin.

And now so that we all can bathe in wonder of what “Berlin” means, the city marketing authorities have started an education programme, “be Berlin“, in which they instruct us all how we too can be like them.

And in conjunction with the DMY design festival, (smow)blog can exclusively reveal a few secrets as to how you too can “be Berlin”

be Berlin Tip 1: Let your dog drive

In Berlin dogs drive delivery vehicles – which gives them meaningful employment and frees up the delivery drivers to solve more pressing problems. The end of the Cold War has its roots in this unique Berlin arrangement.

And so go on, let your dog drive, and “be Berlin”.

be Berlin Tip 1: Let your dog drive

DMY Arena, Berlin X-berg

The good news is that there are plenty of tables in the press room.

And some excellent stuff on show from ETH Zürich, Fischerundfritze and Design Apparat, among others.

More information and photos will follow soon.

And Bauhaus University Weimar are here again with their “my bauhaus is better than yours” exhibition.

It still isn’t, but “their birdhaus maybe better than yours”

Birdhouse by Georg Panter, duundduDesign (Weimar Bauhaus University) The house is created fom the template (bottom left)