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Nicolas Hayek Dies at 82; His Swatch Saved an Industry

emily — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:13:45 +0000

Nicolas Hayek, a Lebanese-born business consultant who is widely credited with having saved the Swiss watch industry with the introduction of the Swatch, the inexpensive, plastic — and, as it transpired, highly collectible — wristwatch that made its debut in 1983, died Monday in Biel, Switzerland. He was 82.

Mr. Hayek, a founder and the chairman of the Swatch Group, died of heart failure while working at the company’s headquarters, according to an announcement on the company Web site.

The formation of the Swatch Group, which in addition to Swatch today comprises high-end watch brands like Breguet, Omega, Longines, Tissot, Calvin Klein and Mido, made Mr. Hayek one of Switzerland’s wealthiest men. The exquisite irony is that the company came about after Mr. Hayek was brought in to help shut the foundering Swiss watch industry altogether.

A flamboyant figure with a roguish sense of humor, Mr. Hayek was “a rare phenomenon in Europe — a genuine business celebrity,” as The Harvard Business Review described him in 1993. More…

W Hotels Designers of the Future at Design Miami/Basel 2010

emily — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:44:14 +0000

Winners of this year’s W Hotels Designers of the Future awards presented pieces at Design Miami/Basel in Switzerland last week. The designers were asked to create installations that encouraged participation.

Since its inception, Design Miami/ Basel has guided its Designers of the Future Award toward the recognition of designers working in innovative ways – whether new materials, new processes, or new approaches. The goal of the Award, launched in 2006, is to offer the best representatives of the next generation of design creatives the opportunity to present newly commissioned work to a powerful audience of collectors, dealers and journalists, drawing attention to design practices that exemplify new directions for the future of the field.

This year, Design Miami/ Basel is pleased to announce its new partnership with W Hotels in presenting the 2010 W Hotels Designers of the Future Award. This alliance will allow Design Miami/ Basel to expand the benefits that the award brings to the winners, including the chance for the commissioned projects to have a life after the fair through practical applications within W’s sites around the world. More from Dezeen…

Submissions Open for 2011 Volume of the Design Journal

kathryn — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:27:14 +0000

Want to get your 2011 publications underway now?

We are now accepting submissions for the 2011 volume of Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal. The next submission deadline is Monday 13 August 2010.

Refereeing of submitted papers will commence shortly so start the submission process early by submitting your proposal.

Paper submission guidelines are available online.