Ahead of the RIMOWA Design Prize award ceremony on May 13th, SLEEK spoke with jury member Katharina Janku, CEO of USM Germany, about the relationship between design and functionality, the influence of younger generations, and the lasting impact of the prize.<\/p>\n
SLEEK: How would you describe the relationship between humans and design? How do they interact with each other?<\/p>\n
Katharina Janku: First of all, humans are essential to design\u2014both as creators and users. Design is not just about aesthetics; it must have a purpose. It should offer solutions to everyday problems. Take the Swiss peeler or Dieter Ram\u2019s BRAUN radio\u2014both are examples where design enhances function rather than existing purely for visual appeal. While beauty is appreciated, function should always come first.<\/p>\n
S: How do you balance function with aesthetics?<\/p>\n
KJ: The key is to be as intentional as possible. If you follow the principle of “form follows function,” you must remove anything unnecessary. The first step is understanding the core purpose of the product. Good design starts with a clear definition of function.<\/p>\n
S: How do you foster creativity at a company with such a rich heritage like USM?<\/p>\n
KJ: Creativity thrives when you stay open-minded and listen. The challenge is recognizing that not everything needs to be reinvented; sometimes, it\u2019s about refining what already exists. At USM, we balance innovation with respect for our heritage. It\u2019s about merging new ideas with established principles\u2014almost like a playground for adults.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":[{"ID":120494,"id":120494,"title":"RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius Kintzel & Julian-Salmsdorff_(Katharina Janku)_TONBO","filename":"RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","filesize":218193,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/katharina-janku-exchanging-ideas-for-the-rimowa-design-prize\/rimowa_rdpiii_mentoring_stills_marius-kintzel-julian-salmsdorff_katharina-janku_tonbo\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"","name":"rimowa_rdpiii_mentoring_stills_marius-kintzel-julian-salmsdorff_katharina-janku_tonbo","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":120491,"date":"2025-04-10 14:05:39","modified":"2025-04-10 14:05:39","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1620,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","thumbnail-width":128,"thumbnail-height":85,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","medium-width":1620,"medium-height":1080,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","medium_large-width":1620,"medium_large-height":1080,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","large-width":1620,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","2048x2048-width":1620,"2048x2048-height":1080,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":18,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA_RDPIII_Mentoring_Stills_Marius-Kintzel-Julian-Salmsdorff_Katharina-Janku_TONBO.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1620,"wpvr_mobile-height":1080}}],"settings":{"fit_width":"10","caption":"Image Courtesy of RIMOWA Design Prize."}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
S: Through the RIMOWA Design Prize, you have worked with young design students. How important are new impulses in the design world?<\/p>\n
KJ: Young designers bring fresh perspectives, not only in aesthetics but also in their approach to problem-solving. They ask different questions and prioritize different aspects of production. Throughout the RIMOWA Design Prize, I\u2019ve mentored students and found their inquiries incredibly insightful. Their perspectives challenge me to rethink my own approach, making the exchange mutually beneficial.<\/p>\n
S: While you were mentoring the finalists of the RIMOWA Design Prize, what surprising lesson did you get during the time?<\/p>\n
KJ: I was impressed by their consistency and depth of thought. Their answers to my questions often taught me something new. It was inspiring to see their dedication and how they refined their ideas over time.<\/p>\n
S: The theme of mobility is center to the RIMOWA Design Prize, how do you combine your expertise in modularity through USM with mobility?<\/p>\n
KJ: Modularity isn\u2019t just about creating modular furniture\u2014it\u2019s about adaptability. A modular system should adjust to the user\u2019s needs. At USM, we design storage solutions that can be reconfigured over time. The same principle applies to mobility: products should be designed for real-world use, ensuring practicality and relevance.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"blockquote","text":"\"Consistency is crucial. While aesthetics are subjective, I evaluate projects based on quality, longevity, and material choices.\"","source":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
S: What input could you give the students while preparing them for the finale of the RIMOWA Design Prize?<\/p>\n
KJ: I approached the designs from the user\u2019s perspective, asking how and where they would be useful. Context is key. I come from a business-oriented perspective, so I encouraged them to consider costs, material sustainability, and recyclability. Thinking about production efficiency and environmental impact naturally leads to more sustainable design solutions.<\/p>\n
S: What are your key criteria for judging a design project?<\/p>\n
KJ: Consistency is crucial. While aesthetics are subjective, I evaluate projects based on quality, longevity, and material choices. A product must be easy to understand and serve a purpose. You can have something highly aesthetically pleasing without it being of any use.<\/p>\n
S: What is the lasting impact of the RIMOWA Design Prize?<\/p>\n
KJ: The prize fosters a network that extends beyond the competition itself. Students from different universities exchange ideas, gaining diverse feedback from peers, judges, and professors. This exchange of perspectives is invaluable and continues to influence their careers long after the competition ends.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":[{"ID":120493,"id":120493,"title":"RIMOWA Design Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina Janku_4x5_02","filename":"RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","filesize":524558,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/katharina-janku-exchanging-ideas-for-the-rimowa-design-prize\/rimowa-design-prize_3_jury_portrait_katharina-janku_4x5_02\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"","name":"rimowa-design-prize_3_jury_portrait_katharina-janku_4x5_02","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":120491,"date":"2025-04-10 14:05:36","modified":"2025-04-10 14:05:36","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1535,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","thumbnail-width":77,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","medium-width":1535,"medium-height":1920,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","medium_large-width":1535,"medium_large-height":1920,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","large-width":1535,"large-height":1920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02-1228x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1228,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","2048x2048-width":1535,"2048x2048-height":1920,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":10,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RIMOWA-Design-Prize_3_Jury_Portrait_Katharina-Janku_4x5_02.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1535,"wpvr_mobile-height":1920}}],"settings":{"fit_width":"6","caption":"Image Courtesy of RIMOWA Design Prize."}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
S: How has engaging with younger generations influenced your perspective on design?<\/p>\n
KJ: Engaging with younger generations is a win-win. It broadens my perspective and keeps my creative process dynamic. I hope to continue exchanging ideas until I\u2019m 90! The more you interact with different viewpoints, the richer your creative reservoir becomes.<\/p>\n
S: In what ways do you think collaboration between established brands and emerging designers drives innovation, and how does USM approach this balance between heritage and fresh ideas?<\/p>\n
KJ: While new designers often want to reinvent everything, true innovation builds on existing knowledge. At USM, collaboration with designers and creatives keeps us from becoming stagnant. Even the most successful brands can become obsolete if they don\u2019t stay connected to what\u2019s happening outside their own sphere. Understanding what people need and want is the foundation of great design.<\/p>\n"}]},"yoast_head":"\n