Martin Ballendat

Born in 1958 in Bochum, Martin Ballendat, has achieved over 60 design awards, and has designed the Magnum, Eviva, Stretto and Girado collections for Team7. Educated in Industrial Design from Folkwang University, Essen, he work in his early years as designer for Sedus Stoll and as head of design and product development for Wiesner Hager furniture.

Since 1995 he has set up his own design office "Design Ballendat" with a focus on design and product development, and is a jury member of international design competitions. Between 1998 and 2003 he lectured in Industrial Design at Graz Polytechnic, and since then has been guest professor at both the Graz and Salzburg Polytechnics. He has achieved more than 70 design awards.

Company Profile

After receiving his title of Master of Joiner, Erwin Berghammer set the cornerstone of his future career by purchasing a small wood working company in Ried, Austria, at the age of 26 in 1959. The Team7 brand was formed in 1965, by a number of management team members. More recently Dr. Georg Emprechtinger, now CEO, became the majority owner in 2006.

Back in 1980 the company was repositioned and Team7 focused on 'eco' furniture. Team7's philosophy is balancing contemporary design and ecology. Using only woods from sustainably managed forests, glued and finished using natural solutions: Team7's unique purity policy helps to protect the environment. With seven different types of wood and flexible made-to-measure and custom designs, Team7 combines social responsibility with transparent, ecologically and economically sustainable production.