Galerie

Monuments of German Design

The Kölln rolled-oat package on your breakfast table, the Nivea tin in the bathroom, Tempo paper tissues in your handbag, Faber Castell pencils and Leitz files in the office and a Bosch drill in your toolbox – many of these products have been part of everyday life in Germany for decades. Their unmistakable outward appearance makes them minor "monuments" of everyday German culture. Many of these products and designs are familiar to many people beyond Germany's borders.

In April 2003, the Süddeutsche Zeitung's colour supplement compiled a selection of such "monuments" of German design. The magazine presented these classic designs in a series of photographs, coupled with short, tongue-in-cheek comments providing background information on the individual products. In cooperation with the Goethe-Institut, these have been made into a small online photo gallery. It lays no claims to being complete. With just a few exceptions, such as the roof of Munich's Olympic Stadium, the logo of the airline Lufthansa and autobahn signs, all the featured items are items used in everyday life.