Studio Wagner:Design

11-13/2008 Top Fair - interiorlifestyle June

German design with a Japanese touch
German designer Wolf Udo Wagner has a deep affinity with the culture of Japan.

1,.The leather bag from Wagner’s miawolf label and his iPod case are currently extremely popular in Japan. This popularity can perhaps be explained by Wagner’s design style. Minimalism coupled with the authenticity of the materials play a crucial role. As does his consistent design style. The chair of his “Kyoto” garden furniture line has just won a red dot design award. Out of 3,400 entries it was given a special mention for its perfect detail. Part of the appeal of the designs lies in their semantic quality: “ My products never need instructions for use, they and their functions are self explanatory,” explain Wagner.

2. with his latest label, Ponton, Wagner is specifically focusing on the Japanese lifestyle culture, exploring new approaches within interiors and communal living spheres. For example, on his “ Ponton-Island” wooden platform you can sit, eat, chill out, sleep, put up shelves, or try out something strikingly different.

3. The gardens of Kyoto provided the inspiration for his garden furniture line of the same name. The ergonomic, functional shape of Wagner’s “Kyoto” chair emerged from the idea of falling leaves in autumn - without the chair ending up by resembling a leaf. Nevertheless, the natural inspiration is very much present in the perfection of the “ Kyoto” geometry.