Showroom for outstanding product solutions – The ICONIC AWARDS 2023: Innovative Interior

Presented by the German Design Council and selected by a top-class international jury, the ICONIC AWARDS: Innovative Interior each year highlight current trends and developments in interior design and present international design innovations. This year's central themes are resource conservation, the circular economy and future-oriented new developments. Numerous designers rely on innovative materials and technologies to minimize the ecological footprint of their products.

The stackable stool "Meditri" by Johannes Müller uses plug-in elements instead of screws and nails and is made from wood scraps, which not only saves materials, but above all makes good use of waste from wood production. "There is no future for a design that is not sustainable," says young designer Johannes Müller. "Solid wood has extremely high potential, combined with craftsmanship."

The NEOO carpet from OBJECT CARPET is one hundred percent recyclable and consists of single-grade, proportionally recycled polyester. This allows it to be recycled in its entirety without any loss of quality: Most carpets still have to be destroyed due to their material composition. At OBJECT CARPET, there is not only transparency in communication about NEOO's material composition and manufacturing process - the company defines the process through to the return and further processing of the materials used - a key factor in the circular economy.

"J*GAST", the flexible kitchen system from Munich-based interior design studio Holzrausch, saves resources: This kitchen declares a flat frame, which is attached to the wall, as the starting point for individual design. Because double walls are avoided by this principle, the system reduces material by 45 percent compared to conventional kitchens.

The luminaire May from the Karlsruhe luminaire manufacturer Nyta consists of three luminaires placed side by side: an indirect uplight, a sidelight and a brilliant-direct downlight. The individual luminaires can be switched on separately and flexibly combined depending on individual needs. At the same time, the lighting object convinces with its minimalist design, flexible usage options and ease of operation. "Smart design," says designer Johannes Marmot of Nyta, "means for us actually always to find a synthesis of all the demands that are then made on a product: Technology, application, usability."

Material innovation is a key driver of design. One example of material change is the transformation of 3D printing in recent years. Unpliable and brittle just a few years ago, 3D printed furniture can now boast a wide variety of shapes and textures. Printing offers a resource-efficient manufacturing technology that produces no excess material. Recozy's Loom seating, for example, is made from recycled plastic and features a hollow design that saves material during printing and gives the furniture an elegant and modern shape.

User-centeredness and intuitive usability are also the focus of this year's ICONIC AWARDS. A particularly successful example of this is the "Lotte" project by Sarah Hossli in collaboration with the manufacturer Girsberger. The young Swiss designer has created a remarkably intuitive design with her armchair. Designed for older people, "Lotte" captivates with a seemingly simple yet very refined shape. The long armrests ensure that users* have more support. To ensure that the chair works perfectly, prototypes were tested and optimized in various nursing home groups, where users are involved in the product development process at a very early stage.

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