In the Shadow of Ideas

What is the aesthetic nature of an idea? Do ideas have an intrinsic aesthetic? How can an idea be cultivated while at the same time be left to its own devices?

designRAW is a seven member design collective composed of product designers working for Lunar Design, IDEO and Zoe Design among others. The group employs visual design to communicate ideas about society and the musings that preoccupy it. To date, the three year old experiment has tackled consumerism, religion and community as well as the more prosaic needs of washing machines. Each undertaking germinates from a central idea and is subsequently developed into an event or design proposal. Utilizing everyday items and simple set-ups the collective has mounted numerous installations and events to explore the communicative power of ideas.

designRAW will present samples of their work and discuss the power and nature of ideas in the formation of their process.

Presenter(s)

designRAW is a collective of industrial design professionals working in the Bay Area, California. designRAW was formed January 2000 in San Francisco with the objective of offering members an opportunity for exploring design issues outside of their professional activities.

Fadhly Bey is a senior industrial designer at Zoe Design Associates in San Francisco, California. He was Indonesian born in Bern, Switzerland in 1973. Bey received his design education at Art Center College of Design in Switzerland and Pasadena (California) where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in industrial design in 1997. Bey joined Zoe in 1997 and has been working on various projects ranging from handheld electronics to large medical products such as a full body scanner. In addition, he has been lecturing on design at Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore.

Markus Diebel is a senior industrial designer at IDEO Product Development in Palo Alto, California. He was born in Nürnberg, Germany in 1964. Diebel holds a diploma as a licensed cabinetmaker in Germany and received his design education at Art Center College of Design in Switzerland and Pasadena

(California) where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1994. He also completed an internship at Marc Newson, Paris. Diebel joined IDEO Palo Alto in 1995 and has been working on a variety of consumer electronics, office furniture and concept projects. His work has been recognized by several Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), awards from Design Report, ID magazine, and has been published in various magazines and shown on different TV stations. Prior and during his work at IDEO, he managed and designed night clubs in Germany.

Tadeo Toulis is a senior industrial designer at Lunar Design Incorporated in San Francisco, California. He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1967. Toulis earned his Master's degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in New York in 1994. He holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Studio Art from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, 1989. In 1996 and 1997, Toulis conducted independent research as a Fulbright Scholar in Milan, Italy. During that time Toulis was affiliated with the Politecnico in Milan and was a visiting artist at the American Academy in Rome. The focus of his research in Italy was to adapt Italian Design methodology to the design of high-tech products. Toulis joined Lunar as an industrial designer in 1995. Prior to joining Lunar, Toulis was an industrial designer at Datascope Corporation in Montvale, NJ. Toulis has lectured on design issues at several design conferences including the Aspen Design conference as well as the National and Educational Conferences of the IDSA. His work has been recognized by awards from ID magazine, the IF Awards (Hanover) as well as the International Design Yearbook.

Pontus Wahlgren is a senior industrial Designer at IDEO Product Development in San Francisco, California. He was born in Karlstad, Sweden in 1974. Wahlgren received his design education at Art Center College of Design in Switzerland and Pasadena (California) where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in industrial design in 1996. Wahlgren conducted Undergraduate studies at l'Atelier de Sevres in Paris, France in 1992 and 1993. He pursued Post Graduate studies in the Design Studio of the Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, Sweden in 1997. During his Studies, Wahlgren worked both at No Picnic in Stockholm and at Seymour Powell London. He joined IDEO San Francisco as an Industrial Designer in 1998. In 1999 he worked in the IDEO Tokyo Studio where he worked on consumer electronics, furniture, design strategy and conceptual projects. Prior to joining IDEO, Wahlgren contracted at Nike Retail Srevices in Beaverton, Oregon in 1997.

Rico Zörkendörfer is a senior industrial designer at IDEO Product Development in San Francisco, California. He was born in München, Germany in 1972. Zörkendörfer received his design education at Art Center College of Design in Switzerland and Pasadena (California) where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in industrial design in 1996. Zörkendörfer joined IDEO San Francisco in 1997 and has been working on a variety of consumer electronics, office furniture systems and concept projects. His work has been recognized by several Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Chicago Athenaeum's Good Design Award, Best of show at E3 in 99, Freiraum Gestalltungswettbewerb in 96, Waterlily European Award - under 35 and Design report. It has been displayed at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Ambiente (Frankfurt) and Freiraum Gallery.