There have been rumors and yes, it’s true. We inaugurate the Swiss Design Awards 2017 tonight. Join us for this years joined opening together with the Swiss Art Awards at Messe Basel, Hall 3 at 7 pm. And yes, there will be nibbles too. Do you hear the bottles popping?

Works by the laureates and by the participants selected for the second round of the Swiss Design Competition will be presented in the exhibition Swiss Design Awards 2017. This year 53 works from
240 entries were selected. Alongside this, the exhibition will present photographic portraits and videos of the winners of the Grand Award for Design. Since 2013, the exhibition has been a featured component of the cultural programme during the Art Basel and DesignMiami Basel. Presented by the Federal Office of Culture, the exhibition not only enables a broad public to see projects by contemporary Swiss designers gathered together in a single location, but also serves as an opportunity for the local design scene to present itself to an international specialist public.

2017 marks the 100th edition of the Swiss Design Award – it first took place in 1918. Since then it has two goals: firstly, its funding is a form of direct economic support that helps designers make the jump from prototype to production. Even if in many cases the sum of 25.000 CHF per laureate can only act as start-up funding, it invests in the quality and the reputation of Swiss design. Secondly, it indirectly gives designers creative freedom and the will to innovate. Financial freedom and no time restraints allow them to develop and test new and unusual design solutions.

SUMMARY
7 pm Opening Swiss Design + Art Awards, Messe Basel, Hall 3
10 pm Party Swiss Art Awards + Liste + Cahiers d’Artistes, Volkshaus

GIF made with Galapagos App by Dinamo.