Jean Jacques Schaffner

Born in Basel, Switzerland in 1954, Jean Jacques Schaffner studied graphic design, film and photography at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel. He followed this up with additional professional training, including as a director of TV music, as well as with study trips to Paris, London, San Francisco and at the University of Utah. In 1976, he founded Schaffner & Conzelmann Designersfactory in Basel, a full-service agency for communication and design, which quickly became one of the most renowned agencies in Switzerland. From 2000 to 2003, Jean Jacques Schaffner was President of the European Packaging Design Association (epda). Since 2019, he has been working as an independent consultant, photographer, film producer and designer under the name jjsscc, as well as serving as a juror for numerous design awards. He is also a sought-after speaker on the topics of design and communication. 

Red Dot: What options are available for turning brands into threedimensional experiences?
Jean Jacques Schaffner: The time when interior design was limited to the mere decoration of physical spaces is long gone. Today, the objective is rather to design sensory experiences. The task that has to be solved is the bringing together of sound, colour, light projections and, of course, also spatial elements in one context. Never before has it been so important to be able to think in an interdisciplinary way.

What drives you to keep reinventing design?
A look at the design developments across the world challenges me anew every day to improve. I consider it a privilege to have so much good design available and to be able to measure myself against it. That is why I still continue to take part in design tenders. Competition keeps you fit.