Collab is a group of design professionals and enthusiasts who support modern and contemporary design at the Museum. Enjoy exhibition previews, field trips, special access to the Museum’s design collection, talks, and opportunities to mingle with design curators and visionaries.
Become a Collab Member
Membership contributions fund Collab activities and support acquisitions, exhibitions, publications, and programs. Benefits include:
- Invitations to special Collab events
- Discounted tickets for Collab events
- Discounts on design books in the Museum Store
Select your membership level and then check Collab under Enhancements.
Cocktails with Kahn
Friday, April 27, 2018
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
By invitation only
Discover the Esherick House, a modernist masterpiece designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn for Margaret Esherick, niece of craftsman Wharton Esherick. Hear about its recent restoration while enjoying cocktails by food stylist Dan Macey, who, with Paul Savidge, is the home’s current steward.
Peace, Love & Collab
Sunday, May 6, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Performances: 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Free after Pay What You Wish admission
Come together at the Perelman Building: Take part in a collaborative creation inspired by the psychedelic 1960s, discover artist Jean Shin’s community-based installations, and then watch teamwork in action with improv group StoryUP!
Family Festivals are generously supported by PNC Arts Alive. This festival is presented in partnership with Collab.
Photograph by Clint Blowers
2017 Collab Design Excellence Award: Patricia Urquiola
Each year Collab presents the Design Excellence Award to a design professional or manufacturer whose impact on the field is inspirational. This year, Collab honors acclaimed international designer Patricia Urquiola, who creates cool, innovative objects for the home and office. Explore her work in the exhibition Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry.- 2016 Design Excellence: New Generation Oki Sato, Faye Toogood & Zanini de Zanine
- 2015 Bruce Mau
- 2014 Rolf Fehlbaum of Vitra
- 2013 Marc Newson
- 2012 Paula Scher and Seymour Chwast
- 2011 Zaha Hadid
- 2010 Alberto Alessi
- 2009 Marcel Wanders
- 2008 Frank O. Gehry
- 2006 Georg Jensen
- 2005 Gaetano Pesce
- 2004 Florence Knoll Bassett
- 2003 Richard Gluckman
- 2002 Ingo Maurer
- 2001 No award given
- 2000 Milton Glaser
- 1999 Jonathan Ive, Maya Lin, and Karim Rashid
- 1998 Sir Terence Conran
- 1997 Philippe Starck and Ian Schrager
- 1996 Richard Meier
- 1995 Michael Graves
- 1994 Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown
- 1993 Swid Powell
- 1991 Jack Lenor Larsen
- 1989 Niels Diffrient
- 1988 Vignelli Associates
- 1986 George Nakashima
The Student Design Competition
For more than twenty years the annual Collab Student Design Competition has been an exceptional opportunity for college students to network with peers, meet the global design leaders who are judging their work, and experience the rigor of competition. Their assignment: to design an object inspired by the work of that year’s Design Excellence Award recipient.2017 Student Design Competition: Grand Gesture
The 2017 Collab Student Design Competition will take place on Monday, November 13, 2017. This annual event is held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and provides a unique opportunity for regional university design students to experience competition outside the classroom and to receive valuable feedback from nationally recognized industry leaders. Each year’s competition is thematically linked to the work of the annual Collab Design Excellence Award honoree, a world-class individual recognized as having made significant contributions to the field of design. The 2017 Collab Design Excellence Award honoree and the inspiration for this year’s Collab Student Design Competition, is Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola. One of the few women designers working today (and even over the last century) with an international reputation, Urquiola takes a humanistic approach to her work, combining handmade and industrial techniques. The exhibition titled Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry, will open at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Saturday, November 18, 2017 when Urquiola will receive Collab’s Design Excellence Award. BriefA lifelong traveler both literally and metaphorically, Urquiola takes inspiration from objects as diverse and random as Japanese bamboo whisks and antibodies. She is one of a new generation of post-modern designers who works at all scales, designing furniture and objects as well as interiors and buildings. Urquiola uses color and often unconventional shapes as she successfully fuses hand-craftmanship with modern materials and technologies. Challenge
Design a piece of furniture that is the focal point of a room and incorporates storage. Urquiola's work touches on artistry, craft, technology, culture, and a nod to the “hand.” Student submissions must speak to Urqioula's influence and must be reproducible. No full scale, scale models required. Judges
Diane Barnes, Catherine Birch, Odile Hainault, Barry Richards, Matt Tyson Download 2017 Competition Brief and Registration Form >>
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2016: For Kids Only
First Place: Eugene Chang
Noodleloo
Parsons School of Design
A set of plastic components designed to accessorize standard pool noodles that allow children five and up to play a variety of imaginative games, whether in a swimming pool or in any indoor or outdoor setting. Children can create hoop-like goals and rocket-like projectiles by accessorizing the pool noodles with the Noodleloo components. The hoop goal can be attached to almost any surface thanks to its integrated magnet or clamp, and if desired, it can also be hung by a string. The rocket is made by cutting a noodle in half and inserting the weighted Noodleloo nose cone and Noodleloo tail. About the 2016 Competition: The 2016 Collab Student Design Competition took place on Monday, November 14, 2016. This annual event is held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and provides a unique opportunity for regional university design students to experience competition outside the classroom and to receive valuable feedback from nationally recognized industry leaders. 2016 Judges: Caroline Tiger, Jaime Salm, Lisa Mahar, Jackie Promislo, Caroline Kim -
2015: Selfie
First Place: Samantha Siermine
Quiet Creativity
Moore College of Art & Design
The habitat was inspired by observing how people interact with nature and open parks. In the urban environment plants do not occupy as much space as they should. With so many chemicals in the air, people need a place that they can go to take a breath of fresh air. About the 2015 Competition: Collab held its Twenty-Second Annual College Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 17, 2014. The competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Vitra—Design, Architecture, Communication: A European Project with American Roots. The 2014 Collab Design Excellence Award honoree and the inspiration for this year’s Collab Student Design Competition, is Rolf Fehlbaum, Chairman Emeritus of Vitra. 2015 Judges: Alan Jacobson, Alina Wheeler, Jedd Davis, Dan King, Ken Carbone -
2014: Diversity
First Place: Jude Marks
Untitled
University of the Arts
Quiet Creativity is a celebration of the powerful contributions quiet people bring to the workplace. This brand reflects my quiet nature, which allows for me to focus and be creative. I used hand drawn elements of the tools of a graphic designer in the logo to make up the shape of a brain to depict the idea of the brain in motion even when the mouth is still. About the 2015 Competition: Collab held its Twenty-Third Annual College Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 16, 2015. The competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Work on What You Love: Bruce Mau Rethinking Design celebrating the work of branding and design visionary Bruce Mau – recipient of Collab’s 2015 Design Excellence Award. 2014 Judges: Brad Ascalon, Melanie Becker, Barbara Eberlein, Tyler Hays, Bradford Shellhammer -
2013: Table It
First Place: Justin Martin
STABIL
University of the Arts, Industrial Design
Professor: Douglas Bucci STABIL utilizes the latest in induction cooking technology to provide a social cooking experience for its users. About the 2013 Competition: Collab held its Twenty-First Annual College Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 18, 2013. The competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Marc Newson: At Home celebrating one of the most acclaimed and influential designers of his generation – recipient of Collab’s 2013 Design Excellence Award. 2013 Judges: Jeffrey Bernett, Peter Danko, Frederick McSwain, Eugenie Perret, Ilene Shaw -
2012: Game On!
First Place: Lou Stuber
Are We There Yet?!
Tyler School of Art/Temple University The concept behind Are We There Yet?! is loosely based off of family road trips that I have experienced with my own family across the country. Things never seem to go exactly according to schedule when you are on a road trip. The object of the game is to end up at your final destination, Shallow Waters, with the most money left to enjoy your stay at the world’s best water park. About the 2012 Competition: Collab held its Twentieth Annual College Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 19, 2012. The competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Double Portrait: Paula Scher and Seymour Chwast, Graphic Designers celebrating the innovative graphic design work of Paula Scher and Seymour Chwast—recipients of Collab’s 2012 Design Excellence Award. 2012 Judges: Drew Freeman, Byron Glaser, Patti Ann Harris, Bonnie Mackay, Larry Mangel - 2011: OverNighter
First Place: Silvia Terhedebrugge
Under Cover
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY, Industrial Design
Faculty Advisors: Katrin Mueller- Russo About the 2011 Competition: Collab held its Nineteenth Annual College Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 14, 2011. The competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion celebrating the innovative designs of Zaha Hadid, the recipient of Collab’s 2011 Design Excellence Award. 2011 Judges: Kirsten Climer, John Edelman, Victor Sanz, Susan Szenasy, Janet Villano -
2010: Tabletop Accessory Set
First Place: James Read Hughes
Flow Series
University of the Arts
Industrial Design
Professors: Doug Bucci and Daniel Michalik
In this series of dipping plates for oil and vinegar, each porcelain dish is mass-producible and uses only one material. A humanistic and whimsical aspect is introduced into each design in the form of a relief at the plate’s bottom, which uses the natural properties of each liquid to create a sublime pattern that reveals itself during use. About the 2010 Competition: Collab held its Eighteenth Annual College Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 15, 2010. The competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Alessi: Ethical and Radical celebrating the innovative products of the Italian manufacturer, Alberto Alessi - recipient of Collab’s 2010 Design Excellence Award. 2010 Judges: Harry Allen, Carla Diana, Richard Kratchman, Diane Minnite, Diane O’Donnel -
2009: Tabletop Luminaire
First Place Winner: Jordan Cammarata
“Pull” Lamp
Philadelphia University
Industrial Design
Professors: Mark Havens and Jason Lempieri
A contemporary interpretation of Harvey Hubbell’s pull chain socket, patented in 1896. About the 2009 Competition: Collab held its Seventeenth Annual Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 16, 2009. This year’s competition was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Marcel Wanders: Daydreams celebrating the innovative design work of the Dutch designer, the recipient of Collab’s 2009 Design Excellence Award. 2009 Judges: Dennis Askins, Russell Blanchard, Lisa Foley, Jamer Hunt, David Raizman, Gina Reimann -
2008: Processing Frank Gehry
First Place Winner: Jesse Gerard
The University of the Arts
Industrial Design
Professor: Dan Michalik
The layered plywood technique widely associated with Frank Gehry is adapted to design and produce the Lewis Bench.
About the 2008 Competition: Collab held its Sixteenth Annual Student Design Competition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, November 3, 2008, in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition, Frank O. Gehry: Design Process and the Lewis House, devoted to the architecture and design of Frank Gehry, Collab’s 2008 Design Excellence Award recipient. Students were asked to consider the way Frank Gehry experiments with forms and materials as part of his creative process. 2008 Judges: Lewis Wexler, Anthony Bracali, Jack Larimore, Stephan Copeland, and Linda O’Keeffe -
2007: Mapping Modernism
First Place Winner: Yesenia Perez-Cruz
A. Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, Drexel University, Graphic Design
Professor Jody Graff The Development of Modern Seats No other household object is as emblematic of Modernist ideals as the chair. The chair can be mass-produced, sold globally, and is a subject of experimentation with technology and materials. These qualities are exhibited in a vast, white showroom, faithful to the Modernist ideology that an interior space should be "open and free-flowing." Upon entering the exhibit, the viewer was met with a large-scale banner showing line illustrations of chairs. The chairs were not arranged chronologically, but are grouped by similarity of line, demonstrating that development of chairs is about refinement and reinvention of pre-existing forms. The similarities existing between chairs created decades apart demonstrates the immense influence of Modernist techniques and ideals. About the 2007 Competition: Collab’s Fifteenth Annual Student Competition, Mapping Modernism, was held in conjunction with the celebration of Collab's new gallery in the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building and its opening exhibition, Designing Modern: 1920 to the Present. This year, students were asked to consider the scope of the Modern Design dialogue. The competition challenged students to design a "Map" that links associations between people, things, or events within the context of the revolutionary ideas and trends in art, architecture, and design that developed in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The map should communicate the student’s interpretation of the forces that flowed into, through and around modern design, giving shape to its origins and output. 2007 Judges: Conny Purtill, Erin Mulchay, Dana Micucci, Julie Hirschfeld, and Jason Alger -
2006: The Intelligent Ornament
First Place Winner: Miho Wakabayashi
Pratt Institute, Industrial Design
Professor Katrin Mueller
Miho's project examines ornament in the tabletop context and celebrates Jensen's aesthetic through organic motif and structural pattern making. The bowl's hidden intelligence is the application of a unique electrostatic coating on the interior. This silvery heat-retaining material allows the bread to be kept warm long after the basket is moved from the oven to the table. About the 2006 Competition: Collab's Fourteenth Annual Student Design Competition, The Intelligent Ornament, was part of a week-long series of events celebrating Collab's 2006 Design Excellence Award recipient, Georg Jensen and Georg Jensen, Inc. It posed the question: If Jensen were alive today, what objects might he be moved to create? The competition challenged students to design a physical model and supporting presentation board for their “Intelligent Ornament.” A distinguished panel of judges used both in measuring the overall success of each entry. 2006 Judges: Clive Roux, Virgil Marti, Barbara Flanagan, Monique Faber, Maria Eife - 2005: Variance and The Vase
First Place Winner: Brett Duncan
University of The Arts, Industrial Design
Professor Rama Korposh Brett Duncan's Ice Bloom consisted of flowers frozen in a sphere of ice which blossom and expand as the ice around them melts. Also embedded in the ice sculpture are glass beads which become apparent as the ice melts and they drop sporadically onto the surface the vase melts on. The gentle, occasional sound produced by the dropping beads reminds us of the fleeting quality of the vase. Here, variance is produced in a temporal event which one of our judges likened to a performance. About the 2005 Competition: The 2005 competition brief reflected the richness of Collab Design Excellence Award recipient Gaetano Pesce’s contribution to design through his unique approach. By combining elements of art, design, philosophy, and technology, Mr. Pesce has encouraged the wondrous and accidental, embracing imperfections as traits which enhance and humanize his work. Applying this philosophy to design for production has been referred to as “variance.” Students interpreted this concept in their development of a full-scale functional prototype of a flower vase. Winning designs demonstrated variance in both philosophy and in manufacturing strategy. 2005 Judges: Laetitia Wolff, Senior Design Editor, SURFACE Magazine; Lyn Godley, Designer; Adam Kamens, CEO, Amuneal Metal Forms Inc.; Mark Gisi, Director of Sales and Marketing, Amuneal Metal Forms Inc.; Drew Hamilton, Owner, Dane Décor Downtown. - 2004: Furniture Classics for The Future
- 2003: Main Exterior Signage for The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s new Perelman Building acquisition
- 2002: Paper Lighting
- 2001: Designing The Design Excellence Award
- 2000: CD Box Set Packaging
- 1999: Clock for The New Milennium
- 1998: Shopping Bag for the Terrence Conran Home Furnishing Collection
- 1997: Ice Bucket for Starck/Schrager Mondrian Hotel
- 1996: Chair or Seating Unit for the Richard Meier Museum in Ulm, Germany
- 1995: Tea Kettle
- 1994: Lighting Fixture with Japanese Influence
- 1993: Dinnerware Place Setting
Tie for First Place Winner: Adam JohnsonPhiladelphia University, Industrial Design
Professor Todd Corlett
Adam Johnson said of his redesign for the Bertoia Chair, "This lounge chair rises up out of the ground to suspend the human body in a minimalist redesign of a classic piece." Judges called this chair a "show-stopper" and a beautiful sculpture which allowed the viewer to fall into the visual comfort of the form.
Tie for First Place Winner: Stephen CookeUniversity of The Arts, Industrial Design
Professors Patty Beirne and Rama Korposh Stephen Cook said of his "Leaf Chair" that it "combines the discipline of the grid structure with the organic clustering of material at its midsection, coupling design with sculpture." The judges found it to be an interesting juxtaposition to the Bertoia Chair's sense of order with a random and casual sensibility. One of the judges compared the gesture of the seat to that of a wedding dress with a train cascading in its wake.
About the 2004 Competition: The 2004 Collab Design Excellence Award recipient was Florence Knoll-Bassett. This year’s theme reflected the rich history of Knoll International’s contribution to the language of design through it’s iconographic furniture. Collab provided several classic designs from the Knoll Studio line from which students chose as points of departure for their design explorations. Through research into material and technological innovations, students redesigned their chosen object for the future. 2004 Judges: Claudia Gould, Director, the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania; George H. Marcus, Assistant Professor, History of Art, the University of Pennsylvania; Jeff Miller, Founder and Principal, Jeff Miller Inc., and VP of Design, ECCO Design Inc., New York; Bill Shea, Founding Partner, Shea+Latone, Inc.; Stephan Copeland, Founder, the Copeland Studio.
For more information, please contact Development by phone at 215-684-7750, by fax at 215-236-0796, or by e-mail at .
