frog in the News: Founder Hartmut Esslinger Wins Multiple 2017 Design Awards

Hartmut earns 2017 lifetime achievement award from Cooper Hewitt

Often credited as the first designer to bring human-centered design to the world of complex hardware and software technology, Esslinger was the recipient of the 2017 Cooper Hewitt Lifetime Achievement Award presented this month. As part of National Design Week on October 19, we had the honor of celebrating Hartmut’s achievements alongside him and to once again be inspired and invigorated by his unfailing dedication and vision to advancing the human experience through design.

Current frogs and alumni celebrate with frog founders Hartmut Esslinger and Patricia Roller.

Hartmut awarded the 2017 WDO World Design Medal in Torino, Italy

In a true honor for a truly global designer, Esslinger won the 2017 WDO World Design Medal from the World Design Organization. The honor showcases industrial designers who drive positive change in the world through design. The unanimous decision from the selection committee was based on his decades of experience in the field (which includes founding frog with his wife Patricia Roller in the Black Forest of Germany back in 1969), as well as his legacy of work teaching the design leaders of today and tomorrow.

National Design Week: Hartmut and frog at Cooper Hewitt Teen Design Fair

As part of the Teen Design Fair, Esslinger and frog were on-hand with other winners of the National Design Awards to answer questions from aspiring young designers about possible career paths, the challenges designers face within teams and in the workplace, and what is most inspiring about design today. Throughout his career, Esslinger has taught design students in Germany, Austria, China and the US.

Watch for more advice for designers directly from Esslinger himself.