About Beat Karrer

Zurich Designer, Beat Karrer, develops for domestic and international clients contemporary design solutions. He has been doing so since 1993 for his own collection and since 2000 for such renowned labels as Boffi (Italy), Hidden (Netherlands) and Tossa (Switzerland).

Beat Karrer has been awarded several prizes at international furniture exhibitions for his designs which are as unusual as they are also suitable for everyday living - for example in Belgium, Spain and Switzerland.

In the spirit of his own studio, Beat Karrer plans and creates innovative interior and exhibition designs working on his own as well as in collaboration with a team of proven specialists. Beat Karrer is offering a complete service package including conception, design, visualisation, planning, project management and realisation. This package is targeted individually towards each client’s requirements. His services have been utilized by clients like: Swatch; Greenpeace; Studio Ross Lovegrove; the State of Zurich / EBSQU, e.g.

Philosophy

An avant-garde orientation dictates the approach and the subsequent outcome of a project. Progressive projects react to innovation, reflect the requirements and respect the environment. Contemporary projects furthermore originate in present-day project related collaborations and extensive networking.

Reduction is both an artistic and an economic statement. The materials and production processes are pared to the minimum possible allowed by the design and together they create an independent personal style.

Innovation is often not the aim but the result of labour. The analysis of how things fit together, the search for new ideas and materials and the use of modern production techniques are continuously resulting in new solutions for the little muddles of everyday life.

Competency is the foundation of every successful collaboration. An idea evokes a chain of a variety of processes. Thus extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes, innovation, protection of intellectual property, business philosophy and environmental sustainability rate equally to the final design.

Exhibitions

2006
"Materialica"design show, Materialica Trade Fair, Munich

2004
"Contrasts", Furniture exhibition, Milano
"Barock 2004", Stylepark in residence, Kölner furniture fair
"Criss & Cross", Design exhibition, Gewerbemuseum Winterthur

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

2002
"Spin off" Exhibition, IMM, Cologne
"Salonesatellite", I saloni Milan
"Biennale Internationale Design", St.Etienne
"Puls" / Designersaturday, Langenthal

2001
"SaloneSatellite", I saloni, Milan
"Puls" Designexposition at the "Neue Räume 01", Zurich
"cDIM 01", Designexposition at the Museum of modern Art, Valencia

2000
"Blickfang", Stuttgart
Swiss International Furniture Fair "smi", Zurich
"Interieur", Kortrijk
"Blickfang", Zurich

1999
"Blickfang", Zurich

1998
Swiss International Furniture Fair "smi", Zurich
"Blickfang", Zurich

1997
Swiss International Furniture Fair "smi", Zurich

Awards

2006
„Materialica Design Award “
Produkt: Tisch „Groove“
Jury: Dr.-Ing. Christoph Konetschny, Christian Labonte, Robert Metzger, Herbert H. Schultes, Marc S. Velten

2001
Selection of the jury at the "cDIM 01", International Furniture Fair in Valencia
Product: chair "Suede"
Jury: Jorge Pensi, Denis Santachiara, Carlos Tiscar, Patricia Urquiola, Vincente Verdu

2000
3rd place in the sponsors' prize at the "smi" in Zurich
Product: side-board "Rotor"
Jury: Franco Clivio, Ivan Colombo, Otto Gläser, Michael Marriott, Nils Holger Moormann und Gabriela Vetsch

The "Dirk van Mechelen" Prize at the bi-annual "Interieur" show in Kortrijk
Product: rubbish bin "Plobb"
Jury: Matali Crasset, Maddalena De Padova, Alfredo Häberli, Matthew Hilton, Luc Ramael und Ilkka Suppanen

1999
1st prize from the technical jury at "Blickfang" in Zurich
Product: table "Bantam" and side-board "Rotor"
Jury: Emil Bissig, Franco Clivio, Ivan Colombo und Hannes Wettstein

Publications

Since 2001, many articles about Beat Karrer and his work have been published in the national and international press, for example in:

Abitare, Annabelle Création, Arcade, AMC, Bilanz Interior, B Magazin, Bolero, Design Report, DDN Design Diffusion, Der Standard, Disenio Interior, Elle Italia, Elle Deco Japan, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Frame Magazin, Gap Casa, Hochparterre, Home, Ideales Heim, 20 Minuten, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, NZZ am Sonntag, NZZ Format, Ottagono, Raum und Wohnen, Sonntagszeitung, Tages Anzeiger, Wohnen, Wohnrevue.