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COLUMN, the furniture for all, enables communal dining in public spaces to support local pubs that cannot offer an outdoor space themselves. (c) ANTE UP

ANTE UP: Design as part of the solution

The design studio ANTE UP, the brainchild of Benedikt Stonawski and Hauke Unterburg, combines traditional craftsmanship with modern production techniques to identify sustainable solutions. The two designers’ COLUMN concept won a €7,000 prize in the Creatives for Vienna: Future Communities competition in 2021.

You founded the product design studio ANTE UP in Vienna in 2020. Was it particularly challenging to start a business during the coronavirus pandemic?

We decided to found our own design studio before the onset of the pandemic. This meant we were getting started in what was a highly uncertain time for us all. Although we weren’t directly affected by the measures put in place by the government, some of our orders from the hospitality and events sectors disappeared overnight. That showed us how useful it is to have more than more than one string to our bow.

The Founders Lab – Creative Industries helped us a lot with numerous entrepreneurial challenges. Following a holistic approach, we were able to discuss all important areas of starting a company with industry experts and learned a great deal. We also had the opportunity to get to know other young entrepreneurs in the same situation and exchange ideas with them. We found the structured hypothesis testing particularly helpful and have now integrated it in our day-to-day work. At the moment, we are developing our first recyclable furniture and accessory collection, which has been supported by funding from the creative_pioneer programme.

What impact do you hope your “COLUMN” project, which was recognised in the Creatives for Vienna competition, will have on future communities in Vienna?

Public spaces have become increasingly important for communities over the last pandemic-dominated year, as they provided a fall-back for many encounters and interactions. In future, the city should also look to create consumption-free spaces and services outside of living rooms and cafés so that people can eat, work and meet safely. Given that public spaces often serve different functions in different seasons, we regard temporary outdoor furniture as a useful option.

Which are your favourite public spaces in Vienna and why?

Weghuberpark is a short distance from our studio in the 7th district. It’s right beside the ring road but is still surprisingly peaceful. We often spend a little while there at lunchtime and enjoy our breaks surrounded by greenery.

Benedikt Stonawski and Hauke Unterburg (c) Florian Maria Strasser

How important was the idea of fostering a sense of community in founding ANTE UP?

Our society faces profound challenges. If we are to leave behind a liveable planet for future generations, we need a paradigm shift as a society. Products need to be understood as a changing part of society, items with their own lives. This is why, as designers, the question is always whether a new product is part of the solution or part of the problem.

What aspects of your work have changed since the start of the pandemic?

Many events have been cancelled over the last year – and with them the opportunity to get to know others in our field. However, our work depends on exchanging ideas and collecting feedback. It was therefore particularly important for us to concentrate on COVID-safe forms of contact. The Vienna Business Agency also created digital formats, such as Creative Days Vienna, which we were able to use effectively.

What projects are you currently working on?

At the moment, we’re developing the online shop for our recyclable furniture collection. Our aim is to inform customers not only about the product itself but also its entire life cycle, from its origins and how the materials were processed through to recycling it in future.

What tips would you give to other entrepreneurs in the creative industries?

Read plenty! There’s a lot of specialist literature that can help you to avoid unnecessary work stages. And, even if there aren’t many start-up books that can be applied directly in the design scene, it’s still fascinating to learn how things work in other industries. We can also strongly recommend the various services offered to young entrepreneurs by the City of Vienna. From two-hour workshops to programmes running over several months, there really is something for everyone.

Company:

ANTE UP OG

https://anteup.at/

Services offered by the Vienna Business Agency:

  • Recognised in the Creatives for Vienna: Future Communities 2021 competition
  • Participated in Founders Lab – Creative Industries 2021
  • Received funding through the creative_pioneer 2020 funding programme
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Vienna Business Agency.
A service offered by the
City of Vienna.

Mariahilfer Straße 20 1070 Vienna Austria

+43 1 25200

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