Interviews with the best designers of the red dot design award 2007: Chief designer of Siedle Eberhard Meurer

The Furtwang-based company S. Siedle & Söhne received the red dot: best of the best from the jury of this year’s red dot award: product design for its outstanding achievement in designing the new in-house telephone series HT 811-0. The verdict of the top-class jury confirmed the concept of Siedle chief designer Eberhard Meurer, who has pursued radically new paths with regards to the previous models as well as the competition. red dot online interviewed Eberhard Meurer, head of the Siedle design department and member of the management board. 

Mr Meurer, what inspired you to create this specific product and what was the intention behind it?

The design concept has its origin in the intention to provide the greatest possible level of individuality with a variety of surfaces and colours. Just using a varnish or foil lamination was out of the question. The product’s quality was to be expressed through the materials’ authenticity. And since we neither wanted to carve an in-house telephone in wood nor cast it in aluminium we developed a double panelling, the qualities of which characterise the product’s impression and effect. The body positioned in between the panelling was to play a minor role and is therefore translucent – as neutral as possible.

What does receiving the “red dot: best of the best” award mean to you?

The confirmation that we have created a good product.

What are the particular challenges designers face today?

The biggest challenge is the simple use of systems which increasingly become more complex and powerful.

What would you still like to accomplish as a designer?

Nothing. But I hope that I will be able to continue working on this level we have reached for a long time.

How great is the economic significance of design?

When you have two otherwise equal products design is the decisive factor. Or the brand, to which in turn design contributes considerably.

Innovative product design, innovative design concept: The in-house telephone series HT 811-0 by Siedle

The design of the new generation of in-house telephones is clear and high-quality. The form is slim and well-proportioned and it is easy and safe to use. The ‘Comfort’ version’s integrated 3.5” colour monitor and its buttons featuring programmable coloured status LEDs offer new luxury in the field of interior design.

The company S. Siedle & Söhne sets a trend with the innovative design concept, which allows great freedom with regards to individual product design: The communication systems adjust to the users’ wishes with regards to form, function and design. They are available in twelve standard models with different surfaces and colours including aluminium, stainless steel, enamel, precious wood veneer, and real gold plating. There are, however, no limits for individualisation; customers’ personal preferences can also be met. With this design freedom the in-house telephone has emancipated from the little-noticed building services engineering field, turning into a deliberately chosen fixture.

Another design characteristic with which the design of the in-house telephones won against numerous other entries in this year’s red dot award: product design is the devices’ easy use. Receiver, buttons, screens and inscription fields are designed in such a way that they can be used easily and safely also by the elderly. The Siedle in-house telephones are of the highest aesthetic quality and demonstrate style and taste with their individual design. In combination with the optimised functionality, the concept of the Siedle chief designer Eberhard Meurer meets the exceptionally high quality standards, which run through all areas of modern product design and which convinced the jury immediately.