Erdzeiten – Atlas der Paläogeografie: A team of three designers win the red dot: best of the best

Cornelia Vogt, Violetta Walter and Martin Gorka are the names of the three young designers that were awarded with the red dot: best of the best for the atlas “Erdzeiten”. With this award, they are also nominated for the red dot: junior prize. Since the year 2000 all three of them are studying visual communication at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach and at the moment they are busy with their diplomas.

The atlas of geological eras was developed at the HfG Offenbach supervised by Prof. Klaus Hesse in cooperation with the Senckenbergmuseum Frankfurt. With this project the museum intends to increase the awareness for paleogeography amongst pupils and the general public.

The atlas "Erdzeiten" is the first one to cover in this manner continental drift, coastal changes, climatic conditions, volcanic activity, flora and fauna as well as ocean currents over the last 290 million years.

Concept and design make the versatility of information accessible and bring our Earth out as a lively and moving planet.

Cornelia Vogt has already been successful as a finalist in the national Visa-Design-Contest and as a co-designer of “sushi 7”, the yearbook of the young-talents-award of the Art Directors Club.

Violetta Walter already worked together with Martin Gorka and Cornelia Vogt on the project „sushi 6” in 2003. After that, Violetta Walter studied one semester abroad at the HGK in Luzern, Switzerland.

Martin Gorka has also been finalist in the year 2004 in the Visa-Design-Contest. He studied one semester in Antwerp, Belgium.

red dot online interviewed the successful young designers and spoke with them about their award in the red dot design competition as well as their future plans and what they consider being modern design:

What, in your eyes, is the meaning of the red dot design award?

We are very happy about the award and consider it as an appreciation of our design skills. This award will help us to reach a wider clientel.

What are your plans for the future?

The most important thing is to keep on creating interesting and ambitious projects.

What are the challenges a designer faces today?

The challenge for a designer is to combine functionality and design. It should be the work and not the designer that is of interest. The design has to go under the surface of the project and should understand its structure instead of being superficial.

How do you consider the economic importance of communication design in times of globalization?

Design should primarily be an instrument of communication and not of economics.

Do you have any idols?

No, we do not have any particular idols.