Design Icons
Design Icons, presented by Kia, featured a 15 foot deep x 80 foot wide x 20 foot high exhibit space on the IDS show floor. The exhibit showcased imagery and designs from Karim Rashid, Christiane Lemieux, Douglas Coupland and Jürgen Mayer H., along with quotes from the designers that provided insight into their designs.
Each designer kindly donated sketches of their final design, which were auctioned off at the Opening Night Party on Thursday January 24th, with all proceeds donated to the ONEXONE foundation.
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist, visual artist and designer. Douglas has been described as “…possibly the most gifted exegete of North American mass culture writing today” and “one of the great satirists of consumerism”. His novels and visual work synthesize high and low culture, web technology, religion and changes in human existence caused by modern technologies.
Douglas has also designed several works of public art throughout Canada. In 1998 he designed a furniture line produced by Pure Design, and in 2010 he collaborated with Roots Canada on a fashion collection consisting of clothing, furniture, art, sculpture, retail spaces, and an installation in the Colette boutique in Paris.
Christiane Lemieux
A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Christiane Lemieux revolutionized the textiles market when she launched her innovative company DwellStudio in 1999. Fusing modern design with luxurious details, DwellStudio is a fresh voice in the interiors world. Lemieux’s unique sense of colour and love of old-world details quickly set DwellStudio apart from other brands. Since launching, DwellStudio has expanded to a full offering of furniture, accessories, art and bedding, as well as a full line of baby and kids products. In 2011, Lemieux authored her first book, Undecorate, to critical acclaim and has recently launched DwellStudio’s first flagship retail store at 77 Wooster Street.
Jurgen Mayer H.
Jürgen Mayer H. is a German architect and artist, and founder and principal of J. MAYER H. Architects. Founded in 1996 in Berlin, Germany, J. MAYER H. Architects focuses on works at the intersection of architecture, communication and new technology. Recent projects include the Dupli.Casa villa near Ludwigsburg, Germany; Metropol Parasol, the redevelopment of the Plaza de la Encarnacion in Seville, Spain; residential building JOH3 in Berlin, Germany; and several public and infrastructural projects in Georgia. From urban planning schemes and buildings to installation work and objects with new materials, Mayer believes the relationship between the human body, technology and nature form the background for a new production of space.
Karim Rashid
Karim Rashid is one of the most prolific designers of his generation. His diversity affords him the ability to cross-pollinate ideas, materials, behaviors, aesthetics from one typology to the next, crossing boundaries and broadening consumer horizons.
Karim is a perennial winner of the Red Dot design award, Chicago Athenaeum Good Design award, I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review, IDSA Industrial Design Excellence award. He holds honorary doctorates from the Ontario college of Art & Design and Corcoran College of Art & Design. 2011 highlighted Karim’s largest retrospective to date at the Triennale, in Milan, Italy. Karim is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences globally disseminating the importance of design in everyday life.
Kia and its Design Story
In 2006, Kia Motors Corporation appointed Peter Schreyer as Chief Design Officer (CDO), who has recently been named President and Chief Design Officer (CDO) of Kia Motors Corporation. Peter left Audi to accept his initial position at Kia, where he famously set the standard for automotive design. ‘Leading by Design’ will be a significant element in Kia’s strategy, as 51 all-new or significantly redesigned models are slated to come into market between 2012 and 2016.
Since Peter Schreyer joined Kia he has created a new design-led product strategy, based upon the Kia signature grille, producing a form of unity amongst all Kia vehicles. Schreyer oversees three design houses – one in Germany, Korea and the US - which each contribute to the passion-evoking vehicles the brand has produced, bestowing a total of 23 design-driven awards over the previous four years. A particularly prestigious accolade that the company has received includes a red dot design award ‘best of the best’ accreditation, the competition’s highest distinction, presented to the Optima mid-size sedan.
About Kia Canada
Kia Canada was established 13 years ago and is a subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation, which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Kia is one of the fastest growing car companies in Canada. In 2012, Kia experienced a record year, reporting 77,800 vehicles sold, resulting in a 4.6% market share, while propelling the brand to an industry-leading 48 months of continuous growth. In 2012, Kia entered the Top 100 Global brands, ranked 87th ahead of brands such as Starbucks and MasterCard.
Kia’s world-class designed vehicle portfolio exemplifies impressive value to consumers desiring a high-level of safety, comfort and technology features combined with fuel efficiency. Currently Kia Canada showcases 11 key vehicle nameplates in the brand’s product portfolio, however, throughout 2013, nine all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles will be launched, which will further elevate the brand.
