Konstantin Grcic ist einer der führenden Designer unserer Zeit. Einige seiner Entwürfe, etwa der 'Chair_One' (2004) oder die Leuchte 'Mayday' (1999), gelten bereits heute als Designklassiker. Das Buch 'Konstantin Grcic – Panorama' erscheint anlässlich von Grcics bislang größter Einzelausstellung. Es umfasst das erste Werkverzeichnis des Designers und dokumentiert mit Detailangaben, Bildern sowie ausführlichen Beschreibungen über 400 Möbel, Produkte, Ausstellungen und Interieurs. Begleitet wird diese Übersicht durch zahlreiche bebilderte Essays renommierter Autoren, darunter Peter Sloterdijk, Richard Sennett, Paola Antonelli, Jonathan Olivares, Mario Carpo, Louise Schouwenberg, Jan Boelen, Janna Lipsky und Mateo Kries. Manche der Essays untersuchen das Werk von Grcic und dessen Kontext, andere beziehen sich auf übergeordnete Fragestellungen, die das Schaffen von Grcic prägen, etwa neue Produktionstechnologien, Fragen des Wohnens oder die Entwicklung des öffentlichen Raums. Ein weiterer Bestandteil des Buchs sind Bildstrecken über mehrere visionäre Raumentwürfe, die eigens für die Ausstellung entstanden und Grcics Vorstellungen für das Leben von morgen dokumentieren. All dies macht das Buch zu einem einzigartigen Panorama über einen Designer, der unsere Zeit maßgeblich prägt – und zu einer faszinierenden Lektüre für alle, die an der Zukunft des Designs interessiert sind.

Konstantin Grcic is one of the leading designers of our time. Many of his creations, such as 'Chair_One' (2004) or the 'Mayday lamp' (1999), are already recognized as design classics. The book 'Konstantin Grcic – Panorama' is being published in conjunction with the largest solo exhibition on Grcic to date. It contains the first catalogue raisonné of the designer’s work and documents over 400 pieces of furniture, products and exhibitions with informative details, images and comprehensive descriptions. This overview is accompanied by numerous illustrated essays from renowned authors, including Peter Sloterdijk, Richard Sennett, Paola Antonelli, Jonathan Olivares, Mario Carpo, Louise Schouwenberg, Jan Boelen, Janna Lipsky and Mateo Kries. While some essays investigate Grcic’s oeuvre and its context, others address overarching issues that shape Grcic’s work, such as new production technologies, evolution of the home environment or the development of public spaces. The book is further augmented by a series of images depicting visionary spatial designs by Grcic produced especially for the exhibition, demonstrating his conceptions of life in the future. All these facets combine to make the book a unique panorama of a designer whose contemporary influence is widely felt – as well as a fascinating read for all those with an interest in the future of design.

No other medium has revolutionised our lives and environment quite like electric light. It changed our cities, transformed how we live and work and became a driving force in the fields of industry, medicine and communication. Initiated by new lighting technologies, we are today experiencing a profound change in the world of artificial light, with as yet unforeseeable consequences to people’s lives. LIGHTOPIA explores the evolution of contemporary light, and shows how lighting design has affected modern life, setting these phenomena in a greater, culture-historical context. The book comprises three volumes in a slipcase. In volume 1, essays by renowned authors take a close look at the cultural history of light, from its scenographic significance to psychological aspects. Volume 2 assembles a selection of the most important 100 luminaires from 1900 to today from the Vitra Design Museum collection and includes texts on the development of lighting design. In volume 3, interviews with well-known lighting designers and artists look into how new illumination technologies revolutionise the creative use of light today – from integrated light in facades and textiles to mobile power supplies and light sources like LED or OLED. LIGHTOPIA’s three volumes constitute a unique light design compendium, opulently illustrated and encompassing an exceptional spectrum of examples from design, art and architecture. Authors include Beate Binder, Thea Brejzek, Hartmut Böhme, Fulvio Ferrari, Peter and Charlotte Fiell, Joseph Grima, Bart Lootsma, Sidney Perkowitz and Peter Weibel. With works by Olafur Eliasson, Gino Sarfatti, Ingo Maurer, MischerTraxler, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Richard Sapper, Achille Castiglioni, Michele De Lucchi, realities:united, Rogier van der Heide, Ulrike Brandi, Pieke Bergmans and many others. LIGHTOPIA is accompanying the corresponding exhibition, which is shown at the Vitra Design Museum from 28.09.2013 – 16.03.2014.