More than 900 registered users, 1,707 submitted designs and around 13,000 comments – the first crowdsourcing project launched by the 4711 brand was a great success. Budding designers, professionals and creative fans of the brand were asked to come up with innovative and unconventional ideas for 4711 merchandising. From the incredible wealth of creative ideas that were submitted the best have now been selected in an exclusive jury meeting held at the flagship store in Cologne’s Glockengasse.

Cologne, 22 December 2011 – “Dear designers, we would love to see your splendid ideas!” This was the motto of the “your 4711 design competition” initiated by the 4711 brand, for which a special online platform was set up. The competition, which was held on the website www.your.4711.com, ended with an impressively large number of brilliant ideas: from furniture, household items and food to jewellery and cosmetics, fashion and accessories right through to cars. Some designers covered their favourite products in the colours, shape and pattern of the iconic 4711 design, while others created completely new products. On 9 December 2011, a high-carat jury chose the winners in four different categories. The winning designs are now being checked to see that they can be realised and will be available to purchase as from mid-2012 in the 4711 flagship store in the Glockengasse and in the brand’s online shop.

Creative interior design in Bremen blue and gold
In the category “freely created designs” the first place went to the Stuttgart designer Philipp Warnecke, 28, for his decorative wallpaper. Fabian Krone, Managing Director of MÄURER & WIRTZ and jury member, explained the jury’s decision and praised the creativity and the decorative appeal of the design: “The wallpaper crosses the boundaries of the fashion and perfume segments and gives the 4711 brand access to a circle of architects, designers and stylists. A truly worthy winner!” The second place went to an elegant set of incense sticks which diffuse the fresh scent of 4711 Eau de Cologne in the bathroom and are packed in a decorative 4711 presentation box. The jury said: “Although the idea itself is not that innovative, the incredibly charming design of the box is highly attractive. This characteristic harmonises perfectly with the world of 4711 with its heritage, emotion and many different applications.” The idea was submitted by Helena Bueno, 49, from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Third place was won by a scented 4711 stamp, an idea submitted by Alexandre Collon, 33, from Vienna. The concept opens up the whole world of letter-writing and correspondence, giving letters and cards a delicate scent, which the jury praised as being the ideal homage to the history and origins of 4711.

Two design classics meet
The prize for “the most unconventional & freaky product idea“ was awarded to Andrew Valentine, 26, from the United States, whose interpretation of a “true classic” attracted great attention: a German NSU 1954 Konsul, styled all over in the 4711 look. This timelessly beautiful motorcycle immediately drew much praise and many fans. While the two design icons are a perfect visual match for each other, they come from completely different spheres, thus disrupting the harmony and giving the distinctive design a unique edge.

Preconfigured – but not ready-made
A further three prizes were awarded in the category “configured designs”. This category allowed even novice designers to put together their own design for one of a choice of two shoulder bags or a smartphone cover with as few as two mouse-clicks using the site’s “configuration tool”. The winner in this category was Pedro Regadas, 34, from Portugal. His attractive smartphone case “Aroma” won over the jury with its stylish grey design and low-key contrasting stitching in Bremen blue. Uros Obradovic, 23, from Serbia and João Mendes, 27, from Portugal won second and third places with their designs for laptop bags.

Enthusiastic contribution to the project: the most valuable participant
The title of “most valuable participant” was awarded to Akin Bacioglu from Sweden. He praised the friendly, open atmosphere of the competition: “The participants were always very polite in their comments and open for suggestions. The configuration tool attracted lots of people who weren’t experts or professionals, but with this great tool they were able to contribute their view of the brand without having to use the typical professional design tools.”

The jury team: creative professionals, designers and representatives of 4711
As well as MÄURER & WIRTZ Managing Director Fabian Krone and 4711 Senior Brand Manager Jessica Bönisch, the jury included Professor Peter Schmidt (designer and founder of the Peter Schmidt Group), Otto Husten (Editor-at-Large, Elle Decoration), Michael Schmidt (Managing Director and founder of the Hyve Innovation Agency), Monty Shadow (founder of Laureus and St. Moritz Art Masters) and Giorgio Pace (freelance fashion consultant to V Magazine and V Man amongst others).

In total, cash prizes worth €10,000 were awarded as well as other exciting prizes, including an iPad2. For most participants, the main objective was to have fun – and perhaps experience the honour of seeing their merchandising product design on sale at the 4711 flagship store.