Urs Felber

<h2 id="life-and-career">Life and career</h2>
Felber was born on 10 July 1942 in <a href="/facts/Egerkingen/HoxdUrLh">Egerkingen</a>, <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a>, a small town in the canton of <a href="/facts/Solothurn/mqNemFYa">Solothurn</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> His family ran a local carpentry workshop.
From 1962 to 1965, he studied mechanical engineering at the <a href="/facts/ETH_Zurich/IxHAFGUU">Swiss Federal Institute of Technology</a> (ETH) in Zurich. In 1964, he replaced a fellow student in his field study at a small furniture manufacturer company, De Sede. In 1966, he became a <a href="/facts/Systems_engineering/gFwRmkDp">system engineer</a> at De Sede. He took a 50 percent stake in the company.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> By 1978, De Sede was exporting to over 70 countries.
In 1979, he obtained a PhD in Design Management at <a href="/facts/Stanford_University/JEQeF9z2">Stanford University</a>, <a href="/facts/California/zLW2vdQJ">California</a> and the <a href="/facts/University_of_Fribourg/kqYhdS11">University of Fribourg</a>, <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a>, achieving <a href="/facts/Magna_cum_laude/BqMYAlgN">magna cum laude</a>. He authored Systematic Design Management in the Enterprise: Fundamentals and Concepts which heralded the birth of <a href="/facts/Design_management/xxKLETgX">design management</a>, design science and methodology.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a>
In the 1980s, he became a business partner and CEO of <a href="/facts/Vitra_(furniture)/qkp4cSXQ">Vitra</a> USA, the world's leading contract furniture manufacturing firm.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a> Parallel to his US activities, he became a board director in several companies, including Wilkhahn International, Wilkhahn Switzerland, Swissflex and Team by Wellis.
In 2001, Urs Felber bought the Swiss furniture company Dietiker AG from the supermarket chain <a href="/facts/Migros/ga8HyKPp">Migros</a> and transformed it into a recognized brand by incorporating contemporary designs, with products winning the <a href="/facts/Red_dot_design_award/F17vnR4G">Red Dot Design Award</a> and <a href="/facts/Merchandise_Mart/FR9dp9YP">Neocon</a> Innovation Award.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> Dietiker became a leader in Switzerland and Europe in the contract furniture market.

<h2 id="awards-and-honors">Awards and honors</h2>
In 1999, Urs Felber was made a Honorary Fellow of the <a href="/facts/Tel_Aviv_Museum_of_Art/LsnFFgIx">Tel Aviv Museum of Art</a>. In 2002, he received <a href="/facts/Honorary_degree/yVVgQ6Wt">Doctor Honoris Causa</a> from the <a href="/facts/University_of_Tel_Aviv/5MVPPor0">University of Tel Aviv</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> On 20 May 2003, the Aviva and Urs Felber Jubilee Plaza was inaugurated at Tel Aviv University in recognition of his commitment to the university.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>

<h2 id="death">Death</h2>
Urs Felber died from a heart attack on 26 April 2010.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/13467605">Urs Felber's lecture on Good Design at Iidex Neocon, Canada, 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191644/http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/ls/article-archive.html?articletitle=COLUMNS-NONE_Focus_%20Ones%20to%20Watch_565.xml">Urs Felber, 'Ones to Watch', Contract Design magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130512090053/http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20080613/scene-on-the-showfloor">"Metropolismag"</a>. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120402184957/http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20071104/dietiker-swizterland">"Metropolismag"</a>. Archived from <a href="http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20071104/dietiker-swizterland">the original</a> on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2010.</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191720/http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/Design-Industry-Mour-1724.shtml">Urs Felber, Contract Design magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.office-work.net/aktuelles/meldungen/announcement-detail/datum////schweizer-moebelpionier-verstorben/">Urs Felber, Office Work magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hochparterre-schweiz.ch/p2140.html">Urs Felber, Swiss design magazine Hochpaterre</a>[permanent dead link]</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hochparterre-schweiz.ch/p785.html">Urs Felber and Dietiker, Swiss design magazine Hochpaterre</a>[permanent dead link]</li>
<li><a href="http://fachwerkhaus.historisches-fachwerk.com/fachwerk/index.cfm/ly/1/0/Marktplatz/a/showForum/61129$.cf">Urs Felber, Fachwerk magazine</a>[permanent dead link]</li>
<li><a href="http://www.tau.ac.il/public-affairs/TAU_Insider_Fall06.pdf">Aviva and Urs Felber Piazza at Tel Aviv University</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100526053932/http://www.moebelkultur.de/index.php/news/11810">Urs Felber, Moebelkultur magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.interieur-suisse.ch/detail.php?cur=1&artid=332">Urs Felber and Dietiker, Interieur Suisse Magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101202042401/http://www.arcade-xxl.de/index.php?news=11810">Urs Felber, Acade magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://vimeo.com/1823464">Urs Felber interview at Neocon on Vimeo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110714162901/http://www.neoconeast.com/tasks/sites/NeoconEast/assets/File/061908_002.pdf">Urs Felber, Neoconeast</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lifestylesmagazine.com/website/archive/216.html">Urs Felber, Lifestyle magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120225084207/http://www.interiordesign.net/article/480142-Swiss_Furniture_Manufacturer_to_Open_25_U_S_Showrooms.php">Dietiker and Urs Felber, Interior Design magazine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.larevuedudesign.com/2010/07/07/selection-design-suisse-3/">Hommage a Urs Felber, La Revue du Design</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.insideoutcontracts.com/">Insideout Contracts – Contract Furniture specialists</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"Design Industry Mourns Passing of Dr. Urs Felber". Contract Design. Retrieved 31 July 2020. <a href="https://www.contractdesign.com/news/main/design-industry-mourns-passing-of-dr-urs-felber/" target="_blank">https://www.contractdesign.com/news/main/design-industry-mourns-passing-of-dr-urs-felber/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Design Industry Mourns Passing of Dr. Urs Felber". Contract Design. Retrieved 31 July 2020. <a href="https://www.contractdesign.com/news/main/design-industry-mourns-passing-of-dr-urs-felber/" target="_blank">https://www.contractdesign.com/news/main/design-industry-mourns-passing-of-dr-urs-felber/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"The Brander". www.thebrander.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020. <a href="https://www.thebrander.com/en/lifestyle/dietiker-ag" target="_blank">https://www.thebrander.com/en/lifestyle/dietiker-ag</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191720/http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/Design-Industry-Mour-1724.shtml" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191720/http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/Design-Industry-Mour-1724.shtml</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Nachrichten und Informationen aus der Möbelbranche". moebelkultur.de. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100526053932/http://www.moebelkultur.de/index.php/news/11810" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100526053932/http://www.moebelkultur.de/index.php/news/11810</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Urs Felber, "Systematisches Designmanagement in der Unternehmung: Grundlagen und Konzepte", 
Marburg, 1984 <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191644/http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/ls/article-archive.html?articletitle=COLUMNS-NONE_Focus_%20Ones%20to%20Watch_565.xml" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191644/http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/ls/article-archive.html?articletitle=COLUMNS-NONE_Focus_%20Ones%20to%20Watch_565.xml</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Vlessing, Robert; Lasker, David (4 November 2007). "Dietiker Switzerland". metropolismag.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120402184957/http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20071104/dietiker-swizterland" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120402184957/http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20071104/dietiker-swizterland</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"Tel Aviv University Webflash - May 2003". .tau.ac.il. Retrieved 13 June 2013. <a href="http://www2.tau.ac.il/news/engnews.asp?month=5&year=2003" target="_blank">http://www2.tau.ac.il/news/engnews.asp?month=5&year=2003</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110624042043/http://www.tau.ac.il/public-affairs/TAU_Insider_Fall06.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110624042043/http://www.tau.ac.il/public-affairs/TAU_Insider_Fall06.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">"Design Industry Mourns Passing of Dr. Urs Felber". Contract Design. Retrieved 31 July 2020. <a href="https://www.contractdesign.com/news/main/design-industry-mourns-passing-of-dr-urs-felber/" target="_blank">https://www.contractdesign.com/news/main/design-industry-mourns-passing-of-dr-urs-felber/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Urs Felber open-in-new

Urs Felber