German Design Council
Design means something to everyone. Most often in relation to subjective experiences, names or products. But just what do expressions like designed everyday culture, design management or communication and service design really mean?
In recent years hardly any other topic has undergone such multiplication as design, but nonetheless without relevant information it is not easy to thematically clarify the diversity or even judge the pertinent benefit.
This is precisely where our work begins. As the only centre of competency at national level for the theme complex design, the German Design Council undertakes nationally and internationally all assignments of information and know-how transfer in business, politics, culture and for the public at large.
Focus is on future questions of design and its significance for economic, cultural and social development.
The German Design Council was founded in 1953 on the initiative of the German Parliament. It is the point of contact for all matters relating to the promotion and communication of commercial design in the Federal Republic of Germany. As a public interest foundation under civil law it is invested with the right to inform business, politics and the public on backgrounds and perspectives of design topics and to communicate nationally and internationally the key issues of German design development.
Library and Archives
Whatever design subject interests you, we put together literature lists, research and copy comprehensive files of materials, which in addition to literature also contain information on other institutions or persons who may be of help in clarifying the question. Basis for research is the German Design Council's pool of information. However, we also research external databanks or other sources of information in internet. This research service is billed at cost of scope and input required. Special conditions apply for students and foundation members. Keynotes of the library's collection are all aspects of international industrial design. Whether psychological design aspects, economic aspects, historical or technical question complexes, the depth of design is also reflected by the library.
The cross-linking between product design and visual communication, now apparent for several years, is naturally also taken into account in the library.
Alongside the "classical" field of design the library also covers adjoining sectors such as interior architecture, architecture, art and photography. The library currently comprises around 10,000 books. The library also subscribes regularly to more than 100 magazines from Germany and abroad from the fields of industrial design, visual communication, interior architecture, architecture, advertising etc. The total magazine inventory covers ca. 400 international titles, including some publications that are now classified as "historical". In addition to the classical information media of books and magazines, the library also collects other design-relevant material, e.g. videos, pertinent newspaper and magazine articles, fair catalogues, catalogues of companies and mail order houses etc.
The library's collection is recorded and classified in a databank. The library of the German Design Council is open to all interested persons. As a rule it is open between Monday and Friday from 10.00 to 16.00h. It is advisable to make an appointment by telephone. Persons not wishing or unable to visit the library can make use of a range of other services.
Naturally we also reply in writing or email to all questions addressed to us via phone.
Photo Archives
The Design Council undoubtedly possesses Germany's most comprehensive photo archive on the development of industrial design. Reaching back to the fifties, the archive contains more than 40,000 B/W photos and over 14,000 colour slides, all catalogued by EDP. Consulting the archives via a target-oriented question and answer system allows rapid access to any item of information.
Helge Aszmoneit will be pleased to provide further information.