ECONOMY MEETS DESIGN
60 Years of the Design Center Baden-Württemberg
A RETROSPECTIVE

The LGA-Zentrum Form, today known as the Design Center Baden-Württemberg, launched in April 1962 with a permanent exhibition entitled “formgute Erzeugnisse” (Well-Designed Products). To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Germany’s oldest design institution invites you to embark on a journey through the state’s design and economic history – surprises guaranteed!

The Design Center was founded in April 1962 under the name LGA-Zentrum Form, which was incorporated within the Office for the Promotion of Trade and Industry in Stuttgart. Its mission: “To make design visible in the state of Baden-Württemberg and draw attention to the economic significance of the designer’s work.” From that point on the LGA-Zentrum Form played a key role, because even back then good design was a major competitive advantage. And that’s still true today: design is a significant economic factor – more so than ever before, in fact.

In preparation for the anniversary, the Design Center Baden-Württemberg went deep into its archives and back to the beginnings. A selection of what the search brought to light is on display in the anniversary exhibition Economy Meets Design – 60 Years of the Design Center Baden-Württemberg – A Retrospective. Like a timeline, the show works its way back decade by decade, passing through a universe of design stars all the way back to the Big Bang. In this case, that means back to the pioneers of the 19th century who laid the foundations of today’s Design Center with their Royal Sample Collection.

Surprises are guaranteed, and besides bringing back memories the exhibition will also feature protagonists who might no longer be with us but whose influence is still very much felt.

The retrospective also shows how the use of form and the functions of design have changed over the years. And how, then as now, design helps to improve its users’ quality of life.