KPM BERLIN AND NEW TENDENCY - A COOPERATION THAT SETS AN EXAMPLE
KPM Berlin and New Tendency are jointly developing the perfect object - perfect in form and function, the first, strictly limited "Edition 2020" of their collaboration aesthetically revitalizes the plate. The result of this joint effort will be presented for the first time at imm cologne.
For the internationally acclaimed design studio New Tendency, the collaboration with KPM Berlin fulfilled a long-cherished wish: the design tradition of the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin, which goes back over 250 years, its consistent quality craftsmanship and the Bauhaus heritage of the legendary Berlin institution seemed to the designers to be the ideal prerequisites for a joint project. All the more so as the studio, known for its innovative furniture designs, is also passionate about reinterpreting everyday objects.
A characteristic that also applies without reservation to Thomas Wenzel, head designer at KPM Berlin. Accordingly, the pact was quickly concluded. With great concentration and creative enthusiasm, all those involved dedicated themselves to the design of a unique plate submitted by New Tendency. From KPM Berlin's point of view, the designers had succeeded in creating something that underlines their outstanding expertise and reflects the current philosophy of the manufactory founded by Frederick the Great in 1763: The transfer of the classic KPM legacy into the modern design and formal language of the 21st century. Exclusive traditional company meets modern design label - a cooperation that inspires and makes its mark.
The challenge: the exactness 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 plate. In close consultation with the experienced experts at the porcelain manufactory, Thomas Wenzel determined the best possible production process in a series of elaborate 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 feet also required a high degree of precision craftsmanship. New Tendency's design of a ring split down the middle gives the stacked plates the appearance of a Japanese-inspired architectural object. The wide incision and the opening in the ring allow a view through and lend lightness to the seemingly solid object. Even when placed individually, the plates standing on high feet have a very special aesthetic appeal. The shadows they cast give the impression that the plate is suspended in the air - a cleverly thought-out interplay of delicate and compact shapes for which New Tendency's designs are renowned. 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, into which the semi-circular, plastic feet were attached using a special composite material.
The result of the intensive creative process is impressive: in its beauty and perfection, the plate created by KPM Berlin together with the New Tendency design studio stands for masterly craftsmanship, for successful, interdisciplinary collaboration - and thus 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 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
