Media partner

Everything is designed: the chair we sit on, the clothes we wear, the logo, the app on our smartphone. But who actually designs all this – and who makes it? The HEIMATDESIGN Guide to the West showcases the people shaping design in North Rhine-Westphalia, one of Europe’s most exciting design regions: from Cologne, the city of trade fairs and interior design, to the fashion scene and major agencies in Düsseldorf, carpet design in Bochum, and the Bauhaus legacy in Krefeld. Added to this are studios specialising in product, communication and digital design, manufacturers, craft workshops and retailers – as well as internationally renowned producers whose furniture, fittings and lighting are exported from East Westphalia and the Sauerland to the whole world.

This curated platform is, first and foremost, a space for the design community itself: here, they can discover new work and meet other creatives, whilst ensuring they never miss an important exhibition date. At the same time, it serves as a guide for anyone wishing to explore design in the West – for companies seeking skilled professionals, for fashion-conscious visitors from Switzerland keen to discover new labels, and for school pupils looking to choose a design degree course.

Behind the guide are Marc Röbbecke and David Latz. Marc has been supporting the design scene in the West for over 20 years through Heimatdesign, with 17 issues of Heimatdesign magazine and numerous formats that bring designers, companies and the public together. He is responsible for the editorial content and the guide’s network.

David has been working with Heimatdesign on joint projects since 2010 and, at the interface between product strategy, design and technology, is responsible for the concept and implementation of the platform.

As part of the Cologne Design Season, the ‘Guide to the West’ will be launched in autumn 2026 with the support of KölnBusiness and KomKuK – the Centre of Excellence for the Cultural and Creative Industries – as well as other partners.