Franz Grabner Preis

Veech x Veech developed the Franz Grabner Preis to commemorate the life and career of Austrian journalist and film editor Franz Grabner. More than a professional commission, this project is a personal tribute to a close friend and special collaborator of over 20 years. Having partnered on landmark projects such as die Box, kreuz und quer, and K4 – Künstlerhaus, the studio sought to create a design that reflects the depth of Franz’s contribution to the Austrian film landscape.

The heart of the project is the award itself—an elegant, helix-shaped object crafted from white Corian. The design is bold yet simple, capturing the essence of Franz’s belief in radical concepts and state-of-the-art media formats. Its tactile, sculptural form serves as a physical reminder of his commitment to the documentary genre, presented annually at the Diagonale Film Festival in Graz to honour excellence in cinema and television.

In conjunction with the award, the studio developed a visual identity that prioritizes simplicity and subtle evolution. The identity’s appearance—from event posters to various graphic applications—shifts slightly each year through the careful selection of paper grades, colour, and typography. By maintaining a consistent grid and layout, the assets remain grounded in a timeless visual language. Realized through the dedicated efforts of the Diagonale, AAFP, Film Austria, and the ORF, the project stands as a lasting homage to a pivotal figure in the industry.