Trespa wins prestigious European design award

Façade panel manufacturer Trespa has won the DME (Design Management Europe) award, a prestigious prize for European companies and organizations that strategically integrate design in their business operations. Trespa won the award in the 'Large Companies' category and received its prize during the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. According to the jury, Trespa has succeeded in inspiring architects by means of innovative façade concepts, enabling a higher architectural level to be achieved.

Recently, the European Design Management Award was presented for the third time, to mark Dutch Design Week in the Netherlands. This relatively young prize, which is seen as the 'Oscar for design management', reflects a growing awareness that design is an extremely important element for innovative and successful companies. In the category of large companies, Trespa managed to stay ahead of other internationally active players like Achmea, Rabobank and LEGO and follows in the footsteps of the previous winners Virgin Atlantic (2008) and Loewe (2007).

From product to source of inspiration

Fred Collopy, member of the jury of Design Management Europe (DME) explains the choice of Trespa as the winner: “Trespa's façade concepts are a welcome response to architects' requirements and also inspire them. It helps them perform and innovate, leading to new architectural opportunities.”

Aart Jan van der Meijden, Trespa Sales Director said, “It is a wonderful endorsement of our efforts to see how our ambition - to play a role in the creation of modern architecture - is reflected in the jury's comments. For some years now, we have been following a steady course with design as the leading element of our company philosophy and our products.” Since 2004, Trespa has gradually shifted its attention away from façade cladding panels to offering façade concepts. This design focus has enabled the Trespa brand to become stronger in recent years. By taking an architect's perspective and working together with architects and other parties, Trespa aims to translate extraordinary ideas and dreams into real, fascinating and sustainable buildings. The creation of the Trespa Design Centre in New York, which is also furnished with products by other Dutch companies and renowned Dutch designers, is a good example of this.

Design partners

In addition to offering high-quality products, Trespa has also paid close attention to the conceptual side of its product offering, by means of three themes: Rhythm, Depth and Character. In conjunction with Zilver innovation from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Trespa develops façade ideas which aim to touch architects. Van Zandbeek Communicatie & Creatie has been commissioned to provide a matching style of communication, addressing architects in their own language. And Studio Schoot brings the designs to life in a three-dimensional form for trade fair presentations and showroom furnishings. The synergy created by these different parties working together has resulted in structured design management with the freedom to enter into a discussion with each other and complement one another where necessary. This has resulted in the continued growth of the Trespa brand where design, in all its aspects, is key.