Budde, Uli

Berlin-based product designer Uli Budde (born 1978), started studying at the University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam/Germany and graduated from the Design Academy in Eindhoven/Netherlands in 2004. Since then he has worked as a freelance designer for various studios in the Netherlands including Jongeriuslab/Hella Jongerius, Baukje Trenning and Joost Grootens. In 2005 he founded OfficeOriginair - a collaboration with Dutch designer Ivan Kasner. Since 2009 Uli Budde works independently from his studio in Berlin, mainly on projects in furniture and lighting design. In 2011 he has been teaching at the Kunsthochschule Kassel/Germany.

The work of Uli Budde investigates the well-known everyday object, finding new solutions to transform the familiar in a thoughtful and functional way. With a close relationship to familiar products, objects and situations, Buddes’ designs take on an easy understanding and acceptance into daily life - a clever simplicity with an unobtrusive presence.
 Within his way of working he has developed a strong handwriting which can be both poetic or graphic, without losing functionality out of sight.

Amongst his clients you will find Royal VKB (Officeoriginair) and Vertigo Bird and others. His projects are honoured with different awards like the Dutch Design Award (OfficeOriginair), the GIO Award (OfficeOriginair) and in 2012 with two RED DOT AWARDS (OfficeOriginair).
In 2010 and 2011 Uli Budde received the Faces of Design Award.