Monika Griefahn

  • Home
  • Monika Griefahn
    • Dr. Monika Griefahn,
      Former Minister
    • Curriculum vitae (PDF)
    • Downloads
    • References
    • References appointments
    • Publications
    • Photos
    • Archives German Parliament
  • Volunteering
  • institute for media,
    environment, culture
    • Cradle to Cradle
  • Blog
    • Politics
    • Culture
      and
      Media
    • Opinion
    • Cradle
      to
      Cradle
    • Right
      Livelihood
      Award
  • Appointments
  • Contact
    • Site Notice/Imprint
    • Privacy Policy
  • English
    • Deutsch
You are here: Home / Cradle to Cradle / What is “good design”?

15. February 2018 | BLOG Team

What is “good design”?

Sören Jungclaus, giving a speech at the Buchholz-based incubator ISI .

Sören Jungclaus, giving a speech at the Buchholz-based incubator ISI .

“Good design – how it works and how it can transform companies” – when the Buchholz-based incubator ISI announced a talk with this title we were eager to attend and excited to see what an industrial designer specialised in packaging considers to be “good design”. And although we were well entertained as well as thoroughly informed, we did miss references to Cradle to Cradle, which played no role at all in Sören Jungclaus’ lecture.

However, the audience in ISI’s fully occupied large seminar room – the walls of which are adorned with real living moss – was able to glimpse some exciting insights into how ideas are developed. Jungclaus, who for 15 years worked as chief designer for the architect and designer Hadi Teherani and is currently self-employed in Hamburg, simply chatted away. One tale he relayed was about the implementation of a “floating” office chair for Interstuhl. The company had put a lot of money into the design of the chair, whose complete technology was tucked away in the seat, resulting in a very puristical appearance. However, when the development of the casters, which featured a hole in the centre, ended up costing 120,000 Euros, the head of the company refused to pay up. Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Jungclaus reacted by reminding him that you cannot buy a designer suit and then combine it with a worn-out pair of shoes – and got the go-ahead.

The talk was entertaining thanks to tales of this calibre. But what, the question remains, constitutes “good design” in the eyes of Jungclaus? For him, it comes down to longevity, he answered. If the chosen materials as well as the methods of construction combine to create a potential heirloom, then it’s good design. However, he added, customers also increasingly valued the issue of recyclability. “It plays a much bigger role nowadays than it did ten years ago – but things do take their time,” Jungclaus said. The fans of Cradle to Cradle among the audience would have preferred a much more active role on the part of the designer – or designers in general.

Possibly the most impressive product was the designer birdhouse in the shape of a drop. After it had been designed on paper and in the workshop it had to pass practical testing before it could turn into a bestseller. As it turns out, tits are quite impressed by the design – and, by extension, so are garden owners and birdwatchers.

Filed Under: Cradle to Cradle, General Article

Please share this in your community:

« “Alternative Nobel Prize” winners on tour
Snake tales and serious business: Rüdiger Nehberg visits Buchholz »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Please stay in touch!

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • xing
  • YouTube

Insights

Save the Date: Cradle to Cradle Congress 2025


On March 13 and 14, 2025, the Cradle to Cradle celebrated its annual congress at the TU Berlin with about 1000 guests. Please read more about the congress in my blog article here. And save the date for the 2026 edition: The congress will take place on September 17-18, 2026.


eFuels

Synthetic fuels are one of the decisive factors for the energy transition away from fossile fuels. That is why I am committed to the further development and practical use of eFuels and became a member of the Sounding Board of the eFuel Alliance in May 2021.
English website of the eFuel Alliance


Climate committee

Constituent session: Photo: City of Buchholz / Helms

Until 2025 I was chairwoman of the advisory board of the climate committee at my former place of residence in Buchholz in the Nordheide. The city has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral and there is still a lot to do to achieve this. The committee advises the municipal  administration on fundamental questions of climate policy.
To the article on the Buchholz website (in German)



Right Livelihood Award

They stand up against violence and climate change and address the most pressing questions of our time: The 2024 recipients of the Right Livelihood Award are: Joan Carling of Philippines, Issa Amro/Youth Against Settlements from Palestine, Anabela Lemos/Justiça Ambiental! from Mozambique und Forensic Architecture from the UK. Read more about the “Alternative Nobel Prize” here.


Federal Order of Merit

After the award ceremony, Olaf Lies, Monika Griefahn and Rainer Rempe stand together. Photo: Frank Ossenbrink

After the award ceremony, Olaf Lies, Monika Griefahn and Rainer Rempe stand together. Photo: Frank Ossenbrink

Our CEO Dr. Monika Griefahn received the Federal Order of Merit. Please read more about her biography and about the award ceremony in our blog.


Blog Archive

  • Home
  • Monika Griefahn
  • Volunteering
  • institute for media, environment, culture
  • Service
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Site Notice/Imprint
  • Privacy Policy

 

Logo Monika Griefahn GmbH/institut medien umwelt kultur Monika Griefahn GmbH
PO Box 1135
21231 Buchholz
Germany
Phone: +49 4181 4069262
Email:
Website: www.institut-muk.de
  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • xing
  • YouTube
Customise Privacy Settings
Copyright © 2013–2025 | Zurück zum Seitenanfang/Back to top | Alle Rechte vorbehalten! – All rights reserved.