Blickfang Design Award 2026: What a Soap Dish Reveals About Good Design
There are everyday objects that we use without even noticing them. The soap dish is one of them. It sits in the bathroom, serves its purpose, and no one gives it a second thought. That is precisely the problem, and that is exactly where good product design comes in.
The A6 soap dish by beat bolli FORM won the Blickfang Design Award in 2026. This recognition demonstrates that even the most unassuming household item has the potential to be completely reimagined. This article explains what the Blickfang Design Award signifies, why the A6 deserved it, and what this award says about the future of product design.
What is the Blickfang Design Award?
Blickfang is one of the best-known design fairs in the German-speaking world. For over 25 years, it has been bringing together designers, brands, and a design-savvy audience in cities such as Zurich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Vienna. The focus is deliberately on handcrafted and conceptually sophisticated products. There is no place here for mass-produced goods.
The Blickfang Design Award is presented to products that excel in function, aesthetics, and concept. The jury is composed of experts in design, architecture, and cultural journalism. The award is given not to the most spectacular products, but to the most well-thought-out ones. This makes the award particularly credible, as it honors substance rather than mere appearance.
For a young Swiss design label like beat bolli FORM, this award is more than just external recognition. It sends a clear message to the market: this is a brand with a serious commitment to design.
Why the A6? A Look Behind the Design
A6 Soap Dish by beat bolli FORM, Blickfang Design Award 2026
The A6 soap dish solves a problem that most people don’t even recognize as a problem: soap sits in water, dissolves too quickly, and leaves unsightly marks. The starting point for the design was therefore not a matter of aesthetics, but a functional analysis of a seemingly mundane object.
The result is a design that stands out in three ways:
Optimal drainage. The dish is shaped to ensure that excess water drains away reliably. The soap stays dry, retains its shape, and lasts longer. This is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
No unwanted marks. Thanks to its special contact geometry, the soap touches the bowl only at specific points. No sticking, no deformation of the bottom.
Self-centering position. The design automatically guides the soap into a specific position when it is placed on the holder. It’s a detail you hardly notice in everyday life. But that’s exactly what good design is all about: it works without you having to think about it.
On paper, these three qualities sound technical. In practice, they are the opposite. They create a sense of harmony that you can sense in the quality of an object, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it.
You can find more information about the A6's features and materials in the detailed product article on our blog.
Swiss Design: Made in Switzerland from bioplastic
The A6 is manufactured in Switzerland using the FDM 3D printing process. The material is PLA, a bioplastic that contains no petroleum. This decision is a reflection of our philosophy: beat bolli FORM stands for products that are manufactured locally using materials with a sustainable environmental footprint.
The FDM process also enables on-demand production. No inventory, no overproduction. This approach is still relatively uncommon in the home accessories industry, but it aligns perfectly with the brand’s design philosophy.
The visible grooved texture on the surface is a direct result of the printing process. It is not a flaw, but a defining feature. It makes the manufacturing process visible and transparent. This is a design philosophy rooted in the tradition of Swiss product design: no concealment of the process, but rather clarity in materials and methods.
Design awards as a guide for buyers
In an age when every product is described in superlatives, buyers are losing their bearings. Design awards like the Blickfang Award therefore serve an important purpose. They represent an independent endorsement of quality, awarded by a panel of experts with no commercial interest in the product’s sales.
When you buy an A6, you’re not just buying a soap dish for CHF 24.00. You’re buying an object that has been recognized as a design masterpiece by one of the most renowned design institutions in the German-speaking world. That’s a difference you can really feel in your everyday life.
Blickfang Design Award
Jury: Rolf Fischer | Barbara Mutzbauer | Sophie Mercedes Lardon
What this product design award says today
The Blickfang Design Award for the A6 reflects a broader trend in product design: attention is shifting from spectacular statement pieces to products that make a real difference in everyday life.
Design that proves its worth in use—and not just on display—is gaining in relevance. The A6 isn’t an object meant to be displayed on a shelf. It’s an object that’s used every day and works every day. That’s exactly what makes it interesting—to end users, to industry professionals, and to a jury.
For beat bolli FORM, this award is not the end goal, but rather a validation of their approach: small products, big ideas, carefully crafted in Switzerland.
Conclusion
The A6 soap dish is compelling proof that good design knows no bounds when it comes to price or material value. An everyday object, thoughtfully designed from start to finish, can meet the same design standards as a piece of furniture or an architectural element.
The Blickfang Design Award 2026 confirms this. And the A6 is ready to prove the same thing in your bathroom.
