UPON WHAT IS THE NIESSING DESIGN PHILOSOPHY BASED?
The Niessing design philosophy has its roots in the Bauhaus movement. Its design credo is based on the ideals of the Weimar Bauhaus and its fundamental idea of opening up the boundaries between craftsmanship, technology, art and industry. Inspiration comes from natural phenomena and the sensual minimalism of Bauhaus architecture. The result is jewelry without decorative elements: pure form, reduced to the essentials.
WHY IS NIESSING JEWELRY SO SIMPLE AND MINIMALISTIC?
This is a deliberate design decision rooted in the Bauhaus. Niessing jewelry dispenses with decorative excess: clear lines, pure form, reduced to the essentials. Anyone looking for simple, modern and minimalist wedding rings or engagement rings will find exactly this approach at Niessing — it is not a trend, but has been the foundation of Niessing design for more than 50 years. For over 40 years, the manufactory's greatest design icon, the Niessing Spannring®, has embodied this philosophy.
WHAT DOES “FORM FOLLOWS EMOTION” MEAN?
The Bauhaus credo is “form follows function”. Niessing translates this into “form follows emotion”: form follows feeling. Niessing design stands for pieces that are beautiful, functional and innovative at the same time. Color is not a decorative accessory, but equal in importance to form: colors express personality, colors are pure emotion.
WHAT ROLE DOES COLOR PLAY IN NIESSING DESIGN?
At Niessing, color is not a decorative accessory, but just as important as form. Colors express personality and touch us deeply — they are pure emotion. That is why designers and color experts at the manufactory work together to develop the characteristic Niessing Colors and exceptional color gradients.
WHO ESTABLISHED THE NIESSING DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?
In the 1970s, Ursula Exner, née Niessing, began collaborating with architects such as Max von Hausen and artists such as Joseph Beuys. In 1970, Ursula Exner and architect Professor Max von Hausen jointly established the Niessing design philosophy based on the principles of the Bauhaus.
WHERE IS NIESSING DESIGN CREATED?
At the Niessing Design Studio, which has been the creative center for innovative ideas for more than 50 years. In 2018, the design team moved into a new Design Studio in Düsseldorf. The Design Studio and the manufactory in Vreden closely collaborate on research and development — because Niessing believes this is the only way great design can emerge.
HOW DO THE DESIGN STUDIO AND THE MANUFACTORY WORK TOGETHER AT NIESSING?
Design and artisanal craftsmanship are closely connected at Niessing. The Design Studio and the manufactory collaborate on research and development together to create new forms, colors and technical solutions. Traditional craftsmanship, high-tech innovation and visionary design are inseparably intertwined. The jewelry pieces are crafted at the Niessing manufactory in Vreden.
WHAT IS NIESSING’S BEST-KNOWN DESIGN ICON?
The Niessing Spannring®. It was developed in 1979: a ring band, a floating brilliant-cut diamond — that’s all it takes. The award-winning original design was created by Walter Wittek. In 2001, the Niessing Spannring® in ist original round shape was acknowledged as a work of art and protected by copyright.
WHICH DESIGN AWARDS HAS NIESSING RECEIVED?
Niessing designs have won numerous national and international design awards. Award-winning designs include, for example, Niessing Topia with the “Red Dot: Best of the Best” in 2014, Niessing Mirage with the “Red Dot: Best of the Best” in 2017, and the Niessing Solaris gold alloy with a Red Dot Award in 2017. Niessing Radius 9, the manufactory's first watch, has also received the Red Dot Design Award, among others. These are just a few examples of the many awards Niessing has received for jewelry, watches and innovative design.
WHAT MAKES NIESSING DESIGN TIMELESS?
Niessing does not create jewelry for short-lived trends, but with the aim of ensuring it remains relevant for decades. Clear lines, innovative ideas and focus on the essentials create jewelry pieces with lasting relevance. This timelessness also contributes to sustainability: a piece of jewelry of lasting value is made to be worn for a long time and passed down to future generations.
