KPM BERLIN AND NEW TENDENCY – A COOPERATION THAT MAKES A SIGN
KPM Berlin and New Tendency are developing the perfect object together - perfect in form and function, the first, strictly limited "Edition 2020" of their collaboration aesthetically reinvigorates the plate. The result of the joint work will be presented for the first time at the imm cologne.
For the internationally acclaimed design studio New Tendency, a long-held wish came true through the collaboration with KPM Berlin: the design tradition of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin, which goes back over 250 years, its consistent quality standards and also the Bauhaus legacy of the legendary Berlin institution appeared the designers as ideal conditions for a joint project. All the more so because the studio, known for its innovative furniture designs, also passionately reinterprets everyday objects.
A characteristic that also fully applies to Thomas Wenzel, chief designer at KPM Berlin. The pact was made accordingly quickly. Everyone involved was highly concentrated and creatively enthusiastic about the design of a unique plate presented by New Tendency. From KPM Berlin's perspective, the designers have succeeded in something that underlines their outstanding expertise and exemplifies the current philosophy of the manufacturer founded by Frederick the Great in 1763: the transfer of the classic KPM legacy into the modern design and form language of the 21st century . Exclusive traditional company meets modern design label - a cooperation that inspires and sets an example.
The challenge: the exactness of the form. The fascination of the plate is based on its special stackability thanks to the high feet and the almost flat top of the plate. In close consultation with the experienced experts at the porcelain manufacturer, Thomas Wenzel conducted extensive series of tests to determine the best possible production process. In the end, everyone agreed that only the supreme discipline of porcelain processing came into question: diamond cutting. After firing, the blanks were processed by hand and with the highest 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 processing porcelain of this type has a unique character, as he reported during the exclusive meet and greet at the imm cologne.
The production and attachment of the plate feet also required the highest level of craftsmanship precision. The shape of a centrally divided ring intended by New Tendency gives the plates in the stack the appearance of a Japanese-inspired architectural object. The wide incision and the opening of the ring allow visibility and give the seemingly solid object lightness. Even when placed individually, the plates, which stand on high feet, have a very special aesthetic appeal. The shadows they cast give the impression that the plate is floating - a cleverly thought-out interplay of delicate and compact shapes for which New Tendency's designs are known. In order to make these effects a reality, the KPM Berlin design team led by Thomas Wenzel came up with a creative solution through precise development work: A groove was milled into the underside of the plate plate, into which the semicircular feet made of plastic were fastened using a special composite material .
The result of the intensive creative process is impressive: The plate, created by KPM Berlin together with the New Tendency design studio, stands in its beauty and perfection for masterful craftsmanship, for successful, cross-disciplinary collaboration - and not least for the unbroken 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 now be pre-ordered 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 known for its functional, contemporary designs of everyday objects, owes its success to a congenial trio: the two founders and creative directors Manuel Goller, who trained at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, as well as Sebastian Schöne and Christoph Goller. Rethinking function and design, making a common product more sustainable through sophisticated design, high-quality materials and optimized manufacturing - that's what the name New Tendency stands for. But also for the commitment to creative exchange with other disciplines, which is based on Bauhaus ideals. www.newtendency.com
