Design processes have two sides, the side of the client and the side of the designer. Seen from the outside this looks quite simple. But joint success often comes about only after a roller coaster ride of briefings and meetings, presentations and discussions. An open dialogue is therefore the key to succeed. The initiative "Face to Face" is dedicated to this dialogue and promotes a constructive coming together apart from political demands and financial interests. With the motto "In dialogue we trust!" Face to Face animates corporate representatives and their designers to present design projects across professional and national boundaries. The focus is set on brand development and communication design, product design and architecture.
With this purpose in mind, Face to Face designs, organizes and conducts congresses, seminars and trips for its members – both on its own initiative and together with committed partners.
Looking back
Face to Face can trace its origins back to the year 2000, when Dr. Elke Ritt from the British Council Berlin and Alice Seidler from the British Consulate General in Stuttgart paid a visit to Henning Horn at the Design Center Stuttgart. It was here that the idea was born of bringing together successful graphic designers from the two countries – and if at all possible to invite their clients as well. So it was that the first Face to Face conference was held in 2001.
The association
Since 2004, Face to Face e.V. has worked to ensure that the common “Face to Face” idea has been put into practice and further developed in a variety of event formats and at different venues.
The association’s simple structure and the open way in which its constitution is formulated, without tying it to any one design discipline, mean that Face to Face e.V. is very flexible. This is intended to be of benefit to its members, to the people it enters into dialogue with, and to its actions.
2010.06 International like never before: Business and design conference anniversary in November with 10 nations
The 10th Conference for Business and Design »Face to Face« (F2F10) should be real special. Speakers and guests from Germany as well as from the partner countries of the past 9 years are expected. This international convention of design experts and their clients coming from the industry, merchandise and service sectors is taking place November 4-6, 2010 in the film, media and design city of Ludwigsburg. – Information about the programme will be available here in August.
2010.05 François Caspar new F2F honorary member
François Caspar, former president and responsible for international affairs with AFD Alliance française des designers, was appointed honorary member with Face to Face. François Caspar brought French and German designers exemplary together when he got involved with F2F9 conference organisation. In May 2010 he guided the F2F trip to Paris and Marseille, where well selected design studios opened their doors.
2009.11 Frenchmen and Germans awarded for the best design dialogue
At the 9th International Design Conference "F2F9: La France meets Deutschland" at the Reithaus Ludwigsburg, Germany one French and one German contribution was awarded with the "Face to Face Award", a prize for the best collaborative project communication.
The winners couldn't be more different: With the title: "Metropolitan public transport as new cultural space" Yo Kaminagai, director of design and culture projects at RATP, Paris public transport company, presented together with Paris design professor Laurent Ungerer how underground stations can be converted into entirely new worlds. Designer Martin Grothmaak of the Stuttgart design studio "Projekttriangle" discussed together with his client Manuel Holz from "Holzmedia" in their presentation "Simplicité, Einfachheit" how the furniture catalogue "Simplicity Lookbook 2.0" leading in its way for for concept, design and production came about. Crucial was the vote of the 220 participants of the conference. Henning Horn, Face to Face initiator and organizer: "It is important for us, to make it clear to the speakers and the audience how significant dialogue is for a design project to be successful."