Jan Wertel

WertelOberfell was founded in 2007 by Gernot Oberfell (1975) and Jan Wertel (1976). Both
studied Industrial Design in Stuttgart at the State Academy of Arts, a school which is based
on the principles of the Ulmer Schule and the Bauhaus.

Their work ranges from furniture, lighting and industrial products to experimental research
pieces for companies such as Braun, Neff, Philips, Panasonic, Sony, Yamagiwa, Bulthaup,
MGX by Materialise, Iker, Nowystyl, DuPont Corian and others.

Some of their work has been exhibited in several museums and exhibitions around the world
and is part of the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in
London and others..

Gernot and Jan share a strong interest in new technologies and manufacturing processes,
and at an early stage in their careers discovered the possibilities of computer aided design.
Software is not just used as an everyday tool, but becomes through experimentation a
source of inspiration, helping to discover new and exciting form languages. Their work
combines these experiments with the logic and beauty of organic forms and the reality of
product design: the right use of materials, production processes and ergonomics.
Their work has been widely published in numerous magazines, books and design blogs.