The book Design Unplugged illustrates very lucidly that, in the digital age, analogue hand sketches still fulfil an important role as a form of illustration, having taken on a new quality. Thomas Feichtner, an internationally established designer based in Vienna, has rediscovered hand sketching as a key element of his design process. Sketches in the form of mental notes – vague, unadulterated and unfiltered. Over years he has created designs that share pencil sketches as a common ground and visual link.

His book does not contain any illustrations of completed work in the field of furniture product design, but only shows pencil sketches – some of which previously unpublished – that have preceded the products. They provide an authentic insight into the daily work of the successful product designer. Design reduced to pencil and paper – unplugged – rather than the full orchestration of all digital possibilities. Design Unplugged illustrates a personal approach to design, which the products alone would not reveal.

Foreword by: Christoph Thun-Hohenstein
Contributions by: Michael Hausenblas, Günter Schöneberger