Award-Winning Design Quality from FSB:
FSB 1289 receives the iF DESIGN AWARD 2023

Award-Winning Minimalism: FSB 1289 Receives the iF DESIGN AWARD 2023

Since its launch, the FSB 1289 design by Markus Michalski and Michael Schmidt has captivated with its purist, contemporary aesthetic and flawless production quality. Following multiple honors in 2022, the product family continues its success story into 2023: the visually understated yet haptically striking collection has now been recognized by the international jury of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2023 in the “Building Technology” category.

Presented annually by iF International Forum Design GmbH—the world’s oldest independent design institution—the iF DESIGN AWARD is among the most prestigious accolades in the industry.

The development of the FSB 1289 product family began with a clear goal: to create a modern design that blends seamlessly into the existing FSB portfolio while offering unexpected highlights. At first glance, the handle impresses with its slim, minimalist profile. Its true ingenuity is revealed in use: “When you grip it, the softly rounded back rests gently in your hand. Where you touch it, it feels just right,” explains designer Markus Michalski.

From a design perspective, Michalski and Schmidt’s concept strikes a compelling balance—restrained yet thoroughly contemporary. It meets the high aesthetic expectations of FSB’s discerning clientele with confident clarity and precision.

This interplay of contrasts ultimately convinced the expert jury of the iF DESIGN AWARD, who selected FSB 1289 as a “Winner” in the Building Technology category. Out of nearly 11,000 entries from 56 countries, the collection stood out to an international panel of design professionals.

First established in 1954, the iF DESIGN AWARD has earned global recognition as a symbol of excellence in design. Today, the iF Design brand is internationally regarded as a benchmark for outstanding creative achievement. Each year, top-tier submissions in product and communication design are honored for setting new standards in the global design landscape.

The 2023 award adds to a growing list of major distinctions for the FSB 1289 product family.

Celebrated Design: Awards for FSB 1289

The FSB 1289 collection was recently honored with the International Design Award (IDA) 2022 and the renowned German Design Award 2023. It had already received the GOOD DESIGN® Award 2022, presented by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. The model was also named “Best of Best” in the “Product – Building Technologies” category at the Iconic Awards 2022: Innovative Architecture and won first place in the online voting for the “bdia ausgesucht!” Award.

About FSB
For over 100 years, FSB has been producing door and window handles exclusively made in Germany. In Brakel, East Westphalia, FSB makes partly-handcrafted, end-to-end products in a variety of materials and surfaces for all areas of application. Committed to the tradition of redesign, FSB has adapted modern classics by Gropius, Wagenfeld and Mies van der Rohe to today's parameters and also supplies numerous designs by renowned contemporary architects. FSB wholeheartedly commits to sustainability by embracing innovation, as most recently demonstrated by its resource-conscious finish Aluminum Pure.