When classics open up scope: Design students in dialog with Thonet

From July 24 to 27, 2025, students from the Product Design course presented their work as part of the Kunsthochschule Kassel's Rundgang 2025. The theme of the Rundgang, "Extase", was a non-binding invitation to explore the artistic and social potential of ecstatic states as a response to current debates on fear.

Under the direction of Ayzit Bostan (Professorship for Design of Textile Products), the Product Design course developed designs based on furniture by Thonet. Both bentwood and tubular steel furniture were artistically inspired or functionally rethought.

This resulted in playful objects such as a swing with a wickerwork seat or an interpretation of the bentwood chair 209 as an oversized motor skills loop. Other approaches provided useful everyday aids such as a wall shelf for organizing objects and an addition to the B 97 side table with a leather bag for storing magazines or similar items. A three-legged stool design with leather upholstery, based on a bentwood stool, also plays with the material leather. A luminaire was also developed that stages light with the Viennese weave. The interpretations with a long fabric train and another with stylized wickerwork made of milled, shiny metal take a more artistic approach.

The young designers were actively supported by the two Thonet product designers Jonas Wansing and Phillip Berkemeyer during the development process and production. In addition to Professor Ayzit Bostan, Dipl.-Des. Sandra Spoo from the Design of Textile Products department was also involved in numerous meetings with students. Dipl.-Des. Darius Zalzadeh assisted with technical problem solving.

Students involved in the project: Helena Bals, Madlen Beckmann, Tim Felix, Laura Hösel, Felix Leiffer, Nuo Sun, Elisa Süvern, Silas Vogler.

Link:
www.thonet.de