Prof. Martin Topel

other positions

Founding member of the Institute for Product and Innovation Development (Visionlabs)
Member of the Institute for Applied Image Sciences
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Schriefers Design Collection

2005 Vice Dean
2006 Vice Dean
2007 Dean
2008 Dean
2009 - 2018 Vice Dean

Vita

Martin Topel (1962) is an industrial designer and has been a professor at the University of Wuppertal's Industrial Design program since 1999. His chair deals with the product development of capital goods and product systems. His focus is on the analysis and evaluation of the holistic product context as well as the development of innovations that can be protected by intellectual property rights within the framework of functional and economic conditions.

Prof. Topel is an expert witness for patent and property right infringements and a long-standing jury member of numerous international design awards.

In 2002, he founded the design office Squareone GmbH in Düsseldorf together with Prof. Gert Trauernicht. Clients include companies such as Braun, Dornbracht, Tente, Siemens, Henkel, Dräger and many more.

In 2001, together with his colleague Prof. Gert Trauernicht, he founded the In-Institute for Visionary Product and Innovation Development at the University of Wuppertal.

In 1989 he founded Topel und Pauser Industriedesign with offices in Offenbach, Darmstadt and Stuttgart. Clients included companies such as Festo, Bosch, Siemens, Leica, Deutsche Lufthansa, British Airways, Delta Airlines and many more.

From 1987 freelance work for Einstein Audio, Jean Hiraga Audio, Lars Lundahl, Festo Tooltechnik and others.

1986 - 87 he worked at Studio Matteo Thun, in Milan, for clients such as Mandelli, Nixdorf, Henkel, WMF and many more.

Research and third-party funded projects

2022 | SONOS, USA | Generation Z
2022 | Lidrotec, Bochum | Laser Dicing Machine
2021 | Schuberth, Magdeburg | Firefighting helmet
2021 | WERA, Wuppertal | Tools
2019 | MoRo, Jüchen | Agriculture 5.0
2019 | Inbus, Brekerfeld | Innovation development
2019 | SW-Stahl, Remscheid | Compressed air tools & corporate design
2018 | Bilstein, Ennepetal | Performance shock absorbers
2018 | Tutaka, Hamburg | Sustainable Hospitality
2018 | Ethicon, New Brunswick, USA | HAI Prevention
2017 | Bosch Healthcare | Intrahuman implant
2016 | Braun, Kronberg | Premium Shaver for Men
2016 | Riedel, Wuppertal | Broadcasting Intercom Panel
2015 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte, Munich | sustainable kitchen
2015 | Dräger, Lübeck | Deep Mining
2014 | Linack, Nidda | Electronic furniture components
2013 | Bosch Powertools, Stuttgart | Smart Tools
2013 | B. Braun, Melsungen | Product System Infusion & Peripherals
2011 | Bosch Powertools, Stuttgart | Glue & Paint
2011 | Oral B, Cinncinatti | Smart Toothbrush
2010 | Emka, Velbert | Emka Now | Structural Analysis Corporate Image and Sales (Master)
2010 | Braun, Kronberg | household products
2009 | Bosch Powertools, Stuttgart | household decoration & painting
2009 | Braun, Kronberg | Body care for men
2007 | Baxi Innotech, Hamburg Fuel cell heating for private households
2006 | BAUA Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | Design for all
2006 | Bosch Powertools, Stuttgart | Tools for outdoor use
2005 | WMF, Geislingen | Living Management
2005 | Siemens AG, Bonn | Development of a sympathy carrier for the care telephone
2004 | Kone Escalators, Hattingen | Innovation development for escalators
2002 | Dornbracht, Iserlohn | Kitchen water point
2001 | Lufthansa, Frankfurt am Main | Wine enjoyment on board | 1st & Business Class

Activities and lectures

2018 | Dubai Design Week | United Arab Emirates
2018 | KIDP - Korean Design Congress | Korea Seoul
2016 | Von Spee Society, Wuppertal - Lecture: "Braun - German Product Design"
2015 | MAAK, Cologne - Cologne Design Lounge - Lecture & panel: "Chaos in the system"
2015 | Chamber of Architects, Düsseldorf - Lecture: "Building with system"
2012 | German Marketing Club, Berlin - Lecture: "Sustainability & Honesty"
2009 | Detmold School of Architecture and Interior Design
Product design in the sense of "Design for all"
2009 | BAUA Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Occupational Health and Safety, Dortmund. Topic: Universal Design - Do we need special products
products for old people?
2008 | Zollverein IHK Essen |
Targeted innovation and property rights development for capital goods
2008 | Emka GmbH Velbert |
Design language and modular platform development
2005 | Q110 Bank of the Future - Deutsche Bank AG in Berlin |
Product promise and utility
2003 | Lecture at the Innovation Day of B/H/S-Tabletop GmbH in
Selb. | "Development of the Business Class Tableware -
Product development process in the Lufthansa Group" Schönwald
2002 | Designer Saturday, Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart.
Participant in the panel on the topic: "University and Industry", Stuttgart
2002 | Lecture on the topic "Lifestyle and Design" at the
Designzentrum Stuttgart, Haus der Wirtschaft, on the occasion of the
award ceremony of the Baden Württemberg Design Prize, Stuttgart
2001 | Lecture at the symposium "Property rights, patents and plagiarism" in Berlin: "What makes successful products? Capital goods in daily use. Kulturbrauerei Berlin, Plagiarius Museum, Berlin
1999 | Speaker at the seminar "How to make a presentation" at the Department of Design at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. Lecturer Mrs. Anna Maigler, basic studies.Potsdam
1998 | Workshop within the Department of Design Management at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam on the topic: "Social competence - a resource for design work". Lecturer Mrs. Anna Maigler, Grundstudium.Potsdam
1997 | Lecture on computer-aided presentation techniques
in the department of product design HFG-Offenbach, Professor Bürdeck
1996 | Lecture on the occasion of the annual general meeting of the AGD
(Alliance of German Designers) on the subject of "Capital goods design in the
field of tension of economic recession" Burg Waldeck
1996 | Lecture at the event "Besser sein mit Design" of the Design Zentrum Hessen at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
1996 | Lecture as part of the event "Besser sein mit Design" of the Design Zentrum Hessen at the Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce