Profile
The studio form:f - critical design & art is runned by Jo Tiffe.
The Beginnings
Ever since I remember my life was guided by creative joined-up thinking and making. I glued scale 1:1 paper-submarines, painted cellar floors - to the "delight" of my parents - and built sculpures. Consequently I became product designer with a passion for mobility and furniture. After university I got the opportunity to work for Cagiva meanwhile studying automotive design in Milan supported by a DAAD scholarship.
Furniture versus e-Mobility
A mixed period of 3D-modeling, product, graphic and UI design followed. Beside working for clients in Italy and Hamburg I created the patented funiture line "tarp cases" presented at Salone Del Mobile Milan and other shows. But instead becoming furniture producer with the help of an EXIST-scholarship, life took it's own turns. In the end of the millenials the e-bike industry was on the rise and pulled me back to mobility. I founded the studio form:f - industrial design and developed e-bike components and graphics for Ultra Motor, Klever Mobility, Emco and other clients.
Adjustments
In highschool we already discussed upcoming climate issues. So one important reason to work for the e-bike industry was to find a sustainable niche in a janus-faced working field. My intension by heart was (and is) to change the world with design not to style it for business purposes. Researching on the future of e-bikes in 2012 I realized that climate challenges became more and more crucial. As consequence the studio alined missions. Beside working as freelancer, the studio's direction changed into critical design. I initialized the sustainable open source e-bike project circular bike. In 2020 I participated in a scientific project and then.... Corona came... and with it the card blanche. Time was up to ajust directions profundly into the field of ART based on technology (Open Source & AI).
Still: Furniture and mobility are not thrown to the fields of past. Due to my experience I got the chance to be juror of iF Taipei Cycle Award. and a furniture project is waiting for public review.