Beat Karrer

Where does a product designer get his ideas from? From new materials that encourage challenging new applications. From new production techniques that make the previously unthinkable possible. And by observing everyday life manifesting unsatisfied needs.

It is in this arena that Zurich designer Beat Karrer together with his team develops new products which resound favourably with his renowned clientele such as Anthologie Quartett, Ballfinger and Designerslabel (Germany), Boffi and Corian/DuPont (Italy), Offecct (Sweden), Burri, Röthlisberger, Kidsmodern and Tossa (Switzerland) or TossB (Belgium). As well as among the juries of international competitions in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland that awarded Beat Karrer with several prizes for his designs which often are unusual in their approach yet very functional and practical in their daily application.

Nowadays Beat Karrer is also an active visiting teacher, lectures all over Europe, participates in juries and leads workshops for example for the Vitra Design Museum. Beat Karrer's ideas have appeared in many publications and various books.

"Material Matters, New Materials in Design", Black Dog Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-907317-73-6
"Made of ... Neue Materialien für Architektur und Design", Gestalten Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-89955-293-5
"Moderne Möbel, 150 Jahre Design", H.F.Ullmann Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-8331-5628-1
"Exploring Materials : Creative Design for Everyday Objects", Princeton Architectural Press, 
ISBN 978-1-5689-8768-2
"Swiss Design", Suncolor Culture Publishing, 
ISBN 14319060
"Designpreis Der Bundesrepublik", Rat für Formgebung, ISBN 9783764386184
"Avverati - A Dream Come True", Fondazione Cosmit Eventi
"Design in Aluminium", Architonic AG, ISBN 3-9523121-2-6
"New Chairs", Laurence King Publishing, ISBN 1-85669-413-5
"1000 New Designs and Where to Find Them: A 21st-century Sourcebook", Thames&Hudson, ISBN 1856694666
"Product Design", Verlag Feierabend > Cube, ISBN 38-9985-043-2
"Liquid space - 70 anni di design boffi", Verlag mondadori electa spa, ISBN 88-3703-335-4
"Small interiors - El pequeño espacio", Only Books, ISBN 8496304647
"The International Design Yearbook 2004", Laurence King, ISBN 1-85669-392-9
"C_MOEBEL", Anabas Verlag, ISBN 3-87038-355-0
"Designmai #1", Art Berlin Verlag, ISBN 3-89980-668-9
"Product Design", teNeues Publishing Group, ISBN 3-8238-5597-2
"EcoDesign: The Sourcebook", Chronicle Books, ISBN 0811835480
"Interieur 2000", Stiftung Interieur, ISBN 90-5544-308-5

2012
Recognition at the "Prix Lignum".

2011
FS Stool for FluidSolids® has received the "Materialica design and technology GOLD award" in the category "CO2 efficiency".

2009
Finalist at the "Delta Awards".

2008
Finalist at the "Lights of the future competition".

2007
Nomination for the "Designpreis der Bundesrepublik Deutschland"

2006
Winner of a "Materialica Design Award", Design Centre Munich

2001
Selection of the jury at the "cDIM 01", International Furniture Fair in Valencia

2000
The "Dirk van Mechelen" Prize at the bi-annual "Interieur" show in Kortrijk
3rd place in the sponsors' prize at the "smi" in Zurich

1999
1st prize from the technical jury at "Blickfang" in Zurich

2012
- "Making Ideas: Experiments in Design at GlassLab", The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY
- "Exhibition of Excellence in Design" at Germany's 2012 Federal Design Awards, Berlin
- "Prospects Park", Cologne
- "Spot on Materials", Design Zentrum Berlin

2011
- "Matrialia Design Show Price Winners 2011" Munich
- "Montenapoleone Design Experience", Milan

2010
- "Better City, Better Life", The Zero Carbon International Design Exhibition
- "Swiss Furniture and Interiors", permanent collection, Landesmuseum Zurich

2009
- "Delta Awards Exhibition", Barcelona

2008
- "Case Study 08" by German Design Council, IMM Cologne, Neue Sammlung Munich

2007
- "Corian – 40 Years / 40 Designers" Fuori Salone, International Furniture Fair Milan
- "Avverati - A Dream Come True", Salone Satellite Milan

2006
- "Materialica Design Show Price Winners 2006", Munich
- "Blickfang Price Winners of the last 10 years", Blickfang Zurich

2004
- "Stylepark in Residence" International Furniture Fair, Cologne
- "Criss & Cross", Exhibition, Gewerbemuseum, Winterthur
- "Contrasts", Exhibition, International Furniture Fair, Milan

2003
- "Deutschlandreise international", Passagen, IMM, Cologne
- "C-Moebel.net", Passagen, IMM, Cologne
- "Swiss Design", Exhibition, Totem Gallery, New York
- "Contact the cooks", Designmai Berlin
- "Swiss Design", Exhibition, Architectural biennale, Sao Paulo

2002
- "Spin off", Exhibition, IMM, Cologne
- "SaloneSatellite", Milan
- "Biennale Internationale Design", St.Etienne
- "Puls", Exhibition at "Designerssaturday", Langenthal

2001
- "SaloneSatellite",Furniture Fair, Milan
- "Puls", Exhibition at the "Neue Räume 01", Zurich
- "cDIM 01", Exhibition, Museum of modern Art, Valencia

2000
- "smi", Swiss International Furniture Fair , Zurich
- "Interieur",Exhibition, Kortrijk

1999
- "Blickfang", Exhibition, Zurich