Sustainability, ecology, social responsibility and social values – the portfolios of the finalists cover a diverse range of content. This is how they convinced the jury. The five selected up-and-coming designers come from different disciplines such as product, industrial, communication and fashion design and will have the chance to win the awards worth 15,000 euros. The finalists were presented at the exclusive Design Gala held at Soho House Berlin on 7 October.
Promoting young talent
The German Design Council has been fostering talented young designers since 2012. It is supported in this project by Deutsche Telekom, which donated the prize money totalling EUR 25,000 again this year.
Even reaching the final round means to be commended and awarded a monetary prize for the German Design Awards Newcomers: each of the finalists will receive EUR 2,500. The winner of the »Newcomer« distinction and the associated EUR 15,000 prize money will be announced in spring 2022.
With this distinction, the German Design Council heightens the visibility of young designers and gives them an opportunity to present both themselves and their work. Finalists also have the chance to meet members of the German Design Council foundation and forge important business contacts.
About the finalists and their work:
Anne Bansen (*1990) focuses on universal design and user experience in her work, whereby the topic of safety, health and care in daily life plays an important role. She studied English and history at the Humboldt University in Berlin. This was followed by a bachelor's degree in industrial design at the University of Applied Sciences, which she completed with distinction. Bansen is currently working on her master’s at the Fachhochschule Potsdam University of Applied Science.
Maria Buerger (*1996) combines digital media with narrative elements in her work and explores the possibilities of immersive technologies from a female perspective. She studied communication design at the HTW Berlin University of Applied Science in the Design and Culture department, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. She was a Heinrich Böll Foundation scholar and was involved in initiatives like »Art Meets Education« and the »Digital Peace Talks«. In 2020, she became the Head of Communications at the Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft, where she now supervises »Neustart Kultur«, a programme supporting the post-lockdown relaunch of culture and media, on behalf of the German government.
Kalina Todorova Kondeva (*1996) began studies in industrial design at the BUW Bergischen Universität Wuppertal after completing her A-levels. After completing her studies successfully with a Bachelor of Arts in 2020, Kondeva decided to pursue another degree in user interface design at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel, where she is currently studying. At the same time, she is a working student at Chroma Experience in the UI/UX team.
Justine Masché (*1992) focuses on the emotional connection between clothing and the wearer in the form of clothing memories. She trained to become a custom dressmaker at the Mainz State Theatre. Afterwards, she began her studies at the Berlin University of the Arts in the Fashion Design department, which she completed in 2019, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. Masché has lived in London since January 2020, where she works as Product Developer / Design Coordinator for the fashion label Vivienne Westwood.
Felix Thode (*1997) focuses on the topics of manipulation of facts in international politics, social injustice and human rights violations in the global supply chain of high-tech products as well as environmental topics. After completing his A-levels in 2016, he enrolled in the Hochschule Fresenius University of Applied Science, ecosign / Akademie für Gestaltung design academy. He successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts in sustainable design with a specialisation in editorial design in 2021.
Further information about the newcomers is available at: www.german-design-award.com/en/the- newcomer.html