Stefan Diez is a German industrial designer internationally recognised for a design approach that combines artisan skill, technical experimentation and attention to sustainability. Raised in a family of carpenters, he initially trained as a cabinetmaker and later studied industrial design at the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design under Richard Sapper. After working with Konstantin Grcic, in 2002 he founded DIEZ OFFICE in Munich.
His design philosophy stems from direct engagement with materials and production processes. Prototyping, hands-on experimentation and collaboration with artisans and specialists accompany the development of essential, functional, technically innovative products. Particular attention is paid to circular economy principles, with the aim of designing durable, repairable objects that fit into more responsible production cycles.
Over the course of his career he has designed furniture, lamps and accessories for major international companies, including EMU, Thonet, HAY, Magis, Rosenthal, e15 and Vibia. For EMU he created the Yard and Ciak collections, an expression of light, versatile design attentive to the possibilities offered by materials and industrial production.
Alongside his professional work, Stefan Diez is intensely active in academia and since 2018 has headed the Industrial Design department at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Through rigorous, hands-on research, he interprets contemporary design as a balance between innovation, environmental responsibility and the quality of everyday experience.
