We are very excited to present to you the final projects of the Distributed Design Residency 2025! Over the course of six months – from September 2024 to February 2025 – we supported makers and designers in bringing their projects to life at Happylab. The residency provided participants with the opportunity to realize their innovative ideas using state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and to connect with a creative community.
The results are impressive projects that explore new paths in design, technology, and sustainability. You can admire all the projects in our makerspace until the end of April 2025 – so feel free to drop by!
cardboardlab - badala
Cardboardlab – Sustainable Design Objects Made from Recycled Cardboard: Barbara and Jochen Höller have set out with their innovative project to promote the creative reuse of cardboard scraps while simultaneously creating aesthetically appealing everyday objects. At the core of their concept, they develop DIY kits that invite people of all ages to get creative themselves and transform what seems like waste into functional design pieces.
During their residency at Happylab, they focused on developing new design objects and creating prototypes, with the laser cutter becoming their central tool. In the metal workshop, they also experimented with producing their own cutting dies. The result of their work is a collection of home objects made from salvaged cardboard—functional and visually striking, while making a strong statement for creative upcycling and resource-efficient design.
“The Distributed Design Residency and Happylab have played a crucial role in taking our project to the next level. In particular, the opportunity to work with various workshops and technologies, such as the laser cutter and the metal workshop, has opened up new perspectives and tools for us to turn our ideas into prototypes.”
Luminous Process - Helena Pinnel & Eric Prinz
“Luminous Process” – Lighting Design in Local Production. During their residency, Helena and Eric collaboratively developed an innovative process that combines AI technologies with automated manufacturing techniques to create aesthetically appealing lighting objects for living spaces.
What makes this project unique: all creations are produced using the technologies available at Happylab and are part of a high-quality, locally manufactured small series. Beyond the objects themselves, the project establishes a scalable, open design process that serves as both inspiration and guidance for other creatives, bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.
“Happylab was invaluable for the development of our project. Access to machines and manufacturing techniques that we wouldn’t have had otherwise allowed us to bring our ideas to life.”
Smart Plant - Jon Garcia Aguado
Smart Plant – Rethinking Plant Monitoring: As an aerospace engineer, Jon García Aguado brings his technical expertise and passion for electronic devices into an innovative project. “Smart Plant” is an intelligent monitoring system designed to help hobby gardeners keep track of their plants’ health.
This compact device precisely measures soil moisture, ambient light, air temperature, and relative humidity. A key feature is its user-friendliness: data can be transmitted via IoT to Home Assistant platforms or read directly on the integrated 2.9-inch e-paper display.
During his residency at Happylab, Jon is refining the working prototype into a fully developed product that can be used by anyone—no programming skills required. The focus is on sustainable design, easy assembly, and repairability, ensuring a long-lasting and accessible solution for plant enthusiasts.
“In addition to having access to high-quality 3D printers, the workshops I attended—such as injection molding with recycled plastic, the lecture on circular design, and even the ceramics course—helped me understand different approaches to improving the design and identify key details to pay attention to.”
reconfigured – modular methods for reclaimed furniture - Stephanie Bauer
Reconfigured – Sustainable Furniture Design: Growing up among flea markets and museums as the child of antique dealers, Stephanie Bauer developed a deep connection to craftsmanship and pre-owned objects. With her project “Reconfigured”, she explores a new approach to discarded furniture by designing a systematic method for their reuse.
During her residency at Happylab, she focused particularly on developing innovative connectors, experimenting with various manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing and injection molding. Through her work, she aims to give old furniture a second life while promoting sustainable design solutions.
“The Distributed Design platform was a great help to me, as I was also fortunate to have mentorship alongside the hands-on workshop experience. I felt very comfortable at Happylab.”
Lexi - Alexandra Pichler
Lexi: Rethinking Spring Cores – Innovation for Sustainable Seating: With her project “Lexi”, Alexandra Pichler is reimagining the upholstered furniture industry through a creative and environmentally conscious approach. Instead of conventional spring core constructions—often complex, difficult to repair, and short-lived—she develops 3D-printed spring elements made from PLA.
These innovative components consist of two interlocking parts, connected by a clever barb mechanism. Thanks to a smart click-and-rotate system, they can be easily replaced when needed. The sleek design enables fast printing with minimal material consumption.
During her residency at Happylab, Alexandra is not only refining the mechanical properties of her spring elements but also exploring sustainable solutions for filling materials and upholstery fabrics, further advancing the future of eco-friendly seating.
“The Distributed Design Residency at Happylab provided me with valuable resources and professional exchange. Access to modern machines such as 3D printers and laser cutters, support from experts, and an inspiring community allowed me to further develop my project in a targeted way and bring new ideas to life.”
DIY Kiteboard Made from Wood and Hemp - Stefan Übermasser
DIY Kiteboard Made from Wood and Hemp – Sustainable Board Design for Watersport Enthusiasts: In his project, Stefan Übermasser combines his professional expertise as a development engineer with his passion for watersports. Through his company Mindcrafthing, he creates innovative products at the intersection of craftsmanship and technology.
Inspired by his love for surfing, Stefan is developing a wakeboard or kiteboard made from environmentally friendly materials—primarily wood and hemp—during his residency at Happylab. Building on his experience in crafting wakeskates and surfboards, he aims to produce small series and DIY kits while also planning workshops where surf enthusiasts can build their own sustainable boards.
“Gaining insight into the exciting and highly diverse co-projects was very motivating for me and reinforced my determination to maximize the level of innovation in my implementation.”
