The exhibition brings together 36 international design positions selected by guest curator Connie Hüsser.
Between material experimentation, construction, and poetry, they reveal the many ways in which lightness can be understood in contemporary design.

„Lightness means being present in the here and now“: For the fifth edition of the group exhibition format FOKUS, Swiss guest curator Connie Hüsser has curated a selection of outstanding design objects that explore lightness as a creative and atmospheric quality. The exhibition showcases international works whose value lies not in spectacle, but in the ease of use, tranquility, clarity, and naturalness they embody. Hüsser is interested in objects that allow for openness, that float rather than dominate, that appear permeable rather than monumental, and that reveal fragility, movement, and tension. Between technical precision and emotional freedom, a design language emerges that is allowed to be soft without becoming arbitrary – intuitive, sensual, poetic, and clear.

In order to offer an arena for sculptural, experimental, and conceptual approaches to the design of objects, the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK launched the group exhibition format FOKUS in 2022: Every year, guest curators make selections from the local and international responses to a different subject and present these collectively in the Festival Headquarters.

An important element of FOKUS is a specially commissioned spatial setting that brings the objects together and allows them to unfold their full effect. This year’s scenography was created by costume and set designer Kathrin Kemp. Special thanks to Maharam for supporting the scenography with the fabric Twist by Bertjan Pot.

With works by: Adrian Bursell, Akiko Mori, Andrea Kozuchova, Andrin Bührer and Mario Naegele, Atelier Fig, Bregje Sliepenbeek, Miguel Lauper, Cécile Feilchenfeldt and Adrien Rovero, Daniel Burgos Prischl, Daniel Schofield and Direction Bureaux, David Bühler, em ef studio, Fabio Spink, Flora Lechner, Franz Münzing, Geckeler Michels, Iranzo, Jakob Niemann, Jenna Kaës, Julian Berger, Kim Thomé, Leo Koda, Mara Tschudi and Sebastian Marbacher, Matthias Reinirkens, Maurizio Filippi, Odd Matter, Olga Flór, Rein Reitsma, Scryns, Silvio Rebholz, Tabea Wolf and Kira Fuchs, Tomas Kral Product Design Studio, Valerio Sampognaro, Vormen, Ward Wijnant, and Yoomin Sun

We would also like to warmly thank everyone who supported the realisation of the exhibition: Max Brandtner, Moritz Hollenstein, Irmgard Kemp, Bertjan Pot, Lucas Schmidt, Lukas Thaler, Emanuel Tornquist, Wallner Holzhandel GmbH und Wettlinger Kunststoffe GmbH.