What is it that makes the Swiss Army Knife a design icon?

Swiss designers, both men and women, spell out why our pocket knife has received so much recognition. Read here what these prestigious experts have to say.

The Swiss Army Knife – an icon of Swiss design

The Swiss Army Knife is regularly put forward as a leading example of Swiss design. Of course, we are more than proud to be recognized in this way. But we really wanted to talk to experts throughout Switzerland and find out what we have done to deserve this honor. What is it that makes the Swiss Army Knife so “designy”? Why does it represent the core values of Swiss design?

Let’s listen to what some of the most important contemporary Swiss designers have to say.

atelier oï, Architecture and Design Studio

„The understated design of the Swiss Army Knife is consistent with the production approach and the product strategy where the goal is maximum functionality within a minimal space. Symbolic of Swiss design as a whole, the pocket knife was developed with a relevance for local needs, before growing into a global icon.“ – atelier oï, La Neuveville

The architecture and design studio atelier oï was established in 1991 by Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond. They are among Switzerland’s leading designers with a client roster that includes Roethlisberger, USM, B&B Italia, Moroso, Foscarini, Bulgari, Artemide, Pringle of Scotland, Louis Vuitton and Victorinox.

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Sabine Lauber & Anita Moser, designers

“A distinctive shape, high-quality material and precision workmanship are what usually define a well-designed product. Thus, in an ideal world, products with an unexpectedly relaxed feel often become firm favorites and constant companions. For example, products like the Swiss Army Knife.“

Under her own label, IT’S LAUBER, designer Sabine Lauber creates bracelets with ornamental braiding and collars with a luxurious finish. ANITA MOSER is well-known at home and abroad for her extravagant shoe designs. Both designers, who work out of their shared store/studio in Basel, have already collected numerous awards for their audacious innovations.

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Claudia Caviezel, diseñadora textil

“¿Por qué la navaja de bolsillo es tan “de diseño”? ¡Porque no intenta serlo! En ella se combinan la tradición, la función y el estilo, y eso ya es bastante genial así que no necesita esforzarse. La Navaja Suiza nunca se alejó mucho de sus raíces; hace su trabajo y se ve bien mientras lo hace.“ – Claudia Caviezel, San Galo

Claudia Caviezel es una diseñadora textil que trabaja en sus propios proyectos y también hace trabajo de diseño textil para la marca de moda AKRIS. Claudia ya ganó premios por su trabajo, como el premio de diseño Lucky Strike Junior, una beca de IKEA y el premio Grand Prix Design de Suiza.

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Nicolas Le Moigne, diseñador

“Cortar, serruchar, atornillar o abrir, – todo hecho con un implemento que solo pesa unos pocos gramos y se ha estado utilizando por más de un siglo. Es una obra maestra de la técnica y la estética, una fuente de inspiración que excede sobradamente nuestras fronteras.“ – Nicolas Le Moigne, Lausana

La revista Wallpaper describió a Nicolas Le Moigne como uno de los “diseñadores más prometedores del futuro”. Trabaja para marcas clásicas como Eternit y Atelier Pfister, pero también colabora con galerías desde Londres a París. También es el director del curso “Lujo y trabajo artesanal” en la escuela de arte ECAL en Lausana.

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