1995-2023:
OUR STORY
The early days
Founded in 1995, the non-profit organization Design Luxembourg, soon to celebrate its 30th anniversary, brings together companies and independent designers. Its mission: to serve as a platform to promote, support, and exchange ideas in the field, both nationally and internationally. A key moment: its membership in 2003 with BEDA, the Bureau of European Design Associations, playing a vital role in connecting EU design associations and authorities.
Under the leadership of Tom Gloesener in 2007, Design Luxembourg published "Follow Me," a guide to combat abuse in design competitions. Objective: to provide advice and a standard terms of reference template for businesses. In a 2007 interview with Paperjam, Tom Gloesener emphasized the importance of raising awareness among companies and young designers, actively engaging with schools and universities to protect them from harmful practices.
Professionalization
Since 2015, Design Luxembourg has been organizing the Luxembourg Design Awards every two years, a prestigious ceremony judged by an international jury, highlighting excellence in local design. In 2023, the Luxembourg Design Awards evolved to include an exhibition at Rotondes, offering winners a unique opportunity to showcase their creations to the public.
That same year, the association marked a turning point by organizing the European Design Festival, further establishing itself as a major player in the sector. This large-scale event strengthened Design Luxembourg’s international visibility, fostered connections with other European design stakeholders, and underscored the importance of design within Luxembourg’s cultural and economic landscape.
Let us recall that in 2023, the city of Luxembourg hosted the European Design Awards. Seizing this opportunity boldly, Design Luxembourg went beyond simply hosting the awards ceremony and enriched the event by introducing a full-fledged design festival: the European Design Festival. The Luxembourg edition of the festival attracted renowned figures and highlighted contemporary design topics, from ethics to artificial intelligence.
Beyond mobilizing cultural actors in Luxembourg, the festival's impact has been considerable. By gaining visibility, Design Luxembourg raised political decision-makers' awareness of Luxembourg designers' challenges, also playing a key role in creating the "Design Hub" in Hollerich in collaboration with the City of Luxembourg.
These steps mark the beginning of a professional and influential era for the association, propelling Luxembourg design onto the national and international stage.
Current challenges
Despite its successes, Luxembourg's communication and design sector faces significant challenges, revealed in an October 2023 open letter from Design Luxembourg and Markcom. This crisis, while underreported but concerning, is characterized by questionable practices such as unpaid competitions and temporary partnerships. Local agencies are experiencing financial and human losses, while displacement in favor of foreign agencies is a major concern.
Furthermore, rapid technological evolution requires substantial investments that are not always reflected in service rates. To overcome this crisis, general awareness and changes in practices, such as competition regulation, fair compensation, and transparent collaboration, are essential to ensure the sector's survival and prosperity.
A noble mission
Facing current challenges, Design Luxembourg returns to its fundamentals by renewing the initial mission formulated by Tom Gloesener nearly fifteen years ago. The noble mission of defending the interests of all design stakeholders remains more relevant than ever. Despite the period of crisis, the commitment to support the design community, promote excellence, and work towards a prosperous future for design persists. Solidarity and resilience are the pillars upon which Design Luxembourg builds its path towards a stronger and more collaborative future.