Michael Sans, Product Designer, MA (RCA)

born 1969, Boppard/Rhein, Germany

Michael is trained as a cabinet maker, received a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Design from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, USA and completed his Masters Degree in Design Products at the Royal College of Art in London. Before opening his own studio in 2003, he has worked as an Automotive Designer for Volkswagen AG, Germany.

 

Sans’ past clients include companies such as Volkswagen AG, Ahlers AG or Adam Opel GmbH. He has designed window campaigns and installations for Hugo Boss, Jet Set and Pierre Cardin and has developed the store-concept for Baldessarini. Sans has designed furniture for various clients and did the interior design and art direction for the Michelin-Star-Restaurant Nobelhart & Schmutzig in Berlin.

He recently finished the interior design for the head-quarters of acclaimed law-firm „Hyazinth LLP“ in Potsdamer Platz, Berlin and is currently working on the store-concepts for a bakery (Gragger Brot) and a butchers' store (Gut Kerkow).

 

In 2008 he launched SANS, an accessories label for very exclusive, hand-made, mostly limited edition luxury goods.

Sans is associate professor at the renowned ArtCenter College of Design and is teaching at both campuses (Berlin and Pasadena, California, USA).

 

Foto @ Jesse Portillo

 

 

Clients:

Adam Opel GmbH, Ahlers AG, Baldessarini GmbH, Beck+Heun GmbH, Billy Wagner KG, BMW AG, Das ist Brot GmbH, Deutsche Bahn AG, Friedrich Graf von Westphalen, HAAL ROSA KG, Hugo Boss, Hyazinth LLP, IAV GmbH, idee.creativmarkt GmbH, Jacoby Studios, Jet Set, Jubel Patisserie, Lebello USA, OMX Legal, Pierre Cardin, René Lezard, Rico Design GmbH, Roos GmbH, Tobis Film GmbH, Wolle Roedel GmbH, Volkswagen AG,

 

Teaching:

2022-today: Associate professor (Industrial Design): ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena (USA) and Berlin (Germany)

2018/2019: Guest Lecturer (Industrial Design): Schule für Gestaltung Bern (Switzerland)

2010-2022: Guest Professor (Interdisciplinary Design): ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena and Berlin

2006-2009: Guest Professor (Industrial Design): HbK Braunschweig (Germany)

2003-2005: Lecturer (Industrial Design): HbK Braunschweig (Germany)

 

Press:

https://www.berlin-losangeles.com/story/michael-sans

http://www.oe-magazine.de/stories/product-designer-michael-sans/

 

Awards:

2020: 'reddot winner 2020' (HAAL ROSA B1)

1999: 'Places for Coffee - Design Competition' by Lavazza and Modo. Special price (Club Classic SL)

1997: 'Hoesch Design Award', shortlisted (Bathroom 00/3)

1996: 'Silver Industrial Design Excellence Award' IDEA96 by IDSA (ESBE 1, bicycle)

1995: 'Waterlily Award', special price (It's Just Peanuts)

 

Exhibitions:

2016:  "Telling Time", CID - centre d'innovation et de design au Grand-Hornu, Hornu (Belgium)

2015:  "In Praise of Time", Mudac, Lausanne (Switzerland)

2011:    "O‘Clock - Time Design, Design Time", Milan Triennale Museum, Milan (Italy)

2008:  "Palais de Gruyère" (Part one), Single exhibition of the art project in collaboration with the Swiss illustrator

             Gregory Gilbert-Lodge, Grand Palais Bern (Switzerland)

2008:  "Design + Emotion", Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe (Germany)

2007:  "Peakcocks Amoung the Ruins", Dundee Contemporary Arts Gallery, Dundee (Scottland)

2006:  "Tokyo Designer‘s Week 2006", Designmai Youngsters, Tokyo (Japan)

2006:  "Designsuburbia", Designmai 2006, Group Exhibition curated by Designmai Youngsters, Berlin (Germany)

2005:  "Designbrussels 2005", DMY, Bruxelles (Belgium)

2005:  "Seoul Design Festival 2005", DMY, Seoul (South Korea)

2005:  "Alumni of Art Center College of Design", Designmai 2005, Berlin (Deutschland)

2005:  "go future", Group Exhibition, curated by Allianz AG, Treptowers, Berlin (Germany)

2004:  "Weapons of Mass Seduction", Group Exhibition, curated by Michael Sans, Designmai 2004, Berlin (Germany)

2004:  "inspired by Cologne 2004", German Design Council, Furniture Fair Cologne (Germany)

2004:  "Weapons of Mass Seduction", Group Exhibition, curated by Michael Sans, Passagen 2004, Furniture Fair

             Cologne (Germany)

2003:  "Canary in a Coalmine", The 2003 Coroflot Members Show, Gallery 91, New York (USA)

2001:  "best before", Milan Furniture Fair 2001, Gallery InterNos, Mailand (Italy)

1998:  "Westweek 1998", Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles (USA)