Pratt’s Department of Industrial Design has partnered with the Folkwang Academy, a college of art and design in Germany, to exhibit chair designs as part of the renowned international furniture and interior design fair imm cologne in Cologne, Germany from January 19-24, 2010. It is the first time that Pratt will exhibit in this international venue, which is one of the largest and most respected fairs of its kind in the world.
A total of 18 students from Pratt Institute and Folkwang will show chair designs in an exhibition titled “Take A Seat” that will display the best in chair design from each institution. Mark Goetz, a Pratt alumnus and professor who is serving as faculty advisor on the project, selected the nine most innovative and stunning chair designs from the Institute’s undergraduate and graduate programs for exhibition in the fair. The students and recent graduates from Pratt whose work will be represented include Michael Chuapoco, Binh Dang, Evan Dewhirst, Sara Ebert, Christina Fesmire, Ingrid Fetell, Michael Roopenian, Thomas Stern, and Tawny Hixson. Designs include a wide variety of seating made of wood, metal, and recycled materials.
Goetz will be representing Pratt at the “Take a Seat” booth in Cologne. Folkwang Academy has offered to house the nine selected Pratt students for two weeks around the time of the fair. “We are excited for our students to meet and exchange ideas with the fine students at the Folkwang Academy,” said Goetz. “The Cologne Fair has grown to become one of the world’s most important venues to view new ideas in furniture. This opportunity is a testament to Pratt’s growing reputation in the international design community.”
imm cologne is traditionally the world’s first major design trade show of the year and one that predicts design trends for the coming months. The fair presents the world of furnishings of the future to approximately 100,000 visitors from 113 countries. For more information, visit www.imm-cologne.com.
Pratt’s undergraduate and graduate industrial design programs are among the highest ranked in the nation. The undergraduate program was recently ranked second in the country and the graduate program fifth according to architecture and design journal DesignIntelligence’s 2010 “America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools” issue, which bases its rankings on surveys completed by industry professionals.