Studio Beat Karrer

Philosophy

Where does a product designer get his ideas from? From new materials which encourage challenging new application possibilities. From new production techniques which make the previously unthinkable possible. And by observing everyday life manifesting unsatisfied needs.
It is in this arena Zurich designer Beat Karrer develops new products which resound favourably with his renowned clientele such as Anthologie Quartett, Ballfinger Lighting and Designerslabel (Germany), Boffi (Italy), Offecct (Sweden), Burri, Kidsmodern, Röthlisberger and Tossa (Switzerland). As well as among the juries at international furniture exhibitions in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland which awarded Beat Karrer with several prizes for his designs which often are unusual in their approach yet very functional and practical in their daily application.
Nowadays Beat Karrer is also an active guest critic at ETH Zurich, lectures all over Europe, participates in juries and holds summer workshops for the Vitra Design Museum. Beat Karrer's ideas have appeared in many publications and various books, for example the "International Design Yearbook".

Publications

Avverati - A Dream Come True,
Fondazione Cosmit Eventi
Design in Aluminium, Architonic AG,
ISBN 3-9523121-2-6
New Chairs, Laurence King Publishing, ISBN 1-85669-413-5
1000 New Designs and Where to Find Them:
A 21st-century Sourcebook, Thames&Hudson,
ISBN 1856694666
Product Design, Verlag Feierabend > Cube,
ISBN 38-9985-043-2
Liquid space - 70 anni di design boffi, Verlag mondadori electa spa,
ISBN 88-3703-335-4
Small interiors - El pequeño espacio,
Only Books,
ISBN 8496304647
The International Design Yearbook 2004, Laurence King,
ISBN 1-85669-392-9
C_MOEBEL, Anabas Verlag,
ISBN 3-87038-355-0
Designmai #1, Art Berlin Verlag,
ISBN 3-89980-668-9
Product Design, teNeues Publishing Group,
ISBN 3-8238-5597-2
EcoDesign: The Sourcebook,
Chronicle Books,
ISBN 0811835480 Interieur 2000, Stiftung Interieur,
ISBN 90-5544-308-5

Awards

2008
The outdoor luminaire NIGHTSHADE was choosen as one of the finalists at the LIGHTS OF THE FUTURE 2008 COMPETITION.

2007
Nomination for the "Designpreis der Bundesrepublik Deutschland"

2006
award
Winner of a "Materialica Design Award", Design Centre Munich

2001
Selection of the jury at the "cDIM 01", International Furniture Fair in Valencia

2000
The "Dirk van Mechelen" Prize at the bi-annual "Interieur" show in Kortrijk

2000
3rd place in the sponsors' prize at the "smi" in Zurich

1999
1st prize from the technical jury at "Blickfang" in Zurich

Exhibitions

2008 Design Deutschland
The German Design Council, the Neue Sammlung, Munich, and the Neues Museum Nuremberg present the exhibition Design Deutschland: case study 08 from July 25 through October 5, 2008. It offers a thematically arranged cross-section of current and classic designs by German designers and companies from various sectors.

2008
Case Study 08
Case Study 08 is the name of the most recent exhibition produced by the German Design Council. It presents a cross-section of German design covering various product groups. Materials, position, function, system, and tools are terms that have come to characterize German design, and they are still valid today. The exhibition developed for Koelnmesse and the imm cologne 2008 does not focus on individual icons of German design but instead traces the connecting lines that exist between different products with respect to their materials, function or technology. The exhibition will be on display during the imm cologne 2008 from January 14-21 on the Trade Fair Boulevard.

2007
Corian-40 Years/40 Designers
Corian®: 40 Years / 40 Designers is a travelling exhibition of new objects for home or office conceived by 40 designers from all over the world, organised by DuPont to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of Corian® and to recognise the contribution made by designers to the material's evolution.

2007
Avverati - A Dream Come True
The Salone Satellite celebrates its tenth edition with a large exhibition that affirms its original aim - to bring young creative talents into the bosom of production. A Dream Come True - From Inception to Production: literally hundreds of products initially shown as prototypes at the various editions of SaloneSatellite that went on to be featured in the catalogues of prestigious firms. One of SaloneSatellite's greatest achievements has been the huge assortment of pieces that began life here as prototypes and then went into production, the greatest recognition to which a young designer can possibly aspire.

2006
Materialica design show
The winners of the Materialica Design Award are awarded with their prize at the Materialica Design Show which is part of the Materialica Trade Fair, Munich

2006
Blickfang Price Winners
Exhibition about the Price Winners of the last 10 years, Blickfang Zurich

2004
Stylepark in Residence
In words, in pictures, in interviews, in lectures and, as a centerpiece, in the presentation of 19 manufacturers you can experience new departures, creativity, fun, provocation and unconventional combinations. There is a huge diversity of themes and creative discussions just waiting to be discovered. Designexhibition at the International Furniture Fair, Cologne

2004
"Criss & Cross", Exhibition, Gewerbemuseum, Winterthur
"Contrasts", Exhibition, International Furniture Fair, Milano

2003
"Deutschlandreise international", Passagen, IMM, Cologne
"C-Moebel.net", Passagen, IMM, Cologne
"Swiss Design", Exhibition, Totem Gallery, New York
"Contact the cooks", Designmai Berlin
"Swiss Design", Exhibition, Architectural biennale, Sao Paulo

2002
"Spin off", Exhibition, IMM, Cologne
"SaloneSatellite", Milano
"Biennale Internationale Design", St.Etienne
"Puls", Exhibition at "Designerssaturday", Langenthal

2001
"SaloneSatellite",Furniture Fair, Milano
"Puls", Exhibition at the "Neue Räume 01", Zurich
"cDIM 01", Exhibition, Museum of modern Art, Valencia

2000
"smi", Swiss International Furniture Fair , Zurich
"Interieur",Exhibition, Kortrijk

1999
"Blickfang", Exhibition, Zurich