Passionswege

A Dialogue Between Design and Craftsmanship

The Passionswege is the oldest format of the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK and one of its international highlights. As such, it is once again bringing together international designers and Viennese craftspeople this year. Free from commercial constraints, the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK fosters creative dialogues that open up new perspectives on both disciplines. The projects are showcased directly in the workshops – right where the collaboration takes place. This brings attention to the traditional workshops that are key to Vienna’s identity and demonstrates the vitality of craftsmanship. The Passionswege invite visitors to discover design as an integral part of the city: experimental, open, accessible – and with a lot of personality.

For its anniversary edition, the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK has commissioned three collaborations that are on display for the first time and, in this form, will be a one-time-only event: The Netherlands-based Italian design studio GROOVIDO and the cemetery gardeners Blumen Weisz in Hietzing are exploring the connection between contemporary design and traditional Viennese floral wreaths, as well as questions of rituals, remembrance, and artisanal craftsmanship. Internationally renowned designer Christophe de la Fontaine from Luxembourg and the long-established A.E.Köchert Juweliere explore jewelry at the intersection of ornamentation, precision, and timeless craftsmanship. The third collaboration, between Anna Paul and the Floridsdorf-based rope-making workshop Haanl, combines experimental design with the expertise of time-honored craftsmanship through their exploration of textile structures, material innovations, and spatial applications.

Passionswege Perspectives

To mark its 20th anniversary, VIENNA DESIGN WEEK joins five traditional Viennese businesses in looking back at the encounters, experiments and relationships that have emerged through Passionswege. **Wiener Silber Manufactur, Rudolf Scheer & Söhne, LOBMEYR, Wäscheflott and hat manufacturer Mühlbauer** open their archives and premises to present selected projects from two decades of Passionswege.

These retrospectives highlight what has defined VIENNA DESIGN WEEK’s longest-running format from the very beginning: designers and craftspeople come together outside conventional client relationships, share knowledge and jointly develop new perspectives on materials, techniques and traditions. The connections that emerge from these encounters often extend far beyond the duration of the festival.