ABOUT
Born in Switzerland, I grew up in an environment where precision, curiosity, and attention to detail were part of everyday life — values strongly shaped by the Swiss educational system at the time.
Building on this foundation, I have dedicated my career to the intersection of design, craftsmanship, and visual storytelling. With a background in architecture and visual communication, I approach eyewear not merely as an accessory, but as a crafted object — a small piece of architecture for the face.
With more than 35 years of experience, my work in product design, visual arts, and spatial installations has been recognised internationally, with more than 35 awards and distinctions in Germany, Japan, and the U.S.
My passion for eyewear began early, with my first designs dating back to 1989, and has remained a central thread throughout my career. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with companies across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., supporting projects from initial concept development to material consulting, complete collections, and technical components.
Beyond eyewear, my work continues in visual arts and spatial design, exploring how people interact with objects, spaces, and systems of communication — both analog and digital. I believe that architecture and visual art are closely interconnected, both fundamentally concerned with space, structure, and human experience. At the intersection of design, craft, and concept, I continue to explore how thoughtful objects and environments can create meaningful connections.
AWARDS
2023 - SEE.ME, TRUE NORTH COMPETITION, Honorable Mention winner
2013 – HALL OF FRAMES NEWCOMER AWARD, Titanium Spectacles, Coblens
2012 – iF PRODUCT DESIGN AWARD, Sunglasses for Environmental Preservation Reef Campaign, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2012 – iF PRODUCT DESIGN AWARD, Product Family VOLT for Eyewear Brand Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2011 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Graphics and Mixed Media Campaign Ti22, Whiteout & Glare Berlin, nomination
2011 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Logo, Corporate Design and Campaign Brand ‘FOUND‘, Berlin, nomination
2011 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Recyclable Cardboard Trade Fair Booth Ti22, Whiteout & Glare Berlin, nomination
2011 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Logo, Corporate Design and Campaign, ‘BLANK‘, Berlin, nomination
2011 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Showroom and Acrylic Objects, Whiteout & Glare Berlin, nomination
2011 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Trade Fair Booth for Eyewear Brand Whiteout & Glare Berlin, nomination
2011 – RED DOT: BEST OF THE BEST – PRODUCT DESIGN AWARD, Eyewear Collection VOLT for all 12 Models, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2010 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Ceramics Eyewear yzo-specs, Whiteout & Glare Berlin, nomination
2010 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Environmental Preservation Reef Campaign, Whiteout & Glare Berlin, nomination
2010 – GREEN GOOD DESIGN AWARD, THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM, Recyclable Cardboard Trade Fair Booth Ti22, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2010 – RED DOT COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Logo, Corporate Design and Campaign, ‘FOUND‘, Berlin
2010 – RED DOT COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Showroom and Acrylic Objects, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2010 – RED DOT COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Recyclable Cardboard Trade Fair Booth Ti22, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2010 – RED DOT COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Logo, Corporate Design and Campaign, ‘BLANK‘, Berlin
2010 – iF COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Trade Fair Booth, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2009 – iF COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Recyclable Cardboard Trade Fair Booth Ti22, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2009 – iF COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Graphics and Mixed Media Campaign Ti22, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2008 – DEUTSCHER INDUSTRIEPREIS, Ceramics Eyewear yzo-specs for Eyewear Brand Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2008 – EOY / EYEWEAR OF THE YEAR, International Optical Fair of Tokio, best women’s eyewear of the year 2008, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2008 – GOOD DESIGN AWARD, THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM, Ceramics Eyewear yzo-specs, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2008 – iF COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Environmental Preservation Reef Graphics and Campaign, Whiteout & Glare Berlin
2006 – EOY / EYEWEAR OF THE YEAR, International Optical Fair of Tokio, best women’s eyewear of the year 2006, ic! berlin
2005 – DESIGNPREIS DER BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, Special Edition Eyeglasses Natascha for Eyewear Brand ic! berlin, nomination
2005 – iF COMMUNICATION DESIGN AWARD, Ceiling Object for Restaurant Tresette Berlin, in Collaboration with Unit Berlin
2003 – CONTRACT WORLD AWARD BEST OF CATEGORY, Design Award Messe Hannover, Floor/Wall covering, for ZLU Oberbaum City Berlin
2001 – FORM AWARD 2001, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Porcelain Object Big Dipper.
2001 – FORM AWARD 2001, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Acrylic Object
2001 – FORM AWARD 2001, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Porcelain Object Little Dipper.
2001 – FORM AWARD 2001, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Porcelain Object CO3.
2001 – SPIN OFF COLOGNE Exhibition Internationale Möbelmesse Köln, Newcomer Award, Shelf Object Tilt
2000 – FORM AWARD 2000, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Lamp Eva
2000 – FORM AWARD 2000, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Lamp Adam
2000 – FORM AWARD 2000, Design Award of the Chamber of Crafts & Messe Frankfurt, Lamp Evona
CLIENTS
ACUITIS [research & development, product development]
ADIDAS [point of sale, retail space, spacial installation, exhibition concept]
ANDERSHORN [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics]
BACCARDI [product, point of sale]
BACH OPTICS [eyewear, graphics]
BARCELUNETTES [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics]
BERLINER FESTSPIELE [spacial installation]
BEST AUDIT [spacial installation]
BLANK [product, exhibition concept]
BMW [product, exhibition concept]
BURKHARDT LEITNER MESSESYSTEME [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
CENTASTAR [logo, corporate design, textiles, product, spacial installation, exhibition concept]
CLUE [spacial installation]
COBLENS [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics, retail space]
CONQUISTADOR [eyewear]
DICK MOBY [eyewear, strategic orientation]
DEUTSCHE BANK [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
DYSON [teaching & coaching]
EBAY [graphics]
ECHO AWARD [spacial installation]
ENJOY [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics]
EYEWEAR MAGAZINE [illustrations]
FOUND [logo, corporate design, textiles, product, graphics, spacial installation, exhibition concept]
FREDERIC BEAUSOLEIL [research & development, product development]
FRAMERS BERLIN [eyewear]
FROTTANA [textiles, graphics, product]
GESTALTEN VERLAG [illustrations]
GRETA & STARKS [product development]
HOCHSCHULE ZWICKAU [research & development, product development]
HAPTER EYEWEAR. [research & development hinge]
HOFFMANN NATURAL [eyewear]
HYPO VEREINSBANK [spacial installation]
IC! BERLIN [eyewear, graphics, point of sale]
JVG JOHANN VON GOYSERN [eyewear, graphics]
MARWITZ EYEWEAR [eyewear, coaching]
MATE MAGAZINE [story telling, illustrations, co-founder]
MATERIALISE [coaching]
MATHMOS [product]
METZLER INTERNATIONAL [re-branding, logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics]
MIMI HEARING TECHNOLOGIES [spaces]
MÖVE [textiles, product, graphics, spacial installation, exhibition concept]
MTV [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
NEON BERLIN [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics]
NIETSCHE & GÜNTHER
NIGURA [re-branding, logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics]
NIKA OPTICS [eyewear]
NYMPHENBURG PORZELLAN [spacial installation]
ODETTE LUNETTE [coaching]
ONE830 [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics, retail space]
ONONO [eyewear]
PHIL GOODS [logo, corporate design, product, graphics]
PIXELPARK [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
PREMIUM FASHION TRADE SHOW [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
RAUSCHERT KERAMIK [product, graphics]
REICHENBACH PORZELLAN [product]
RTL [spacial installation]
RUMMEL MATRATZEN [textiles, product, spacial installation, exhibition concept]
SCHOLZ & FRIENDS [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
SONY [spacial installation]
SPECTRA [coaching]
TELEKOM [spacial installation]
TIPI DAS ZELT [spacial installation]
TOM DAVIS [eyewear]
UDK UNIVERSITÄT DER KÜNSTE ZU BERLIN [teaching]
VERDI GEWERKSCHAFT [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE [illustration, graphics]
VOLKSWAGEN [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
WEISSENSEE KUNSTHOCHSCHULE BERLIN [teaching]
WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY [teaching]
WHITEOUT & GLARE [logo, corporate design, eyewear, graphics, retail space]
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM [graphics]
ZUMTOBEL STAFF [spacial installation, exhibition concept]
SELECTED PRESS
DOZ, ’Additiv heißt auch: Nach dem Knopfdruck kommt noch was’, February 2021
20/20 Magazine, EUROPE issue, Feature, January 2021
FAVR Blog, ’The Best German Eyewear Brands’, June 2020
Materialise Workshop, Alireza Parandian, Interview, February, 2020
Eco Maker, Ackeem Ngwenya, Interview, November 2019
3D.Visions, Interview, 2019
Optik Kraft Magazine, Interview, 2019
3DP&ME Online Magazine, Interview, 2019
Silmo Paris, Trends by Silmo, Feature, July 2019
Materialise Blog, Natalie Simpson, Interview, July 2018
TEF Magazine, Feature, November 2017
Optician Magazine London, Simon Jones, Interview, October 2017
Spectr Magazine, Stefan Dongus, ’Sneak Peek in Berlin’, October 2017
Focus, Debora Gilsebach, Interview 50 Years of Silmo Paris, September 2017
DOZ, ’fmhofmann eyewear druckt erstes Titangelenk’, Daniela Zumpf, September 2017
Materialise Blog, Interview, 2017
Eyewear Issue, Feature, January 2015
Spectr Magazine, ’Conceptual Strength’, January 2014
Eyewear Issue, Jana Wenge, Feature, May 2014
Eyestylist, Feature, October 2013
Spectr Magazine, ’Titan’, Interview, July 2013
Der Augenoptiker, ’Twist’, July 2013
Landshut Geniessen Magazin, ’Retro? Nein Coblens!’ May 2013
Der Augenoptiker, 'Mosel trifft Spree', Feature, March 2013
EYEBizz, ’Der Brillenarchitekt’, Interview, November 2013
EYEBizz, ’Abgehoben’, konsequent anders, March 2013
DOZ, Messebericht, ’Schluss mit Retro’, January 2013
Spectr Magazine, ’Design is a weapon’, Interview, June 2012
Eyestylist, ‘Men and their Glasses‘, February 2012
Der Augenoptiker, ’Unter Strom’, Feature, May 2010
Optician Onlien Magazine, Feature, September 2010
NZZ Neue Züricher Zeitung, ’Für Exzentriker’, August 2008
EYEBizz, ’Mehr als Schwarz und Weiss’, June 2008
NZZ Neue Züricher Zeitung, ’Schön Bequem’, June 2008
Mido World Weekly Wonders, Feature, January 2007
Der Augenoptiker, ’Nicht für Jeden’, January 2007
Berliner Morgenpost, ’Farbenfrohes Zuhause auf der roten Insel’, Feature, May 2003
Der Standard, Karin Stockmayr, ’Bitte nicht Lächeln, Mona Lisa’, Feature, December 2003
Design Week Online Magazine, Mathmos launches Jetstream, September 2002
Welt, ’Schneller Wohnen für Grossstadtnomaden’, Feature, August 2022
TAZ, ’Lässige Deformation’, March 2001
Pegnitz-Zeitung, ’Schwebende Gene’, 1989
Pegnitz-Zeitung, ’Ideen in Ton geformt’, 1986
EXHIBITIONS
2023 Group Exhibition True North, SEE.ME New York
2023 Online Group Exhibition Contemporary Art Chronicle VOLUME 3: Forms and visions, Convergences in transitory development.
2022 Solo Exhibition Shugoneko and Lino Cut Series ’Larger than life’, Niji Sitges
2021 Solo Exhibition Shugoneko, MakeMeCake Sitges
2006 Group Exhibition Im Osten geht die Sonne auf, St. Georgios church Auguststrasse (former exhibition space Berlin mitte)
2003 Solo Exhibition Postbahnhof Berlin
2002 Group Exhibition Spin Off Cologne, (former) British Council
1994 Solo Exhibition Town Hall Ettlingen
1992 Solo Exhibition University Fridericiana Karlsruhe
1989 Solo Exhibition Library Röthenbach
1987 Solo Exhibition Design Studio Kessler Baden Baden
1987 Solo Exhibition Gallery Kunstraum Baden Baden
1986 Solo Exhibition Town Hall Röthenbach
BIO
1966 Born in Luzern, Switzerland
1986-now working as an Artist, Painter and Sculptor
1988–1993 Study of Architektur. Focus on drafting, industrial design and freehand drawing
1991-1993 Tutor at the chair for freehand drawing at the Technical University of Karlsruhe
1993 Academic Degree Dipl. Ing. Arch., KIT/Universität Fridericiana zu Karlsruhe (today corresponds to a master's degree)
1994-now Founder of fmhofmann-design
1998-2003 Founder FORMGEBER-BERLIN, Agentur für Gestaltung.
2001-2003 Founder and Editor MATE Magazine, Lifestyle Magazine, Berlin.
2003-2005 Head of Design, Eyewear Brand IC! BERLIN, Berlin.
2003 Lecturer at Berlin University of the Arts, interdisciplinary hotel project in the fields of architecture and design
2005-2007 Head of Design, Eyewear Brand FRAMERS, Berlin.
2005-2012 Founder and Designer of Eyewear Brand WHITEOUT & GLARE, Berlin.
2010-2011 Visiting critic/supervisor at the Wentworth Institute of Technology zu Berlin
2011 Lecturer, student competition OWP. University of Weissensee/Wentworth Institute of Technology zu Berlin
2012-2015 Founder and Designer of Eyewear Brand COBLENS.
2015-2016 Tandem BQG Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Art Teacher as a freelancer
2015-now Independent Design Consultant
2015-2020 Head of Design and Creative Director Metzler International
2016-now Founder and Owner NEON
2021-now Art Project SHUGONEKO
2021-2023 Teacher and Coach for DYSON
SOBRE: Fabián M Hofmann Bonengél, un arquitecte i dissenyador nascut a Suïssa, crea obres d'art visualment sorprenents a més dels seus projectes arquitectònics i de disseny.
Ha rebut nombrosos premis i reconeixements internacionals per les seves instal·lacions espacials, dissenys de productes i obres gràfiques, incloent-hi reconeixements a Alemanya, Japó i els EUA. En els darrers anys, Hofmann Bonengél s'ha centrat en l'art visual i creu que l'arquitectura i la pintura estan interconnectades. El seu treball explora diferents formes de comunicació i treball en xarxa, tant en espais urbans com digitals, i examina la connexió dels individus dins la societat i els diferents mitjans de comunicació, ja siguin analògics o digitals.