With the claim «Who nose, we knows» Christian Harbeke, Ruedi August Müller and Ruedi Alexander Müller founded an agency ahead of its time. The unique combination of industrial design, engineering, graphic design, corporate design and brand strategy ensured a lightning start and continues to shape the agency to this day.

The Frankfurt company Expotechnik commissioned Nose to develop modular construction systems for international trade fair construction. This collaboration developed into an intensive and continuous partnership lasting over 20 years. Over the years, a variety of innovative building systems emerged that are known for their flexibility, efficiency and sustainability. These systems make it possible to set up and dismantle trade fair stands more quickly and cost-effectively. This allowed Expotechnik to offer its customers better service and expand its market share. The once small exhibition stand construction company subsequently developed into a global market leader with numerous locations.

After Dr. Reinhard Büchi took over the entire share capital, the entire company was restructured. Nose was given the task of repositioning the brand together with the new management. The brand values were sharpened, and a new logo with a comprehensive corporate identity program was developed. The Corporate Identity Manual including the design guidelines for printed matter, the Internet, trade fair appearances and product design was created. Since then, Nose has designed the laboratory equipment for Büchi. A sustainable, characteristic and consistent product design language that was created has been continuously developed, creating space for new technologies. This also include the increasingly important digital user interfaces, which merge mechanical and electronic operations. Büchi has developed from a traditional Swiss SME into a leading global manufacturer of high-quality laboratory equipment.

Nose created a new trademark for Mammut, the defining wordmark and the famous red, white and black Mammoth in a circle. The symbol of the outdoor brand is now known worldwide. Nose also designed several products such as helmets, avalanche shovels, carabiners, mountaineering backpacks and even one of the first messenger bags. During this time, the legendary film about the design development process of the avalanche shovel was made, which was produced by the Swiss television SRF and broadcasted several times. This film has been integrated into lessons at many design schools.

After privatisation, Deutsche Telekom emerged from the former gray telephone department of the Deutsche Bundespost in striking magenta. With the development of the world’s largest LED display for the group’s headquarters in Bonn, Nose set a clear example of a technological breakthrough. Nose was also responsible for the extensive renovation of the Academy for Management in Bad Honnef, ensuring a modern and inspiring learning environment. In addition, Nose organized various trade fair appearances at which the company presented itself as a technology and communications leader. The legendary public telephone tower was also built during this time, strengthening Deutsche Telekom’s presence in public spaces. With its iconic design language, it shaped the cityscape in Germany for the following 30 years.

To mark the 125th anniversary of Zurich Insurance, Nose designed and implemented a multimedia, interactive exhibition at the headquarters in Zurich. The exhibition traced the success story of the insurance group and presented the most important themes in the company’s history. It showed the company’s development from a small insurance company to an international corporation. The exhibition also presented the most important milestones in the company’s history, such as the introduction of new insurance products, expansion into new markets and the acquisition of other companies. The exhibition was designed to be multimedia and interactive and used various media such as videos, audios, texts and interactive elements to tell the story of Zurich Insurance. As a result of this successful exhibition, Nose created further anniversary exhibitions for the Lonza Group and Hoffmann-LaRoche. With these projects, Nose positioned itself as an innovative company in the field of exhibition design.

Nose won the prestigious contract for the interior design of the Transrapid magnetic levitation train. It was the ultimate cutting-edge technology project in Germany, in which the federal government and a consortium of leading German technology companies such as Siemens, Adtrans and Thyssen-Krupp took part. Deutsche Bahn was appointed as the operator of the first route from Hamburg to Berlin. The prestige object was intended to usher in a new era in the transportation sector. Nose designed two generations of prototypes that were tested on a 35 km test track in northern Germany at speeds of up to 420 km/h. Nose created an impression with clever design solutions that not only provide new visual impulses, but also enable technical improvements at the same time. The ambitious project was put on hold after a long political debate and billions of dollars in investments. Nevertheless, it was Nose’s entry into the field of transportation design, which to this day makes us a leading specialist in Europe.

Revolutionary rather than just evolutionary progress: this approach to the development of bicycle components made it possible to set new standards in the industry. Optimisations of stiffness and weight ratios brought decisive competitive advantages. Fundamental design innovations characterised the design language and made the products recognisable at first glance as groundbreaking developments. The functional advantages were noticeable, and the design language made these advantages visible. Due to these qualities, the products could be placed in a higher priced segment.

The Studer Vista laid the foundation for a range of digital mixing consoles that set new standards for ease of use and flexibility, offering a wide range of intuitive configuration options. The advanced features and high sound quality made the devices the first choice for sound engineers and audio engineers. The development of Studer digital mixing consoles influenced and expanded the way audio is mixed and produced.

Due to the redistribution of the Swiss rail network, the cantonal Bernese railway operator gained national and even international importance. The entire company was realigned for this responsibility. Nose developed a completely new brand identity with a striking logo and the signal color green as well as a completely independent product appearance. The previously never used metallic silver gives the BLS trains a modern identity for the canton of Bern.

A success story that has lasted many years began with the young bicycle manufacturer BMC. Nose has designed an ever-growing collection of bikes every year, from the color scheme and elaborate product graphics to the brand’s typical mouldings and frame details. For this purpose, all brand touchpoints were developed, such as trade fair stands, shops, the company’s headquarters, racing clothing and also the product catalogs in seasonal cycles.

GM’s strategy envisaged bringing together the automobile brands represented in Europe in so-called multi-brand dealerships. Nose developed a cross-brand platform together with the international teams of the three brands and the American parent company. A multi-brand dealership included a brand-neutral reception area, which was connected to individually designed showrooms that correspond to the respective brands. Nose developed a modular interior design and furniture set consisting of reception desks, workstations, shelves for parts and accessories, waiting areas, and display areas for vehicles and brands. The order also included a modular marking and wayfinding system for indoor and outdoor areas. As a result, Nose was commissioned to completely redesign Chevrolet Europe’s single-brand dealer network.

Nose was tasked with transforming the somewhat dusty K-Kiosk brand from anonymity into an eye-catching, independent brand. The resulting new logo in red and white on a bright light blue background was a bold step. The new K-Kiosk identity made the kiosks and shops stand out from the crowd and quickly became an icon beyond the Swiss border. The better visibility laid the foundation for an impressive economic success story.

In the tender process, the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) chose the rolling stock from Stadler Rail and the transportation design from Nose. The resulting trains feature an elegant and comfortable design and provide easy access for travelers with disabilities. Nose created an interior design that uses high-quality materials, created clear spatial structures and interpreted the tradition of regional building culture in a modern way. The large windows allow views of the spectacular Grisons mountains. Particular attention was paid to the seat fabrics. In the first class, the pattern was combined with the straight-line appearance of the side wall paneling conveying a touch of “casual luxury”, while in the second class the blue tones convey a cheerful atmosphere. These modern multiple units offer commuters and tourists a lot of comfort and make journeys with the RhB a special travel experience.

The Swiss sailing team Alinghi was the first European team in the history of the America’s Cup to win the prestigious sailing competition in 2003. Nose was then tasked with developing a new visual identity. A striking livery was designed for the boat, which harmoniously integrated the sponsors’ logos. The team was equipped with a uniform that blended harmoniously into the overall appearance with its design, sporty cut and modern materials. With this unmistakable look, Alinghi successfully defended its title. Off the coast of Valencia, the team won the title with a 5-2 win against Team New Zealand.

Nose develops a comprehensive system for the short- and long-range identification of Mercedes-Benz dealerships for passenger cars, trucks and commercial vehicles worldwide. The modular concept also allows the integration of several brands belonging to the Mercedes Group. The huge Mercedes-Benz factory and research complex in Sindelfingen was equipped with an elegant orientation and guidance system by Nose. As a follow-up order, Nose was commissioned to design the brand presence of Mercedes at the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport. The airport access and the entire departure hall will be used to represent the Mercedes brand.

The mobile revolution began with the launch of the first iPhone in 2007. Swiss retail banking was also under high pressure to innovate. In its first mobile application, PostFinance offered the entire range of e-banking functions for iPhone and Android. Nose ensured a common operating philosophy.

In a long-term collaboration, Nose developed various innovative household helpers and kitchen appliances for Betty Bossi, the Swiss market leader for cookbooks and kitchen products. Many small improvements were achieved in the handling of the devices. Nose product designs can often be found in Swiss households.

The Teammachine SLR01 is light, aerodynamic and a new development for the Tour de France. The racing bike is considered one of the best on the market and marked a milestone in the collaboration between BMC and Nose. BMC launched a powerful bike that saw Cadel Evans become the first Australian to win the Tour. The win cemented BMC’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-end racing bikes, and Nose successfully demonstrated its expertise in product design and innovation.

After the grounding of Swissair and the relaunch of the airline Swiss, the management was looking for a full-service agency to refine and apply the corporate design that had been developed at short notice. This resulted in an intensive collaboration with Nose, which involved a whole team over several years. A versatile appearance was developed across the entire range of print media, advertising appearances, magazines, invitations, and interactive electronic media such as the booking app and an inflight entertainment system. Nose also implemented all three-dimensional and spatial appearances such as markings and signage, as well as the development of the legendary airport lounge concept. The cabin interior design was also significantly influenced by Nose. In the course of this exciting collaboration, the new Swiss brand mark with the integrated tail fin was also developed.

In several projects for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA), the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), MeteoSwiss and the Federal Chancellery, Nose defined the new web frontend for the entire federal administration. The new website will be rolled out for all departments and also optimised for mobile applications.

With the app control of the LSP 500 Pro wireless speaker system, Nose shaped the design language for all digital devices at Sennheiser. The system celebrated a successful launch at the “Prolight + Sound” trade fair in Frankfurt and was later awarded the Best of Swiss App Award and the iF Design Award.

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Nose developed a high-quality and user-friendly suite of devices for Swisscom: a telephone, a WLAN router and a TV box including a remote control. With its high-quality appearance, intuitive operation and ergonomic, elegant design, Nose ensured that the company’s customer-oriented focus is noticeable in every detail. The result of this intensive development work was recognised with a «Red Dot Award: Product Design».

Our expertise in brand-appropriate interior design for Swiss convinced the subsidiary Edelweiss Air to commission Nose to redesign their long-haul aircraft. The task included the entire cabin interior with individual design of the three classes: Economy, Economy Plus and Business. Nose developed new textiles for seats, carpets, curtains and cushions, designs amenity kits (give-aways) and the partition walls. In this context, an innovative lighting concept was also created that underlines the different phases of flight with different lighting moods.

The development of the innovative and ultra-modern Giruno was a milestone in the collaboration with Stadler Rail. The train set new standards in Swiss rail transport and is the flagship of the SBB. With a top speed of 250 km/h, the Giruno connects Germany, Switzerland and Italy on the route through the newly opened Gotthard Base Tunnel. Nose designed every detail of the train, from the characteristic exterior with the dynamic front cabin and the striking livery to the entire interior including the dining car. A new standard has been set in terms of accessibility, as the passenger compartment is fully accessible with a wheelchair. For this work, Nose was awarded, among others, the renowned Swiss Design Prize in the Design Leadership category.

With the Traverso, Nose created a train with charisma for the Südostbahn (SOB) that awakens the desire to travel and is a real popular figure. On the routes over the Gotthard Pass, through the foothills of the Alps and along the route between Chur, Zurich and Bern, it provides a lot of elegance and convincing comfort. The train is based on the tried and tested FLIRT model from Stadler Rail, but appears completely independent. The Traverso is an overall experience that is as spectacular as it is authentic.

By introducing the Excellence Class, Glacier Express AG opened a new chapter and at the same time created a new class in luxury tourism. As part of a comprehensive overhaul of the entire interior of all classes, Nose has taken the entire interior design to a completely new level. The concept reinterprets Alpine luxury by using the finest materials according to Swiss craftsmanship traditions and showcasing them in a finely staged lighting concept. This creates a warm, feel-good atmosphere on rails. The result makes the journey between St. Moritz and Zermatt an absolute highlight in Swiss tourism. The Glacier Express experience will remain in the memory of every passenger.

Nose was selected as the lead agency for Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance transport and is defining the travel experience for the next generation of ICE. In close collaboration with various DB departments and development teams, the entire travel experience is being redefined. The redesign emphasised sustainability, longevity and durability in the choice of materials. The new interior design appears modern and friendly and impresses with great attention to detail. Warm, natural materials, covers made of high-quality fabric and nuanced colors determine the new appearance. The new seats are ergonomically optimized and designed as a personal retreat. Elements such as tablet holders and coat hooks in each backrest as well as inductive charging for cell phones ensure practical functionality. Nose ensures comfort at 300 km/h.

Stadler is completing its product range with an offer for the expansion of inner-city rail transport. A new team at Stadler is developing a modular, flexible tram platform. This platform is modeled on modern automobile manufacturing and enables Stadler to produce trams for different needs and requirements. Nose is supporting with product development and the various tenders. With wide passageways, large panoramic windows, modern indirect lighting and a fresh exterior design, the new platform is impressing rail operators in Basel-Land, Darmstadt, The Hague, Gera, Halle and Rostock.

The Nose logo has never been on display at such altitude before. At a breathtaking 6,510 meters (approximately 21,360 feet) above sea level, the Terren solar-powered off-road vehicle sets the world altitude record for electric vehicles at the summit of Ojos del Salado in Chile. This success underlines the performance and robustness of the Terren and its electric propulsion system. It is a milestone for emission-free driving worldwide.