Stefan Diez (born 1971 in Freising) is a German industrial designer whose Munich-based studio, DIEZ OFFICE, develops furniture, accessories, and exhibition designs.[1]
Early life and education
Born in 1971 in Freising, Germany, to a family of "4th-generation carpenters," Diez had grown up around carpentry and cabinetmaking, which influenced his design.[2] His introduction to furniture design started in 1991, when he worked as a cabinetmaker for three years. After spending a year working in Mumbai and Poona, India,[3]Diez returned to Germany in 1996.
Before founding his own design studio, DIEZ OFFICE, in January 2003,[4]Diez worked for Richard Sapper and then Konstantin Grcic. Since then, he has worked in various fields of design ranging from furniture and tableware to industrial design, as well as exhibition design for companies like Brunner, e15, Gandiablasco, HAY, Herman Miller, Magis, Midgard, Moroso, Rosenthal, Thonet, Vibia, Wilkhahn, Wagner, and others. Diez's "Upon Bench" debuted at imm Cologne in 2007 to critical acclaim.[5] His Model No. 404 chair was influenced by the work of Michael Thonet and is produced by Thonet.[6]
He considers "circular design" to be a key principle of his product design philosophy,[9][10] and "his products put forward a sustainable approach that combines multiplicity of use with superior durability."[1] In fact, his AYNO lamp, designed for Midgard, received the 2021 German Sustainability Award.[11][12]
