Ambiente, the global consumer-goods platform, will next welcome buyers from all over the world for the five days from 10 to 14th February 2017. Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre will be transformed into a trend barometer, order venue and design platform revolving around tableware, kitchenware, household goods, wining and dining, as well as the home, furnishing and giving.
The Partner Country of the world’s leading consumer-goods fair in 2017 is the United Kingdom. Following the Italian tricolour this year, the coming Ambiente will be dominated by the Union Jack. “I am delighted that the United Kingdom, one of the world’s most important political and business players and a partner of major significance for Germany, has agreed to be our Partner Country. But that’s not all - the United Kingdom is a country of great diversity, which results in an incomparable spectrum of outstanding design. And this is exactly what we aim to show the audience of visitors and exhibitors from all over the world at the next Ambiente”, says Detlef Braun, member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt.
The products of UK exhibitors will be shown in an extensive Partner Country presentation curated and designed by Scottish designer Janice Kirkpatrick, one of the United Kingdom’s leading graphic and product designers. In 1986, she joined forces with architect Ross Hunter to found Graven, a design studio specialising in creating successful visual and environmental brands at home and abroad.
They include the development of the British Airways Lounge in Singapore, the interior design of the Radission Blu Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia and the redesign of the 500-seat ‘Lagune’ restaurant at the VW Autostadt in Wolfsburg. Kirkpatrick is also a professor for design at the Glasgow School of Art.
Additionally, the multi-talented Scot not only works for radio and television but also writes and edits books on a variety of cultural and economic topics. Her new book entitled ‘Brands for Boards’ is due to appear this year. Ambiente is by no means an unknown quantity for the renowned designer – in the late nineties, she designed the ‘Self-Service’ special exhibition for the world’s leading consumer-goods fair.
“I am excited to design the Ambiente UK Partner exhibition, after designing ‘Self-Service’ in 1998”, says Janice.
Asked about her concept for the Partner Country presentation, she says, “Glasgow in Scotland, in the UK and Europe – in all its dimensions – is the perspective through which I work. Globalisation makes ‘local’ valuable because it is unique. I will search for exceptional micro-local and national products and ingredients to create the 2017 UK Partner exhibition.”
In addition to the presentation, there will once again be a café in the style of the Partner Country and, on the Monday of the fair, the traditional theme day. The ‘Great Britain Day’ is being organised by UK exhibitors who will invite Ambiente visitors to a variety of events and presentations. The day will be rounded off in style by the Partner Country Reception, during which the next Ambiente Partner Country will be officially announced.
Apart from the Partner Country programme, the coming Ambiente will once again be the venue for numerous trend and product presentations, awards ceremonies, promotional areas for young people and many other events.
