Urs Felber facts for kids

Urs Felber (born July 10, 1942) was a very important person in the world of furniture design. He helped create new ideas for how furniture looks and works. Urs Felber was the CEO of a big company called Vitra USA. He also served on the board of directors for other companies, like Swissflex. He was even the main owner and chairman of a furniture company called Dietiker AG.

Urs Felber was born in Egerkingen, Switzerland. He studied engineering at a famous school in Switzerland before getting special degrees in design management from universities in the USA and Switzerland. After his studies, he became the president of Vitra USA and joined the boards of several other companies. He passed away on April 26, 2010, when he was 67 years old. His daughter, Nathalie Felber, later became the CEO of Dietiker AG.

Who Was Urs Felber?

Urs Felber was born on July 10, 1942, in Egerkingen, a small town in Switzerland. His family had a carpentry workshop there. This is where he first learned about making things with wood.

Early Life and Education

From 1962 to 1965, Urs studied mechanical engineering. He went to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. In 1964, he got a chance to work at a small furniture company called De Sede. He liked it so much that in 1966, he became a system engineer there. He even bought a large part of the company. By 1978, De Sede was selling its furniture to over 70 countries around the world.

In 1979, Urs earned a special degree called a PhD. He studied Design Management at Stanford University in California and the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He did very well, earning a high honor for his work. He wrote a book about how to manage design in businesses. This book helped start new ideas about how design and business work together.

Building a Furniture Empire

In the 1980s, Urs Felber became a business partner and CEO of Vitra USA. Vitra is a very important company that makes furniture for offices and other big spaces. While working in the USA, he also joined the boards of several other companies. These included Wilkhahn International, Swissflex, and Team by Wellis.

In 2001, Urs Felber bought a Swiss furniture company called Dietiker AG. He bought it from a large supermarket chain named Migros. Urs worked hard to make Dietiker AG a well-known brand. He brought in modern designs, and many of their products won famous awards. These awards included the Red Dot Design Award and the Neocon Innovation Award. Dietiker became a top company in Switzerland and Europe for furniture used in businesses and public places.

Awards and Recognition

Urs Felber received many honors for his work. In 1999, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. This means he was recognized for his support and contributions to the museum. In 2002, he received an honorary degree from the University of Tel Aviv. This was a special award given to him by the university.

On May 20, 2003, a special place called the Aviva and Urs Felber Jubilee Plaza was opened at Tel Aviv University. This was done to thank him for his strong support and dedication to the university.

His Legacy

Urs Felber passed away on April 26, 2010. He was 67 years old. Urs Felber left behind a great legacy in the world of furniture design and business. He helped shape how furniture is designed, made, and sold around the world. His work continues to influence the industry today.