You should definitely know these design classics from Germany

From the Bauhaus to the present day: we showcase some perfect forms from 120 years of design history.

Christina Henning , 20.01.2026

The Barcelona chair designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929, standing in a room with parquet flooring and large windows. — Barcelona chair, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, 1929: the later Bauhaus director designed this chair for the 1929 Exposition in Barcelona. It is said that the designers were inspired by mediaeval X-chairs. © picture alliance/dpa | Jana Bauch

Heading for modernism

Wooden side chair designed by Richard Riemerschmid in 1898/99 — Side chair, Richard Riemerschmid, 1898/99: the Munich designer was an exponent of the Art Nouveau style - his designs tended to be rather simple and functional by comparison to other Art Nouveau furniture. © Art Institute Chicago

Metal teapot with infuser designed by Marianne Brandt in 1924 — Teapot with infuser, Marianne Brandt, 1924: Brandt designed this teapot at the Bauhaus metalworking shop. The lid is an exact circle. Only nine originals have survived worldwide. © Tecnolumen

Bauhaus lamp designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1924 — Bauhaus lamp, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, 1924: the epitome of “form follows function”. Today, this lamp is considered a Bauhaus icon. It has been produced in series by Tecnolumen in Bremen since the 1980s, under the name WG 24. © Tecnolumen

From reduced to brightly coloured from the 1950s

Called a Zocker, this orange children’s chair without any corners or edges was designed by Luigi Colani in 1971. — Zocker, Luigi Colani, 1971: “My world is round,” Colani once said. He is said to have put 4,000 designs onto paper, including aircraft, cars and furniture: Zocker is a seat for children; bright orange, multifunctional and typical of Colani’s designs - with no corners or edges. © Vitra Design Museum, Foto: Jürgen Hans

“Rationell” crockery, familiar to people from Mitropa trains, hotels and hospitals in East Germany, designed by Margarete Jahny and Erich Müller in 1969/70. — “Rationell” crockery, Margarete Jahny and Erich Müller, 1969/70: This crockery was ubiquitous in the former East Germany, found in Mitropa trains, hotels and hospitals. Thanks to the clever design, the lid remains firmly in place however much the train tilts. © picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Patrick Pleul

White shelf system 606 designed by Dieter Rams in 1960. — Shelf system 606, Dieter Rams, 1960: Rams was already working at Braun when he designed this shelf system for Vitsoe. This was not regarded by Braun as any conflict of interest: “Yes, that will be good for sales of our radios.” The design of the shelf system was radically modern at the time and remains unchanged to this day. © picture alliance / Everett Collection

An austere table with an orange frame designed by Egon Eiermann in 1953. — Eiermann 1, Egon Eiermann, 1953: designed by an architect for architects: Eiermann’s austere table is to be found in dining rooms and offices these days. © Richard Lampert

Individuality in practice from the 2000s

Gesa Hansen’s “Rope” bench, made of light-coloured wood, from 2023. — “Rope” bench, Gesa Hansen, 2023: wood is a ubiquitous feature of Gesa Hansen’s designs. In “Rope”, the German-Danish designer’s focus is on the workmanship: the feet and parts of the backrest are turned wooden elements. © The Hansen Family

The filigree and flexible floor lamp Ayno designed by Stefan Diez in 2020. — Ayno, Stefan Diez, 2020: since 1919, lamp manufacturer Midgard has been shedding light on desks and other spaces; the firm is regarded as the “inventor of guidable light”. Stefan Diez found the inspiration for Ayno when he saw a water reed bent over. © Midgard Licht / P. Fehrentz

Sebastian Herkner’s Bell Table features a base made of hand-blown glass and a surface made of metal and was designed in 2012. — Bell Table, Sebastian Herkner, 2012: a base of hand-blown glass and a surface of metal: Sebastian Herkner’s Bell Table is already considered a design classic. © ClassiCon / Elias Hassos

Defined by its geometric elements, Konstantin Grcic’s Chair_One from 2004. — Chair_One, Konstantin Grcic, 2004: “Very little surface area to get dirty” - that was the designer’s goal for this chair, which is intended for use in public spaces. Like a football, Chair_One is made up of many geometric elements. © Magis

World Design Capital 2026: how design strengthens democracy

Scenes from the opening night of the Lampion Festival, an initiative of the German Museum of Architecture which took place on Paulsplatz in Frankfurt in 2025. — In 2026, Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region hold the title of World Design Capital.
© Ben Kuhlmann

The metropolitan region of FrankfurtRhineMain bears the title of World Design Capital (WDC) in 2026. Under the motto of “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life”, the region shows how design can contribute to social cohesion, participation and a higher quality of life. Numerous projects and events in cities and municipalities are planned.

Get more info about WDC 2026 here.