Open Lecture on Braun Design by Markus Orthey

Students and staff are invited to attend an open lecture on Braun Design on 13 November (12:45 – 13:30) in the Joost van der Grinten Hall. Markus Orthey, Braun Design Director, will deliver a lecture that highlights the brand's evolution into a leader in industrial design and how its collaborations with universities has influenced its approach and success.

Braun’s success and collaborations with academic institutions

This lecture will highlight how Braun Design became a leader in industrial design, and the significant influence academic institutions (e.g. Ulm School of Design) have play in this trajectory, starting as early as 1955. Such collaborations have helped lay the foundation for Braun’s modern, minimalist approach to small domestic appliances, emphasising functionality, simplicity, and aesthetic clarity.

The lecture will also introduce influential designers, such as Dieter Rams, whose work at Braun helped set global standards in industrial design, fostering a legacy that continues to shape design education and product development.

Markus Orthey – Braun Design Director

The lecture will be given by Markus Orthey, Braun Design Director at De’Longhi Braun Household. Within his role Markus is responsible for future developments. Having worked at Braun for the last 20 years, Markus has been responsible for numerous Braun products.

The common thread that runs through his life and his designs is a global and humanistic view of the world that places people in the centre. Markus is the driving force between Braun’s collaboration with a number of IDE courses at TU Delft.

Grand opening of the ‘Triangular – Cooking for what Matters’ exhibition

The lecture marks the opening of the ‘Triangular - Cooking for What Matters’ exhibition. Created in collaboration with Braun, the exhibition features work by students from TU Delft’s Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering and Politecnico di Milano. The grand reveal takes place at 13:30 in the IDE Etalage, directly after the open lecture by Markus Orthey, Braun Design Director. The concepts will be on display until the winter break.

To find out more about the exhibition, click here.

What’s next?

What’s more, the collaboration between TU Delft | Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, and Braun will continue beyond this exhibition! A new project is already underway, focusing on "The New Frankfurter Kitchen" for the upcoming Frankfurt World Design Capital 2026 event.

The IDE staff members involved in this collaboration include Marie-Claire Looze (ACD design coach), Marijke Dekker (ACD course coordinator), Daan van Eijk (ACD responsible professor), and Geert van den Boogaard (Delft Design & Impact Centre).