CC-TAPIS' AFTER PARTY AREA RUG WINS GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2018 Milanese area rug atelier CC-Tapis won the prestigious German Design Award for its After Party Rug designed by Garth Roberts.

MILAN -- Cutting-edge Italian area rug studio CC-Tapis announced that it has been awarded the prestigious German Design Award 2018 for its contemporary After Party rug designed by Garth Roberts in the Home Textiles and Home Accessories category.

All of the products nominated for the German award are vetted by the German Design Council in Frankfurt where a panel of over 40 industry professionals view, touch and determine the winners.

"We are extremely happy to have won this award, we're such a young company and the German Design Award is an institution in Europe," said Steve Wilson, who handles marketing at CC-Tapis, It really is a huge honor for us.

"The After Party rug by Garth Roberts was inspired by a mood or a feeling of celebration. Garth tried to create a non-pattern and through the randomness of the design, an unexpected visual and emotional energy was created.That's what people pick-up on and which draws them to the design. The production technique is also perfectly suited to the design, the rug is completely hand-knotted which enriches the haphazard effect and adds depth to the rug.
 

The award-winning After Party rug by Berlin-based designer Garth Roberts from CC-Tapis is hand-knotted in Nepal.

The After Party rug was developed in 2016 and presented for the first time in January 2017 at IMM Cologne and Maison & Objet Paris. The rug's young designer, Garth Roberts, is based in Berlin and founded his studio, Garth, in 2010 after a series of pop-up studio projects in collaboration with universities in Milan, Berlin and New York. 

Before founding his atelier, he gained experience as part of prestigious design teams in both North America and Europe. Today, Garth works in various fields of product design and creative direction, developing projects for clients such as Glas Italia, Kalmar Werkstätten, Mabeo Furniture, Serralunga, Casamania and others in a wide range of venues from high-end furniture to contemporary art.

"After Party was to conveying a visual mood using an unconventional approach." --Robert Garth, founder Garth studio

Below, we spend five minutes with Garth Roberts as the designer discusses the inspiration behindhis award-winner and it's unique 'non-pattern'.

Where did the idea for the design of the After Party rug come from?

GR: TheAfter Party concept started from the idea to use the rug to convey a mood rather than an ordered graphic pattern. After playing with this direction a bit I realized that the scattered patterns of random shapes and colors have an energy that is both emotional and visually stunning. 

What was it like to see the rugs for the first time?

GR: Since the intent of After Party was to conveying a visual mood using an unconventional approach, I was quite hopeful but open when it came to the results.

When viewing the first finished rugs, the artisanal uniqueness mixed with the variations in materials and textures added depth to the project that was unexpected but very positive.

What does artisanal production mean to you?

GR: The artisanal process and heritage of rug making is something that started long before the After Party project and in collaboration with companies like CC-Tapis, it will continue for many years to come. I am glad to have been able to tap into this tradition, to be a part of the hand made culture, that my design and the concept is a part of this story.

When do you do most of your designing?

GR: Most of my designs are a mix of deep research and personal reflection. The perfect combination of this mood for me is in quiet moments without the distractions of the day's activities in mind.

Are you a digital or analogue kind of designer?

GR: I am an analogue designer that needs a hard drive. Honestly, my design method is

not dependent on one mode or tool, but I am very sensorial when I create.

I really need to touch, feel, taste and smell to get deeply involved in a project.

Can we expect an 'after' After Party?

GR: The After Party was the result of a special creative collaboration and just scratched the surface of the idea of non-pattern. Working with CC-Tapis to develop After Party has been a wonderful experience. I think we'll have a lot more creativity to share as this dialogue develops even further.