At an otherwise disappointing presentation of projects by students from the TU Graz Institute of Spatial Design during Vienna Design Week, a genuine stand out project was the valet Servant by Katharina Wernig.
Brazenly contradicting the position we took with Fidelio by Christian Spiess that a chair is the most natural form for a valet, Katharina Wernig has opted instead for a side table-cum-valet.
Or at least side table-cum-semi-valet.
For while in our book a valet must include an option for draping a jacket or a shirt around, Servant only offers space to hang things from and/or over.
Not that that in any way detracts from the quality of the work.
Presenting an excellently reduced, unassuming form Servant is the valet for those who don't want valet. Who would otherwise use a chair to hang their clothes over at the end of the day. Or leave them lying on the floor. The simple retractable bar at the font of Servant can be pulled out when required. Or left integral in the body of the object when not. The table top meanwhile offers the perfect place for laying down keys, loose change, phones or unrequested bills, the small interior compartment is perfect for gloves, scarves, dog leads or unrequested bills, while, and perhaps most delightful of all, you can store shoes under it thus keeping them neatly out the way.
An unashamedly obvious contemporary form language and easy, accessible functionality complete a genuinely delightful piece of work.
