visualsyntax

pratt • folkwang “take a seat” collaboration in cologne . . .

pratt’s department of industrial design has partnered with the folkwang academy to exhibit chair designs as part of the renowned international furniture and design fair imm cologne in cologne, germany from january 19-24, 2010. it is the first time that pratt will exhibit in this international venue, which is one of the largest and most respected fairs of its kind in the world.

the “take a seat” collaboration was initiated in the autumn of 2007 by pratt’s chair of industrial design, matthew burger in conjunction with folkwang’s product design professor, marion digel and folkwang’s rektor, professor kurt mehnert. a total of 18 students from pratt institute and folkwang will show chair designs in “take a seat” an exhibition that will display the best in chair design from each institution. mark goetz, a pratt alumnus and professor who is serving as the selected faculty advisor on the project, choose nine of the most innovative, stunning chair designs from the id department’s undergraduate / graduate programs for exhibition in the fair. the students and recent graduates represented from pratt are the following: michael chuapoco with ssr lounge, binh dang with folding, evan dewhirst with buoy, sara ebert with salvation stool, christina fesmire with fugel swing, ingrid fetell wth animo kid’s, tawny hixson with ari, michael roopenian with corner chair, & thomas stern with line. in the words of mark goetz, “the cologne fair has grown to become one of the most important venues to view new ideas in furniture. this opportunity is a testament to pratt’s growing reputation in the international design community.”