A Book That’s Not a Book.

Telling stories with an object.

“Heimat” is a common German word with no exact English equivalent. The term describes home, homeland, or the special feeling for that. We asked ourselves “What the fuck is Heimat?” during a workshop series supervised by Franz Riebenbauer, an internationally flourishing designer.

We tried to answer that by distilling the personal Heimat of a colleague into a custom-made object. My piece for Jacob tells the story of ambivalences — and it challenges the introversion of its recipient. Starting with the narrative of his favorite things, books, it contains words on paper, enclosed in an easy-to-open device. Solid concrete as a foundation — containing tasks to overstep his comfort zone, and covered with a cloche that protects its interior. The transparency implies to open it, yet simultaneously its audacious color warns. Opening up means both risking vulnerability — and a chance to evolve.

Concept, Design, Production
Gerald Geier

Workshop, Guidance
Franz Riebenbauer

1

The signal color paint both attracts attention and warns of opening the cloche.

2

Glass is the material of light. It illuminates the interior and represents transcendence as well as opening.

3

Paper — the element of books. It’s a classical approach to conserve knowledge and communication. Each message contains either a challenge or a question.

4

Concrete symbolizes the strong foundation and Jacob’s down-to-earth nature. The concrete base embraces irregularities — contrasting the nearly perfect shape of the glass cloche.

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© Gerald Geier

Transforming Tomorrow Together.