Michael Schmidt

Michael Schmidt works as an international industrial and product designer. He graduated in Engineering from the University of Stuttgart in 1989, following which he completed a postgraduate degree in Investment Goods Design at the Stuttgart Academy of Arts.
The designer started his career in industry at Mercedes Benz and at DesignWorX where he redesigned the LOGO for the AUDI brand in 1994. In 1996 he opened his own design studio in Stuttgart. Code2design comprises a team of designers from varying disciplines and cooperates with science and research institutes such as the Fraunhofer Institute.
Michael Schmidt and his team have been awarded over 40 prestigious design prizes, clients include Audi, Bross Italia, Falper, Haworth, Keramag, König+Neurath, Rehau, Sattler Lighting, Sick Engineering and Xal.

Michael Schmidt has come up with a winning formula for the code2design way of working: “Taking a 360-degree view on design projects”. The designer says of his strategy: “Our holistic 360-degree approach to design projects enables us to tap into the emotional value that motivates future decisions to purchase”.
As a result of this, Michael Schmidt and his design studio are able to create products with personality, products that tell a story. “In the same way that we enjoy the company of interesting, fascinating people, we also prefer products with appeal and objects with charisma. This elusive quality makes objects desirable, it is vital to the success of a product and for building a brand”.

The range of tasks varies from new strategic orientation and portfolio development to full service product development including interface design.
Michael Schmidt and his team designed the special 4D methodology for working on each project, which he refers to as the “code to success” at the heart of each and every product.
1 - Desire: The basis of a successful product - trend, market and need analysis.
2 - Devise: the strategic thought process. Innovation and ideation plus innovation check.
3 - Develop: the constructive dialogue. C.A.D.-supported interdisciplinary development process.
4 - Design: the emotional dimension. Designs tell a story: first content then form, requiring both a wealth of ideas and quality implementation.
Successful implementation of each and every aspect of the 4D methodology is facilitated by our design team with strong design personalities and working with R&D industry partners. All code2design projects are managed by company founder and owner Michael Schmidt according to the principle of quality over quantity. As a design studio for tailored solutions, code2design works closely together with clients to produce outstanding designs.