mischer‘traxler studio

Katharina Mischer (1982) and Thomas Traxler (1981) form Studio mischer‘traxler. Based in Vienna they develop and design products, furniture, installations and more, with a focus on experiments and conceptual thinking. Influencing each other, their work not always results in single products but often as well in processes and integrated concepts. Balancing between hand craft and technology, they envision whole systems and new production methods that indicate sustainability and the relevance of nature. Part of their Design process is to examine, experiment, analyse and reject. This critical view often questions and affects the relation between producer, object and owner. Why and what for‘ are often the main concerns before a new project comes into being, whilst „What if“ ceases in new interpretations and different possibilities. Their Results often make use of unexpected materials and are characterized by external inputs or the usage of the existing. For example the „idea of a tree“, uses the sun intensity directly to define the gradient of colour, length and thickness of the object, or the bowls „reversed volumes“ which capture the imprint of ordinary vegetables and fruits. Such poetic records as well as detailed installations interact with the viewer and evoke unexpected reactions. By using their outcomes as a mean of communication the studio tries to show that Design can be functional, good and beautiful not just in an object but as well in the idea it stands for. The project „Limited moth“, for instance emphasizes the relevance and the beauty of a moth, linking it to its danger of extinction and trying to tackle this issue. This way products become tools that serve a purpose in a bigger picture. After receiving a BA for product design from Kingston University, graduating from the IM-masters department of Conceptual Design in context at the Design Academy Eindhoven in June 2008 and several years of collaborating on various projects, Katharina and Thomas found studio mischer‘traxler in 2009. In 2011 studio mischer'traxler was honoured with the 'W-hotels designer of the future award' by Design Miami/Basel and W Hotels. Their project ,the idea of a tree‘ won the Austrian Experimental Design Award 2009, the DMY Award 2009, received a honorary mention at the Prix Ars Electronica 2009 and was shortlisted for the Brit Insurance Designs of the year 2010 Award. Exhibitions on contemporary Design displayed their work in Museums including the Art Institute Chicago, Design Museum London, MAK Vienna or the Designhuis Eindhoven and International Festivals. Next to their own projects, they work as well in collaborations with other designers and artists and have been invited to lecture and give workshops in various institutes.