Sammelwiese

by Felix Angermeyer

Product Design

About: A circle shaped

picnic blanket for friends

November, 2023. Text by Felix Angermeyer, Cologne (Germany), Photo: Felix Angermeyer

Sitting together in a Circle is one of the oldest traditions. You can find it in every culture. And I want to bring it back to the Parks in our Neiborhood. 5 Years ago I began to think about the shape of picnic blankets. And I realized that you need a circle to sit in a circle. And in order to feel comfortable putting your feet in the middle there has to be a hole in the center. With this concept in mind it was important to me, that you as an individual just need one handy picnic blanket for all your purposes. So I came up with the idea that one blanket equals one quarter of the circle. The quarter has the perfect size to use it alone or as a couple for traditional picnicking or sunbathing. But as soon as you meet up with friends you can put them together and build a circle. And the best thing about it: There are countless patterns you can create, only limited by your imagination. (0:53´ Minuten) What always matters to me in my design work, is sustainable quality. So I was carefully selecting high quality materials for the Sammelwiese. All washable and with fresh modern colors. Sammelwiese is the next generation picnic blanket.

Cologne, April 13, 2017 – Summer is approaching, and people are heading to the city's green spaces. The warmer it gets, the more you see large groups of people awkwardly squeezing onto square picnic blankets, visibly struggling to find a position that is comfortable and communicative. Shoes on the grass and backs against each other, with the only conversation partners on either side. That is usually the end of the small blanket commotion.

Product designer Felix Angermeyer recognized this problem during his studies at FH Aachen. The idea that emerged from this problem is as obvious as it is ingenious. Inspired by the centuries-old tradition of sitting in circles in communities, the Sammelwiese project was born. "Why not have a round blanket with a hole in the middle for the feet? That's the idea of Sammelwiese," says developer Felix Angermeyer.

For practical handling and to retain the characteristics of the classic picnic blanket, Sammelwiese consists of a quarter of a circle. This shape allows for the possibility of combining these redesigned picnic blankets with others of the same kind in countless different patterns. The modular system allows for comfortable sitting in the sun while still being able to communicate with everyone in the circle. Additionally, each Sammelwiese can be transformed into a practical shoulder bag through a clever folding system, where essential everyday items can be stored. Thanks to the water-resistant material on the underside, even on wet grass, pants stay dry.

"The Sammelwiese is designed to solve several problems at once," says Felix Angermeyer. "It is not only intended to make sitting together in the green more comfortable and communal but also to establish the picnic blanket as a frequently used everyday item. Usually, one stuffs the classic picnic blanket into a much too small bag and somehow distributes belongings around it. With Sammelwiese, you don't need an additional bag when you want to store your phone, keys, or wallet, allowing you to spontaneously connect with friends."

Sammelwiese

by Felix Angermeyer

↓

(Product Design)

About: A circle shaped picnic blanket for friends

November, 2023. Text by Felix Angermeyer, Cologne (Germany).
Photo: Felix Angermeyer

Sitting together in a Circle is one of the oldest traditions. You can find it in every culture. And I want to bring it back to the Parks in our Neiborhood. 5 Years ago I began to think about the shape of picnic blankets. And I realized that you need a circle to sit in a circle. And in order to feel comfortable putting your feet in the middle there has to be a hole in the center. With this concept in mind it was important to me, that you as an individual just need one handy picnic blanket for all your purposes. So I came up with the idea that one blanket equals one quarter of the circle. The quarter has the perfect size to use it alone or as a couple for traditional picnicking or sunbathing. But as soon as you meet up with friends you can put them together and build a circle. And the best thing about it: There are countless patterns you can create, only limited by your imagination. (0:53´ Minuten) What always matters to me in my design work, is sustainable quality. So I was carefully selecting high quality materials for the Sammelwiese. All washable and with fresh modern colors. Sammelwiese is the next generation picnic blanket.

Cologne, April 13, 2017 – Summer is approaching, and people are heading to the city's green spaces. The warmer it gets, the more you see large groups of people awkwardly squeezing onto square picnic blankets, visibly struggling to find a position that is comfortable and communicative. Shoes on the grass and backs against each other, with the only conversation partners on either side. That is usually the end of the small blanket commotion.

Product designer Felix Angermeyer recognized this problem during his studies at FH Aachen. The idea that emerged from this problem is as obvious as it is ingenious. Inspired by the centuries-old tradition of sitting in circles in communities, the Sammelwiese project was born. "Why not have a round blanket with a hole in the middle for the feet? That's the idea of Sammelwiese," says developer Felix Angermeyer.

For practical handling and to retain the characteristics of the classic picnic blanket, Sammelwiese consists of a quarter of a circle. This shape allows for the possibility of combining these redesigned picnic blankets with others of the same kind in countless different patterns. The modular system allows for comfortable sitting in the sun while still being able to communicate with everyone in the circle. Additionally, each Sammelwiese can be transformed into a practical shoulder bag through a clever folding system, where essential everyday items can be stored. Thanks to the water-resistant material on the underside, even on wet grass, pants stay dry.

"The Sammelwiese is designed to solve several problems at once," says Felix Angermeyer. "It is not only intended to make sitting together in the green more comfortable and communal but also to establish the picnic blanket as a frequently used everyday item. Usually, one stuffs the classic picnic blanket into a much too small bag and somehow distributes belongings around it. With Sammelwiese, you don't need an additional bag when you want to store your phone, keys, or wallet, allowing you to spontaneously connect with friends."