To celebrate Austria’s participation in EXPO 2015 in Milan, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA is presenting the Austrian Design Explosion exhibition. Key examples of Austria’s design and technology landscape will be presented, along with work from other related sectors such as architecture, fashion, music, film and art. The selection of work on show illustrates how the ingenuity of Austrian companies, creative entrepreneurs and academics has helped to make the world a more sustainable, beautiful and better place – from the start of the industrial revolution to today’s digital age.
“The exhibition concept follows three interlinking hypotheses about Austrian design: the obsession with finding technical solutions for complex everyday problems; the passion for exploring the application-related limits of extraordinary materials; and the pursuit of a strict minimalistic approach in aesthetic practice coupled with emotion or tongue-in-cheek humour,” explains Robert Punkenhofer.
Work from a total of 120 Austrian companies and creative professionals will be on show. The design of the exhibition drew his inspiration from a 3D explosive drawing from the automotive industry.

To name but a few examples, the exhibits include the solar-powered Wadi water disinfection device from Helioz, the KTM Freeride E 2015 (the world’s first fully developed electric dirt bike, designed by KISKA), voestalpine car parts made of press-hardened lightweight steel, the VELLO collapsible bike and an aircraft engine from BRP-Powertrain. Key classics like the Thonet Nr. 14 chair, an Adolf Loos glass series for Lobmeyr, creations by Helmut Lang and Sachertorte will also be on show.
The exhibition is accompanied by a special sound composition by Thomas Wagensommerer as well as an experimental film by Georg Eisnecker. The exhibition is taking place as part of the EXPO Milano 2015 as well as the go-international internationalisation initiative run by Austria’s Ministry of Science, Research and Economy and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.