25 September 2025  Two perspectives on design in ViennaEvery autumn, Vienna turns into a stage for design. At the end of September and in the first days of October, the city hosts two major events that highlight different facets of contemporary design. Vienna Design Week focuses on experimentation, bringing forward projects by emerging designers who explore future materials and rethink how everyday objects might be used tomorrow (article about the experimental Vienna Design Week project, Vienna Colour Wheel). In contrast, the Design District at the Hofburg showcases brands whose innovative work has already reached international markets and become accessible to consumers.Fashion, jewelry, and beauty among exhibitorsFashion.at reviewed the exhibitor list of Design District 2025, which spans categories such as Architektur & Bauen, Circular Design, Einrichten & Wohnen, Fashion & Accessoires, Garten, Interior & Lifestyle, Mobilität, Salon of Excellence, and more. Within these, several brands stand out from the fields of fashion, jewelry, and beauty.• House of Silhouette in Vienna unites the Silhouette Group's three eyewear brands – Silhouette, Neubau, and evil eye – offering modern optical services and personalized consultations. • Der Wiener Ring is designed in the shape of Vienna's Ringstrasse. The design allows customers to customize their jewelry with different stones. They can also incorporate existing pieces of jewelry that are no longer worn in the production. • Wiener Seife is a soap manufactory with roots in a long Viennese tradition of handcraft. Its handmade soaps are produced using natural ingredients and gentle processes. • Yogesh, a Vienna-based perfumery, creates exclusive fragrances crafted in limited editions, with the aim of translating emotions and philosophies into scent. A curated mix of disciplines at the HofburgFrom October 3 to 5, the Hofburg will host international brands and design houses across a wide spectrum: furniture, interiors, lifestyle products, and technology. Highlights include the car brand Alpine, known for its sleek sports models, and Rolf Benz, a leading name in furniture design, presented by Fuhrmann. Culinary creativity will be represented through the Bar à Choux, a collaboration between the Viennese chef and restaurateur Marco Simonis and the patisserie creators TOP 02. The project merges gastronomy with pastry design culture through finely crafted cream puff creations.Design District 2025 promises to be more than a showcase of furniture and objects. The curated mix of brands across architecture, interior, mobility, fashion, and beauty shows that the Design District is very likely not only an event for design connoisseurs, but also a place where visitors can discover culinary surprises. Image: Performance artists in black and yellow bodysuits on the red carpeted staircase of the Hofburg during the Design District event, with visitors in the background. Photo: © Design District | Roland Rudolph, Maximilian Lottmann, leadersnet.at / A. Felten |