Visionlabs – Furniture and interior design systems
The future doesn’t just happen on its own. You have to shape it.
Through “visionlabs – Furniture and Space Systems”, König + Neurath, LINAK and students from the Product and Industrial Design department at the University of Wuppertal have developed new perspectives on working and living environments. The focus was on furniture and space systems that combine movement, ergonomics, sustainability and a variety of usage scenarios.
Today, there are endless possibilities for the new generation of designers. However, they also face a disruptive and complex era. New horizons are emerging: between social awareness and individual expression, between innovation and sustainability, between humanity and artificial intelligence.
From idea to model: Final in Karben
The final presentation of “visionlabs – Furniture and Spatial Systems” took place at König + Neurath in Karben. In the auditorium, students from the University of Wuppertal presented their final concepts – with high-quality renderings, built models and accompanying project banners. The presentations demonstrated the diverse ways in which the students approached the requirements of future working and living environments. The focus was on, among other things, adaptability, ergonomics, health, mobility, spatial atmosphere and circular design. We are now assessing which approaches have potential for further development – stay tuned!
Added value through partnership-based collaboration
An important part of the project was the direct exchange during the concept phase. The starting point was 77 potentials from ten overarching thematic areas that the students had developed during the research phase – including wellbeing, inclusion, adaptability and spatial atmosphere.
Building on this, they developed initial approaches, mood boards, drawings and models. During several sessions at the University of Wuppertal, experts from König + Neurath and LINAK provided feedback on design, technical and user-related issues.
Topics discussed included: How can an idea be implemented constructively? Which materials are suitable? How does user behaviour change? And which concepts could usefully complement existing working and living environments?
This gave rise to a practical dialogue between academic study, development, design, product management, working culture and marketing.
Kick-off: The starting signal in Karben
The project kicked off at König + Neurath in Karben. At the kick-off, students from the University of Wuppertal and representatives from König + Neurath and LINAK got to know each other in person – laying the foundation for their collaborative work throughout the semester.
König + Neurath and LINAK presented their companies, perspectives and expertise. During a tour of the factory, the students gained insights into production, materials, processes and König + Neurath’s vertical integration.
The project brief was then presented and discussed together: How can furniture and spatial systems be designed to respond to new forms of work, health, mobility and sustainability?
This established a shared understanding of the task – and provided the starting point for initial research, questions and ideas.
Through our university partnerships, we create spaces where students can test their ideas, think creatively and dare to try something new – and that is precisely what helps us move forward too.
Added value through collaborative partnerships
Such partnerships offer genuine added value:
When theoretical design knowledge meets real-world development processes, spaces are created where students can experiment, develop visionary concepts and make bold design decisions – and it is precisely this energy that inspires us too.
We look forward to sharing the ideas and design approaches emerging from the project with you. The initial results have already been published on a project page run in collaboration with LINAK and offer you an inspiring insight into the design concepts of the next generation of designers.
