This new series, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth, unveil the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of collectible design on the global design market; these COLLECTIBLE In-Depth offer different views to suit all tastes. Today we talk with Philipp Aduatz.

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COLLECTIBLE: How did you get into collectible design? Why did you focus your practice on this type of design rather than industrial design?

Philipp Aduatz: I studied Industrial Design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and did my degree in 2007. During my studies, I became increasingly interested in sculptors like Tony Cragg or Constantin Brâncuși rather than in product designers. The intersection of sculpture and design very early caught my eye, and I started investigating this discipline.

Towards the end of my studies, I became increasingly attracted to the young generation of British and Dutch Designers– not least because I shared with them an affinity for the seamless merger of art and design. Since my diploma project, I dedicated my practice  to limited edition or unique objects at an intersection between design and art. The passion I have been pursuing for more than 10 years now.

Collectible pieces also bring a certain conceptual idea and background that mass-produced pieces often lack.

C: Can you talk about a new piece / collection that you release for COLLECTIBLE this year?

Philipp Aduatz: I showed  a lot of new work, but the most important is my new Gradient Furniture Collection I just launched last year. The most significant  advantage of 3D concrete printing in comparison to other additive manufacturing technologies is that you can print very large objects in a short time period. In addition, you can dye the concrete to realize a colored design applied locally point by point and rather than in its entirety. This creates huge opportunities to combine artistic expression with the latest technology.

I furthermore believe concrete is a long-lasting and durable material for outdoor applications. Using this technology means no molds are necessary; therefore, the amount of waste is minimized, and a minimum of material is used.

C: How do you position your city in the global design market, what makes your city unique, trends?

Philipp Aduatz: Vienna's heritage is unique, with great designers like Adolf Loos, Josef Hoffmann, and Otto Wagner. There are also great and talented contemporary colleges here. The city however can´t be compared to London, New York, Paris, or Milan in terms of its influence on the design industry, but it is a great place to work and live.

C: What do you think collectible design brings compared to other more massively produced pieces?

Philipp Aduatz: Value! Because of the small limited editions or unique character, these pieces will always have and maintain a particular significance because of their exclusivity.  Of course, this value is not only monetary but also intellectual . Collectible pieces also bring a certain conceptual idea and background that mass-produced pieces often lack.

About Philipp Aduatz

Vienna based Designer Philipp Aduatz creates limited edition functional objects that are highly sculptural in nature.  Working with innovative materials and fabrication technologies, Aduatz is very much influenced by scientific matters such as chemistry, physics and material technologies.  His process combines traditional craft concepts and techniques with cutting edge implements such as 3D printing, 3D laser scanning, CNC milling, and Rapid Prototyping. The experimentation with different materials and their behavior is an important part of his research at the intersection of design and sculpture.

Greatly influenced by sculptors such as Constantin Brancusi and Tony Cragg, the designer aims to develop a distinct language of form in each of his pieces, encouraging a new discourse between the object and its user or viewer.