Intelligent and pioneering developments are identified on the basis of over 80 examples of projects by globally active design agencies and companies from A as Amazon to Z as Zumtobel. The exhibition MADE 4 YOU / Design for Change, curated by Hartmut Esslinger and Thomas Geisler, forms the thematic background for this international design summit. The exhibition is divided into six everyday themes such as “Mobility,” “Digital Convergence,” “Life & Fun,” “Life & Work,” “Health,” and “Survival.” Meet some of the participating designers or representatives of the companies in one of six brief talks held on the themes of the exhibition.
How will we move from place to place in the future?
Extensive mobility has become self-evident—at least in the wealthy North: We fly to our vacation site, ride a subway to work and on a motorcycle out in the countryside, and drive our cars everywhere.
How smart are the technologies of tomorrow?
The profound extent to which the World Wide Web, with all of its possibilities has changed our life, work, and learning, the way we communicate, consume, and interact socially in just barely twenty years is practically unbelievable.
What will we continue to enjoy?
When everyday life provides enjoyment, it often has to do with its products. The digital revolution has mainly led to entertainment electronics that are meanwhile so small, handy, and mobile, that we can listen to our favorite music everywhere, and consume our favorite media at any time—in the subway, while playing sports, or traveling.
What can make work and everyday life easier for us?
While today’s leisure time is, indeed, increasingly subjected to design and optimization, the work area continues to be where efficiency, speed, and smooth processes are foregrounded.
How can we create health care systems for all?
In connection with new technologies, medical science and research have revolutionized products in the healthcare field. Computer simulation of bionic principles, for example, has led to the development of new types of prostheses; mobile, digital devices furnished with sensorics that allow therapy at home, thereby liberating patients from the clinic.
What guarantees our existence and survival?
In an emergency, effective avalanche beacons and capable tools in the first-aid bag can prove lifesaving for individuals—and they, too, are “designs for survival.” With regard to the overall world population, however, the theme of survival has even greater, and, mainly, more long-term dimensions: 8.1 billion people will live on earth in 2040 according to the Club of Rome, and will do so with diminishing resources.
Exhibition MADE 4 YOU. Design for Change
How will we move from place to place in the future?
Extensive mobility has become self-evident—at least in the wealthy North: We fly to our vacation site, ride a subway to work and on a motorcycle out in the countryside, and drive our cars everywhere.
The fact that we have relied on fossil fuels and internal combustion engines for much too long has brought alarming consequences: global warming with devastating results and city smog, to name but a few. The design of future mobility must focus on the use of renewable energy as well as the development of low-emission engines; keyword: e-mobility. Private transport should also be rethought, as metropolises are in no position to deal with greater automobile traffic. Smaller, more economical vehicles and a more effective development of public transportation networks, as well as new mobility concepts are approaches for solving the problem. Concretely, demographic change must also be taken into consideration: mobility has to comply with the needs of a growing number of senior citizens. Since we have, ultimately, become accustomed to the fact that mobility is fun, design goals such as comfort, a sense of speed, and expressing lifestyle via design remain essential within consumer democracy.
How smart are the technologies of tomorrow?
The profound extent to which the World Wide Web, with all of its possibilities has changed our life, work, and learning, the way we communicate, consume, and interact socially in just barely twenty years is practically unbelievable.
With digitization and networking, many analogue storage and carrying media, such as paper and books, sound storage media, and analogue television have become obsolete or have, at least, met with tough digital competition. The end products that we use—smartphone, tablet PC, etc.—are becoming increasingly less specific: they open every file and link, can play everything and use all communication interfaces. The digital code with which they operate is now a universal language for all content, whether image, sound, or text. Designers are increasingly confronted with the challenge of shaping this “digital convergence,” this merging of diverse functions and formats. User surfaces and interfaces must remain sensible and understandable despite all of their multi-functionality and multimedia capabilities. And, last but not least, for long-term survival on the market, devices must remain both goal-oriented and a pleasure to use.
What will we continue to enjoy?
When everyday life provides enjoyment, it often has to do with its products. The digital revolution has mainly led to entertainment electronics that are meanwhile so small, handy, and mobile, that we can listen to our favorite music everywhere, and consume our favorite media at any time—in the subway, while playing sports, or traveling.
Consumers are sometimes even enticed into a virtual world, such as in many computer games. In addition, ergonometrics are essential in leisure design: sports shoes must allow for optimal movement and at the same time offer support; when wearing earphones, sound should be at the forefront and the device should be as inconspicuous as possible. Babies already intuitively decide whether a product has the right haptics, that is, if it has the right hold and feel—a further important aspect of design, which presumes a designer’s psychological intuition, and plays a role in a product’s success. Since we also construct our identity and lifestyle through everyday things—their color, form, function, price, and brand name, etc.—design has a powerful function in individual and collective aspirations of happiness and satisfaction.
What can make work and everyday life easier for us?
While today’s leisure time is, indeed, increasingly subjected to design and optimization, the work area continues to be where efficiency, speed, and smooth processes are foregrounded.
Safe, functional tools, optimal work organization, and laborsaving machines lead to an increase in productivity. In the post-Fordian working world, ever less physical labor is performed; instead, we are increasingly bound to our desks and computers. The design of office spaces, their ergonometrics and lighting, thus play a major role. Since we realize our personalities, to a certain extent, through our work, the working environment is not restricted to purely functional aspects, but also includes emotional ones, and atmospheres. A working environment with a friendly design, introducing coloring, intelligent interior architecture and equipment, which is thereby enjoyable to work in, increases work satisfaction. And it has been shown that satisfaction not only keeps people healthy, but is also a positive way to increase productivity—which, of course, also applies to work done at home!
How can we create health care systems for all?
In connection with new technologies, medical science and research have revolutionized products in the healthcare field. Computer simulation of bionic principles, for example, has led to the development of new types of prostheses; mobile, digital devices furnished with sensorics that allow therapy at home, thereby liberating patients from the clinic.
Avatars (virtual people) provide onscreen instructions for rehab and fitness exercises. The development of new products increasingly has in view economic, ecological, and social components of the health system, in addition to improvements in medical care. In line with patient-centered medicine, technological and design innovations thereby aim to cope with the specific needs of various groups—whether the rapidly growing number of senior citizens or people with various types of handicaps. The consequence for designers is that they must grapple intensely with these needs. But in the design of products, focus is also on prevention, care, and no least, the preservation of the best quality of life possible, even when ill.
What guarantees our existence and survival?
In an emergency, effective avalanche beacons and capable tools in the first-aid bag can prove lifesaving for individuals—and they, too, are “designs for survival.” With regard to the overall world population, however, the theme of survival has even greater, and, mainly, more long-term dimensions: 8.1 billion people will live on earth in 2040 according to the Club of Rome, and will do so with diminishing resources.
Since there is an unequal distribution of these resources, technological- and design-innovation must consistently be applied in situations that are truly about pure survival: in developing and newly industrialized countries. When designers aim to develop appropriate products and strategies for the alleviation of need, important first and foremost is the consideration of specific living situations and local conditions. For wealthy countries, on the other hand, necessary is the rapid development of effective concepts for sustainable, resource-friendly living and commerce—the “Smart City,” for instance. In the end, however, the issue is global redistribution: current famines and climate catastrophes affect us all, even when it is others who feel the affects first.
Exhibition MADE 4 YOU. Design for Change
Talk
Tuesday, 2 October 20122.00–6.30 p.m.
MAK Lecture Hall
Weiskirchnerstraße 3, Vienna 1
Program
2.00 p.m. WelcomeChristoph Thun-Hohenstein,
Director MAK
Hartmut Esslinger, Guest Curator, Designer, Founder of frog design
2.15–2.45 p.m
How will we move from place to place in the future?
Patrick Lecharpy, Vice-President Design, Alliance Synergies, Research & Advanced Engineering Renault/Nissan
Lilian Meyer, Head of Business Development / Product Portfolio Management Siemens AG Austria
(held in English)
2.45–3.15 p.m
How smart are the technologies of tomorrow?
Helmut Spudich, Spokesperson T-Mobile Austria
Markus Jung, Institute of Computer Aided Automation, Vienna University of Technology (held in German)
3.15–3.45 p.m.
3.45–4.15 p.m
What will we continue to enjoy?
Anne Farken, Senior Consultant Sustainability Design at BMW Group DesignworksUSA
Talia Radford, Juan Sebastian Gómez, Designers and Managing Partners taliaYsebastian (held in German/English)
4.15–4.45 p.m
What can make work and everyday life easier for us?
Luke Pearson, Designer and Partner PearsonLloyd
Herbert Lachmayer, Curator, Cultural Philosopher and Director of the Daponte Research Center
(held in English)
4.45–5.15 p.m.
5.15–5.45 p.m
How can we create health care systems for all?
Gerd Helmreich, Designer, Owner and Managing Director of designaffairs GmbH
David Ram, CEO tyromotion GmbH
(held in German)
5.45–6.15 p.m.
What guarantees our existence and survival?
Federico Ferretti, Designer and Principal Continuum
Katarina V. Posch, Chairperson History of Art and Design, Pratt Institute New York (held in English)
Moderation:
Michael Laczynski, Die Presse
Media Partner
Program development: Thomas Geisler, MAK-Curator Design. Curatorial Assistance: Ivana Andrejic-Djukic
The MAK Design Summit is equipped with sitting furniture from the PARCS series by Bene.
Refreshments by Vöslauer Balance.
From 2 to 7 October, you’ll have the opportunity to testdrive
the new Renault Twizy during museum opening hours.
Information and registration: 
Opening Hours
Tue 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Wed–Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mon closed
Free Admission on
Tuesdays 6–10 p.m.
Admission
€ 7,90 / reduced € 5,50 (no extra charge for the lectures)Free admission for children and teens up to 19
Family ticket € 11 (2 adults and at least one child under 14)
