Works by industrial designer Stefan Diez on display in Cologne

Materials which can be found in hardware stores are a standard part of the highly acclaimed German designer Stefan Diez's repertoire. He buys whatever he likes - whatever he thinks might one day turn out to be interesting in its functionality. He stores the materials, some of them exotic, until he gets an idea of how to use them.

Stefan Diez constructs the layout of his exhibitions alone. His team is there to pass on things to him or to make suggestions. Like a true professional, Diez knows exactly where each detail should be placed. His shelving systems, which are part of the exhibition, resemble a large work of art.

This tea pot which is part of a Japan-inspired collection is presented in all its various stages of processing, starting with the raw material and designs of each little detail to the finished pot. The best part is its lid that completely closes and can be opened just by touching it lightly.

Stefan Diez created his first pieces of furniture in India. He also traveled across China and Japan. In this way, the designer became familiar with the various building materials used in Asia. He appreciates the stability of extremely hard bamboo and uses it for simple benches, chairs and tables made for the outdoors. The parts are put together in an astonishingly simple way.

Chairs in all kinds of variations are a permanent part of Diez's repertoire. Since 2003, he has had his own workshop where he collaborates with his creative team. He's less interested in finished drafts than in the process of designing and the actual production of his furniture pieces.

This comfortable couch made of simple sailcloth was developed as a prototype in Asia based on a design by Stefan Diez. It can be sent to Europe in a small package and then assembled. The airy piece of furniture is a hit in the exhibition.

The air chambers of the couch are filled with tiny styrofoam bullets with the help of a leaf vacuum. Thanks to that simple technology, the couch remains extremely light in weight. A good example of Diez's preference for functionality combined with clear forms .

According to Diez, there are similarities in the production of a chair and a front fender. In both cases, the metal is first perforated, then pressed into its final form. Manufacturing such designer pieces is so costly that it's only worth it if many pieces are produced.

Stefan Diez loves to work with wood. Born to a cabinet maker's family, he has steady hands, which helps when he cuts materials. The award-winning designer relies on his intuition and the clear language of his materials. Each single part is made by hand until it goes into production. His exhibition can be seen in Cologne through June 11, 2017.