Art Genève: teo Jakob Showcases its Passion For Creation with Leading Artists

Since the inaugural edition of Art Genève in 2011, teo jakob has been one of its trusted exhibitors. This longstanding collaboration began with a meeting between Michèle Rossier, Director of teo jakob for French-speaking Switzerland, and the salon’s former director, Thomas Hug. “From the very first edition of the salon, we designed various spaces. At the time, the event was coupled with the book fair. Today, Art Genève occupies an entire hall at Palexpo and enjoys international recognition,” said Michèle Rossier in an interview with Luxury Tribune just days before the official opening.

However, the story of this Bernese icon in the design world began much earlier, in 1950. After taking over his father’s tapestry shop in Bern’s old town, Theodor Jakob decided to radically transform the store by offering a selection of functional and modern furniture. He became a trailblazer in contemporary interior design in Switzerland, driven by one key idea: avant-garde. This vision was reflected in his bold red-and-white logo and the brand name “teo jakob,” written in lowercase letters. Throughout his career, Jakob collaborated with major international collections such as Christensen (now Fritz Hansen), Herman Miller (now under Vitra), and Wittmann, as well as many Swiss artists with whom he developed close friendships.

Specializing in furniture, lighting, textiles, and accessories, teo jakob today employs 120 people and focuses on interior design using collections from a network of 150 to 200 partner suppliers based across Europe. For the past seven years, the company has been led by Simon Flückiger, supported by a committee of five members operating in various strategic regions. The company generates annual revenues between 45 and 50 million Swiss francs.

Starting with its historical base in Bern, followed by locations in Geneva, Zurich, and Winterthur, the brand has recently embraced new concepts with the opening of two workshops in Zug and Lausanne.