AHEC is the leading international trade association for the American  hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among hardwood companies, who now market and sell their products in significant volumes all around the world. For more than 30 years, AHEC has been at the forefront of international wood promotion, successfully building a distinctive and creative brand for American hardwoods. By recognizing the key role design plays in the successful and innovative use of hardwoods AHEC helps the American hardwood industry develop new opportunities by building a rapport with the global design community. In Europe AHEC is renowned for its imaginative and ambitious collaborations with architects and designers to highlight the potential and inspire more use of these sustainable materials

AHEC as the first used method to evaluate American hardwood projects for the environment, acquired next  by other industries. The method helps to study many factors affecting the environment: primary energy consumption (from renewable and non-renewable sources), impact of global warming, acidification potential, eutrophication, and photochemical ozone creation.

Tomek Rygalik is the lead designer at Studio Rygalik working on architecture and products for premium companies and international brands, including Cappellini, Profim, Moroso, Noti, Ghidini, Comforty, Paged, Siemens, Heineken or Ikea; founder and creative director of the furniture and accessories brand, TRE Product; co-creator of the SOBOLE creative campus and an open-minded educator with a broad experience and PhD in industrial design, delivering a course in design at the Department of Design of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. His work focuses on the engaging nature of new typology, longevity and simplicity which are aimed to responsibly elevate the quality of everyday life.

The studio founded by Tomek Rygalik in 2006 implements comprehensive projects of various types. The spectrum of activities is very wide - from product design, development and implementation to site-specific implementations, design & build and the production of limited series as well as experimental facilities, comprehensive culinary experiences and workshops exploring the relationship between design and food. In addition to cooperation with industry, which is the main basis of activity, Studio Rygalik often engages in projects implemented for cultural institutions that allow for experimental activities. Among the works carried out by Studio Rygalik are projects for brands such as Absolut, Artek, Cappellini, Comforty, Dupont / Corian, Ghidini, Heal's, Heineken, Ideal Standard, IKEA, Moroso, Noti, Paged, Pfleiderer, Profim, Siemens, for institutions such as BOZAR in Brussels, POLIN Museum, Grand Theater - National Opera and furniture dedicated to the Polish European Union Presidency. In recent years, the Studio's work has been seen in Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt, Lodz, London, Milan, Munich, New York, Tokyo, Poznan, Paris, Warsaw, Valencia and Vienna. They were also published in the international press: Icon, Interni, Wallpaper, Experimenta, Blueprint, New York Times, Financial Times and Forbes.

www.studiorygalik.com

@studiorygalik (Instagram)

@Studio-Rygalik (Facebook)

The Swallow’s Tail Furniture brand has been created and developed by two graduates of the Wroclaw Academy of Fine Arts: Magdalena Hubka and Piotr Grzybowski. They have been designing furniture since 1999, but they decided to launch Swallow’s Tail Furniture in 2014. Their furniture designs are real masterpieces – all conceived with a strong concept and passion, developed with a great attention to detail and commitment of an entire team of designers, builders and technology experts. The development process refers to the basic values of design, including naturalness, authenticity, and proximity. Their furniture collections are made from noble wood species, with functionality and quality built into the construction process.

www.stfurniture.com

@swallowstailfurniture (Instagram, Facebook)

The Department of Design of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw has been offering tuition to students since 1977. The syllabus reflects the comprehensive approach to design by combining product design, visual communication, space and fashion design with market intelligence, technologies, social sciences, arts and culture. Design, which is present in all areas of everyday life, concerns not only industrial products and graphics, but also services and experiences. Design is a process which leads to creating new solutions that reflect the essential values of users, both on functional and aesthetical levels, but also in the emotional aspects. Students are taught this process to effectively identify user needs and build solutions that respond to real problems, while showing respect for the environment.

http://ww.asp.waw.pl/

@AkademiaSztukPieknychwWarszawie (Facebook)