Projects
Be inspired by our existing range of Michaela Martinek: Design Mediation offerings
Spirit in Design
Design Mediation
Japanese Aesthetics
focus 2025
This year I am offering a range of experiences to introduce you to Japanese spirit in design. This new focus is inspired by my own ongoing journey into Japanese culture, and my current exploration of Japanese aesthetics. I invite your curiosity to enter with me into this aesthetic space where spiritual and physical meet, and are mediated through design.
Japanische Schönheit im Design. Heuer biete ich eine Reihe von Erfahrungen an, um Ihnen den japanischen Spirit im Design näher zu bringen. Dieser neue Schwerpunkt wurde von meiner eigenen Reise in die japanische Kultur und meinen eigenen aktuellen Erkundungen der japanischen Ästhetik inspiriert.
Ich lade Sie ein, mit mir in diesen ästhetischen Raum einzutauchen, in dem sich Geistiges und Physisches treffen und durch Design vermittelt werden.
Invitation to event page
Foto: Michaela & Martinek
Design Mediation: Michaela Martinek
My Way to Happiness
Talk (2024)
A Journey to Japan
Would you like to explore design.mediation with me?
In the context of VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2024, Michaela Martinek shares impressions from her Japanese journey with her audience. She is experimenting with Japanese Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing), with Kokedamas (moss balls) and with Ikebana. As a design mediator, she is exploring further the positioning of nature in her creative sustainable design and how interconnectedness can be represented in design. Martinek observes what design.mediation achieves and how design culture develops as a result.
Happiness is sharing!
Foto: Patrizia Gapp
Object: Kokedama, design.mikimartinek
Michaela Martinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2024
WE FRAME LANDSCAPE
Exhibition (2023)
Living Plant Pictures for City Dwellers
Aesthetic fusion of nature/human/tech at Rahmenladen 1070 Vienna
Working across borders, Michaela Martinek brings her desire and willingness to work intersectionally to a new and living project in a dynamic new collaboration with Sebastian Hilpold/botanikWERK. Using the material of plants and the power of human collaboration, they create living poetic compositions for interiors. The Plant-Pictures are artistic: unique, growing and complex collectibles that combine art, design and technology – honouring nature and the skills of ‘the other’.
Be in the frame!
Design: Miki Martinek & Sebastian Hilpold
handmade by BotanikWERK
Foto: Patrizia Gapp
design.mikimartinek, botanikWERK & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2023
RESONANCE & AESTHETICS
Experimenting with Vibration in Design (2022)
Abstract meets Concrete
From aesthetic photography to aesthetic fabric at VDW 1060 Rahlgasse
Using digital photography and a novel design process, Rita Newman, photographer, and Miki Martinek, designer, collaborate in an experimental two-step process to transform intangible, invisible resonance (perceived through digital photography) into the vibrant tangible fabric BLUE DROPS. An Experiment in Transforming Vibration expressing…
Have a look at the new fusion!
Foto: Rita Newman
Design: Miki Martinek
design.mikimartinek & Rita Newman & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2022
LOVE OF TREES
Design- and Woodturning Lectures (2021)
DESIGN & CRAFTS
Wood turned products with Hermann Viehauser
With her love for the handmade, Michaela Martinek inspires and instigates an exchange about DESIGN & Crafts. Join the new discourse with the crafts of bygone royalty in designer-influenced woodturned collectibles. Contribute to the discussion and thinking through hands-on creative experience.
Join the action-discourse!
design.mikimartinek
handmade by Hermann Viehause (woodturner)
Foto: Rita Newman
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2021
WOOL MOOI
DIY & Training Sessions (2020)
Staying in touch
A Hand-knitted Exercise Mat by mikimartinek
By designing a hand-knitted ecercise mat I wanted to integrate the rythms of human work with pure, nature eco-friedly wool into a useful product for your home. I chose to transform the wool of mountain sheep to bring into the light and to honour the timeless cycle of transhumanistic, the seasonal movement of the sheep.
Die Exercise Mat WOOL MOOI – handgestrickt aus feiner Schafwolle – lädt Sie ein, mit sich in Kontakt zu treten. Um zu träumen, zu entspannen, mit ihrem Körper eins zu werden.
Atmen Sie Freude!
design.mikimartinek
Foto: Rita Newman, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2020
HORN HANDLES
Window Display (2019)
Touching Eternity
design.mikimartinek at Hartmann Wien, 1010 Vienna
Twenty years ago I discovered my love for the material Horn. I brought this back to life for the exhibition Design from the Alps in 2019. HORN HANDLES for timeless furniture were launched at Vienna Design Week.
A touch of natural elegance!.
design.mikimartinek
Foto: Rita Newman, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2019
BLAUES GOLD
Design Launch (2018)
Pouring the Source of Life
design.mikimartinek at Stamm Concept Store, 1010 Vienna
Pure drinking water is one of the natural resources in Austria. Now it can be enjoyed in a form that does justice to its health and environmental value. I developed the Drinking Water Set BLAUES GOLD as a gift for the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism. 1 Water Carafe + 2 Glass Tumblers, hand-blown Crystal Glass.
To your health!
design.mikimartinek
Water Tasting with Markus Stamm
Foto: Rita Newman, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2018
GIVE LIFE A CHANGE
Show Case (2017)
Contribute purposefully to everyday life
design.mikimartinek at Riegelnik, 1080 Vienna
GIVE LIFE A CHANGE was my call to action: to include others in contributing purposefully to sustainable change and so to well-being for people. I designed a show case to reach people and chose words as my medium in the window of the printers.
I furnished it with custom-made text-wallpapers on the theme of the call. I invited other designers to showcase their projects in the event: to stimulate different ways of thinking and working together and to stimulate positive action in the heart of the community. Every month we added new projects to the window.
To your health!
design.mikimartinek
Action Reading with Bettina Reinisch
Foto: Rita Newman, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2017
BLOOM, SEED, COMPLETION
Chandelier Development (2016)
The Mystery of Lighting
design.mikimartinek at Dotzauer-lighting, 1010 Vienna
The unanticipated chandelier collection was produced and presented with collaboration partner Dotzauer Decorative Lighting. Miki Martinek was supported in this cutting-edge production by Harry Spraiter. The new LED chandelier was a recognition and a response to movements in society.
Live in the light!
design.mikimartinek
Collaboration Partner Harry Spraiter
Foto: Marcel Nimführ, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2016
FLOW, INTO THE MIDDLE, EVOLVE
Carpets, Window Display (2015)
The Values of Diverse Cultures
design.mikimartinek & GEBA fairtrade
Unique hand-knotted carpets individually designed for you by design.mikimartinek. Respecting ourselves and others through working together across cultures and honouring each others’ traditions. Lovingly produced in Nepal by Geba. Fairtrade. A marriage of state of the art technology and timeless skills to keep old traditions alive.
Honour diversity!
design.mikimartinek
Presentation: Pregenzer Fashion Store, 1040 Wien
Foto: Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2015
LIGHTWEIGHT HAMMOCK IN A BACKPACK
Guided Tours through Viennese gardens (2014)
Leichtigkeit in Papier gepackt
design.mikimartinek & KohlmaierWien
See how easily a lightweight hammock can enhance well-being in everyday city life. Introduced in the walled garden of Upper Belvedere in the context of the CHELSEA FRINGE VIENNA. Produced in collaboration with Kohlmaier Wien. Vienna – Birth place of the city hammock.
Let your soul swing free!
design.mikimartinek
Presentation: Kammergarten Belvedere, 1040 Wien
Foto: Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2014
SITTING BALL
design.cashing (2013)
Communicate the Design Process
design.mikimartinek & Freihausviertel Wien, 1040 Vienna
Enjoy Haute Couture sitting balls in everyday life. Eleven shops in the Freihausviertel, a district of Vienna, were invited to take part in a design game called “design.caching“ and in linked window displays. The challenging and innovative aspect of my design process was to share my design know-how as well as the know-how of the makers with the customers. My intention was to develop and support a sustainable design-making community.
Innovate through sharing!
design.mikimartinek
Presentation: Gabarage, Cafe Amacorde, DesignMood, Pregenzer, Buchhandlung Jella, Galerie Rauminhalt, Vintage Floh, 1040 Wien
Foto: Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2013
BORN 1929: HOMMAGE TO FRANZ BAUMANN and EDITION TIROL
Pop up Store (2012)
Connecting positively with the Past
design.mikimartinek & d.sign Galery, 1010 Vienna
Furniture collections to celebrate and honour design from the Alps. I experimented with how I could transform and re-present valued cultural artefacts across time to allow them to become re-integrated into the present. Continuity between the past and the present, re-affirming positive local values and contributing to a sense of well-being for the future.
Value your own culture!
design.mikimartinek
Foto: Rita Newman, Smetana, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2012
OIL SHEIK
Window-Performance (2011)
A Sense of Home
design.mikimartinek at Pregenzer Fashion Store, 1040 Vienna
Home furnishings knitted in Merino wool. To focus awareness on the qualities of textiles in giving a sense of home I created knitted blankets, cushions and stools.
Local experts in the field of fabrics like Veronika Persch’e were commissioned as equal partners.
Value your own culture!
design.mikimartinek
Partnership: Veronika Persche, machine knitting
Foto: Rita Newman, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2011
DRINKING WATER
Water Bar, Window Exhibition (2010)
Taste your water
design.mikimartinek at St. Charles Apothecary, 1060 Vienna
First things first! How good does your water taste? Do you really see what you are drinking? Carafe and award-winning glasses presented in a water-tasting bar with window exhibitions about the history of drinking glasses from the year 1700. Let’s think about what is essential in life; really see, taste and pay attention to water.
Appreciate the source of life!
design.mikimartinek
Präsentation Staatspreis Trinkwasser Österreich sowie Wiener Achtel
Foto: Rita Newman, Vienna Design Week
design.mikimartinek & VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2010
