KPM Berlin , and New Tendency have joined forces to create the perfect object—perfect in both form and function. The first, strictly limited “Edition 2020” from their collaboration breathes new aesthetic life into the plate. The result of this collaborative effort will be presented for the first time at imm cologne.
KPM Berlin and New Tendency—A Collaboration That Sets the Standard
KPM BERLIN AND NEW TENDENCY - A COOPERATION THAT SETS AN EXAMPLE
For the internationally acclaimed design studio New Tendency, the collaboration with the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin ( KPM Berlin ) fulfilled a long-cherished wish: The Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin’s design tradition, dating back over 250 years, its unwavering commitment to quality craftsmanship, and the Bauhaus legacy of this legendary Berlin institution struck the designers as the ideal foundation for a joint project. This was all the more true given that the studio—known for its innovative furniture designs—also passionately reinterprets everyday objects.
This is a characteristic that also applies fully to Thomas Wenzel, chief designer at KPM Berlin . The agreement was reached just as quickly. With intense focus and creative enthusiasm, everyone involved dedicated themselves to the design for a one-of-a-kind plate presented by New Tendency. From the perspective of the “ KPM Berlin ,” the designers had achieved something here that underscores their outstanding craftsmanship and exemplifies the current philosophy of the manufactory founded in 1763 by “ Frederick , the Great”: the translation of the classic KPM legacy into the modern design and formal language of the 21st century. An exclusive, time-honored company meets a modern design label—a collaboration that inspires and sets new standards.
The challenge: the precision of the shape. The fascination of the plate is based on its special stackability thanks to the high feet and the almost flat top of the platter. In close consultation with the experienced experts at Porzellan-Manufaktur, Thomas Wenzel determined the best possible production process in an extensive series of tests. In the end, the consensus was that only the supreme discipline of porcelain processing came into question: diamond cutting. After firing, the blanks were processed by hand and with the utmost precision using this special grinding technique. This process alone, carried out by specialists in the field, takes around two hours per plate. Thomas Wenzel is almost certain that this type of porcelain processing is unique, as he reports during the exclusive meet and greet at the imm cologne.
The production and attachment of the plate bases also required the highest level of artisanal precision. The design envisioned by New Tendency—a ring split down the middle—gives the stacked plates the appearance of a Japanese-inspired architectural object. The wide cutout and the opening in the ring allow light to pass through, lending a sense of lightness to the otherwise solid-looking object. Even when placed individually, the plates—standing on tall legs—exude a very special aesthetic appeal. The shadows they cast give the impression that the plate is suspended in mid-air—a clever interplay of delicate and compact design, for which New Tendency’s designs are renowned. To bring these effects to life, the “ KPM Berlin ” design team led by Thomas Wenzel devised a creative solution through precise development work: A groove was milled into the underside of the plate, into which the semicircular plastic feet were secured using a special composite material.
The result of this intensive creative process is truly impressive: Created by the KPM Berlin in collaboration with the design studio New Tendency, this plate—with its beauty and perfection—embodies masterful craftsmanship, successful interdisciplinary collaboration—and, not least, the enduring relevance of the Bauhaus ideals.
The first "Edition 2020" of the collaboration is limited to 20 highly exclusive sets of five plates each and can be pre-ordered now at preorder@kpm-berlin.com. Price on request.
About New Tendency
Simple, functional and manufactured in the best possible way. The products of the Berlin design studio New Tendency are inspired by the spirit of the Bauhaus. The label, which is also internationally renowned for its functional, contemporary designs for everyday objects, owes its success to a congenial trio: the two founders and creative director Manuel Goller, who trained at the Bauhaus University Weimar, as well as Sebastian Schönheit and Christoph Goller. Rethinking function and design, making a common product more sustainable through ingenious design, high-quality materials and optimized production - this is what the name New Tendency stands for. But it also stands for a commitment to creative exchange with other disciplines based on Bauhaus ideals. www.newtendency.com
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