Each year the “Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design” presents the Good Design Award Program for the most innovative and cutting-edge industrial, product, and graphic designs produced around the world in association with the „European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies“. The award program was founded in Chicago in 1950 by the former MoMA curator Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., together with such pioneers in modern design as Charles and Ray Eames, Russel Wright, George Nelson, and Eero Saarinnen. In 2017 the jury was spoilt for choice taking a closer look at thousands of international entries. Finally about 900 new products and graphic designs from more than 48 countries have been honored for their high-quality design with a Good Design Award 2017. Amongst them „BLAQ chair“, a conference and assembly chair, developed by the well-known product designer Martin Ballendat.
The perfect symbiosis of design, function and innovative thinking
„BLAQ chair“ is a successful combination of extremely robust mesh material, chrome-plated steel, glass fiber reinforced polyamide as well as aluminum, one of the essential materials for lightweight constructions with high stability. The transparent mesh cover is rather atypical within the context of row seating and bears the significant signature of Martin Ballendat. Moreover, it offers a high degree of stability in addition to the benefits of a breathable material. The transparent mesh fabric also gives a certain visual airiness to venue areas and enlarges the space. “BLAQ chair” offers the upright stacking of up to 20 chairs, chairs and armchairs can be connected thanks to the modular construction and thus makes it the ideal contract chair.
Product development is based on design, innovation and function
„Architects and interior designers focusing on visual elegance and a high degree of functionality while using contemporary materials have to take “BLAQ chair” into account”, states Juergen Dreher, owner of Schneeweiss AG. “Design, innovation as well as function: those three pillars form the basis of our product developments. With “BLAQ chair” we succeeded in finding the perfect synthesis of these three topics. It is therefore with particular pride that we receive two of the highest design awards, the Good Design Award 2017 and the German Design Award 2018 for “BLAQ chair”, Dreher rejoices and announces the extension of the BLAQ collection with diverse frame and shell types in 2018.
About Martin Ballendat
Martin Ballendat has been an internationally successful designer for more than 30 years. Born in Bochum, Germany, in 1958 he studied design at the renowned Folkwang School in Essen. After 10 years of professional experience in a leading position he founded his own independent design studio in Austria, a second one quickly followed located in Germany. With roughly 16 employees, DESIGN BALLENDAT is a sought-after partner for well-known interior design brands in more than 14 countries. He received more than 100 international design awards, including 10 in the highest class “best of the best” as well as gold awards. Martin Ballendat has been a guest professor and lecturer at design colleges in Graz and Salzburg for more than 15 years.
Copyright images
Portrait Martin Ballendat: © Design Ballendat
product images: © SCHNEEWEISS AG
