Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub studied industrial design at the Hochshcule für Gestaltung Schwäebisch Gmuend, cemented their friendship during an internship in New York and began Jehs+Laub in 1994. Their work focuses on furniture and lighting as well as interior projects: most notably, suite 606 at the Ice Hotel in Sweden and the master concept of worldwide showrooms for Mercedes-Benz®. Jehs+Laub have been the recipient of numerous international design awards.
What is design for your life? What does design mean for you?
It is omnipresent.
Please describe the changes in design in the last 20 years.
Design became an essential and natural part of the everyday life.
Which designers/ architects have influenced your work the most?
...the observation of nature. It creates beautiful things with a perfect function.
What’s your perception about architecture and design magazines nowadays?
There are too many, without a clear profile and vision. We would prefer less, but with higher quality.
When beginning a project, do you usually sketch your ideas on paper or do you use your P.C. from start to finish?
That depends on the project. Sometimes we sketch on paper, sometimes we sketch on the computer and sometimes in the modelshop, and we have to switch between them.
Do you believe that architecture style must find ways in which to integrate itself into its environment, or do you believe that this is not always essential?
Architecture is always localized; therefore, the environment is the origin of architecture and has to be respected in any case.
In your opinion, could a modern building become a tourist attraction?
...if it has something.
How do you perceive the future of the design world?
The posibilities will rise, because the technology permits more and more. Dimensions and number of things will shrink, because our resources will become less. Quality of things will rise, because the awareness for that will grow.
Which advice would you give to the young designers? Is there any young designer that has caught your attention?
Be curious and discover the wishes and needs of the people.
