design preis schweiz

In case you are wondering: I am currently working on entering the "Fashion Rocks" collection for the Design Preis Schweiz, a Swiss design competition which recognizes extraordinary works in several categories.

• The Design Preis Schweiz is intended to highlight the importance of Swiss design.
  

• Economic and cultural relevance are the features sought after.

• In the light of top quality prize-winning work, the innovative effect of design as a business success factor will be reflected.

• Interdisciplinary contacts will encourage dialogue between designers and companies.

• Support will be provided for new visions, research projects and implementations in keeping with the market, enabling them to achieve breakthrough.

• The Design Preis Schweiz both observes and makes an impression on the market, honors outstanding achievements and sees its role as that of giving uncompromising encouragement to adventurous ideas which will create new paths for the future of design.

I was nominated to design the clothing concept for the Expo'02 in the year 2000. Here are a few of my concept ideas:



I think that this concept was right on target. The Swiss Flag - a bold white cross on a fire red background - since then became a widespread logo, which adorns many products. In the years before the Expo, you would not get the feeling that the Swiss would wear that logo on their shirts as proud as they do now. In fact, a couple of years before Expo, when I designed stage outfits for the Swiss Brit pop music band Lovebugs (my cousin is playing bass with them) they refused the outfits adorned with the tinly little red logos and said they were not the nationalistic kind to wear that. Fair enough, I thought. In any case: it is now officially cool to wear the Swiss flag.

I also used a similar idea for a clothing concept I was commissioned to design for Swatch: