The Impact Speakers: Form, Function, Fashion

Apr 25, 2018
The Impact Speakers: Form, Function, Fashion

LIGHTFAIR | Tuesday May 8, 2018 12:30 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.

Designers Martin Lesjak and Anastasia Su. Photo: Markus Mansi/MOMA

Designers Martin Lesjak and Anastasia Su are the 2018 LIGHTFAIR “Impact Speakers.” Lesjak, CEO of INNOCAD Architecture, and Su co-founded the product design firm 13&9 in Graz, Austria. 13&9’s transdisciplinary team’s cooperation with specialist partners has led to the creation of product collections from concept through production in the spheres of lighting, furniture, floor coverings, fashion, accessories, exhibition and sound design.

Their work relies on the interplay between architecturally-inspired forms and fashion, and explores issues such as modularity, compatibility, flexibility and transformation in development of new products. The overall results are unique designs that combine functional necessities and innovations with conceptual aesthetics, which also offer an emotional component, adding to the product value, “the soul” of 13&9 Design.

INNOCAD was founded in 1999 by Martin Lesjak and Peter Schwaiger. Since then, they have completed a variety of design projects in the residential, office, hospitality, healthcare, mixeduse, educational, public and retail sectors.

Lesjak and Su are frequent lecturers and speakers at various conferences and universities and have been recognized with numerous awards and in publications worldwide. Lesjak received one of the international architecture and design community’s top honors, “Designer of the Year 2015” by Contract magazine, followed by “Architect of the Year 2016” by UK based magazine BUILD. Su has been a guest lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences, FH JOANNEUM Graz, Austria, since 2015.