BMW Group Design Talk Villa d'Este 2009

High-calibre Specialists to Attend Panel Discussion Within the Framework of the Concorso d’Eleganza at Lake Como

MUNICH/COMO – April 21, 2009: “Art and Design: Is Modesty the new Luxury?” is this year’s theme of the “BMW Group Design Talk Villa d’Este 2009” being held at Lake Como on Sunday 26th April. For the seventh time now the BMW Group will initiate this renowned event at the Villa d’Este within the framework of the Concorso d’Eleganza, to which international journalists and exclusive guests have been invited. This year the Design Talk event will be hosted for the first time by literature critic and public radio broadcaster Cornelia Zetzsche. Whilst the 2008 event bearing the title “Icon: Show and Tell” centred on the origin, significance and charisma of icons, this year’s discussion will focus on design and art in economically turbulent times.

Internationally renowned guests will once again take to the stage to participate in the discussion being hosted by Cornelia Zetzsche:

Thomas Demand, one of the most renowned contemporary photographers with exhibitions, among others, at the Lenbachhaus Munich, the Castello di Rivoli Turin, the Dundee Contemporary Arts, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Alfredo Häberli, designer, works for companies such as Alias, Camper, Iittala, Kvadrat, Luceplan and Schiffini. In 2008, the Museum für Gestaltung Zurich presented a major monographic exhibition on Häberli.

Louisa Hutton, architect, director of Sauerbruch Hutton since 2002, obtained, inter alia, the Erich Schelling prize in 2003 and the Fritz Schumacher prize in 1998.

Inga Sempé, designer, works for international enterprises such as Cappellini, Ligne Roset, Almedahl’s and Artecnica. In 2003, she was awarded the Grand Prix de la Création en design of the city of Paris.

Adrian van Hooydonk, became Director of Design BMW Group in March 2009 and is responsible for all branches of the BMW Group (BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce) Moreover, he is Head of the brand design studio BMW Automobiles which he manages since 2004.

For 80 years now the Concorso d'Eleganza at the Villa d'Este has been one of the most exclusive events, bringing together fans and connoisseurs of historic vehicles and automotive collectors’ items from all four corners of the world in an unique ambience at Lake Como. This year it is being held from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th April.