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This picture: 3D is an integrated and versatile bathroom collection designed by Code2design for Twyford Bathrooms
Below: Designed by Michael Schmidt for Falper, the Shape collection offers the perfect balance between minimalism and organic shapes combined with maximum elegance
Halfway through the course, however, he was tempted by something altogether different, and something which brought his lofty ambitions smoothly back down to earth. Convinced that the world of mechanical engineering and industrial design was a far more suitable career path, he enrolled on a course at Stuttgart University. As for his earliest memory of the design
world, Schmidt can’t really say what it was, but he recalls that he was interested in architecture, cars and planes. “As a young boy I was fascinated by the Porsche 911 and the WEGA and Braun designs of TVs and white goods. But back then I didn’t really know that design is a real profession,” he says. This was obviously no longer the case
by the time Schmidt got to university and his design degree helped him to land his first job in the industry working for Mercedes Benz in the department of advanced design and conception. In 1992, he co-founded the design
studio DesignWorX where he redesigned the Audi logo two years later. But in 1996,
Schmidt took the bold move of going it alone and set up his own studio in Stuttgart, which he called Code2design. “Code2design is an interdisciplinary
team of professional designers and experts from various fields, specialised in product innovation and industrial design,” explains Schmidt. “The core studio team consists of four senior and junior designers and all our project teams are also supported by external consultants and freelancers. This proven organisational structure and work methodology enables us to manage projects in an efficient and flexible manner, whilst effectively sharing knowledge.” Organisational structure is one thing,
but to build a company as successful as Code2design requires more than just getting the basics right. Organisational culture also has to play a role, particularly if a company is expected to provide guidance for others. And this is where Schmidt’s approach to design is priceless. “I don’t merely see design as a random product,” he says. “I need to completely understand a ➔
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