about edaab

Cologne – New York – Cologne:
Ralf Daab – The idea and the founding of daab publishing

When Ralf Daab returned to his home town of Cologne in 2003 to found daab after a ten year spell in the publishing branch in New York, he had the key for success in his pocket: the know how, the idea and his connections.

His goal: a publishing house of his own. Books on design, photography, art, architecture, just like the ones he himself would buy. Books on interesting artist and designers, that would enthrall and inspire the reader both by doing justice to his aesthetic sensibility, as well as to his thirst for information.

In his childhood friend and artist Feyyaz, Ralf Daab has found a true creative on his side, someone who can translate his ideas into a pictorial language that would soon become the trademark of the publishing house. Supporting them is a young, dynamic team of design-loving colleagues, that like to think outside the box and that often contribute with ideas of their own.

In a trendy loft on the Friesenstraße in downtown Cologne, the team develops new innovative concepts for future publications and an editorial program, which is soon to conquer the international art book market.

A good idea is the fruit on many a good thoughts

Over 1,4 million daab books, published in five languages, have meanwhile been sold across the world. But daab is more than just a publishing house, more than a brand and more than a program: not only books have established daab as a household name in the publishing and media world. Thanks to edaab.com, daab music, the COLOGNE CATWALK and the „Creative Club“ further forms of creative expression and new personal networks were successfully formed.

Meanwhile, daab represents an international network of creative people from the design, architecture, photography, fashion and art scene. They have contributed to the success of the brand and to its proliferous ideas, its visionary character and to the daab drive.

Connecting these contacts and creating common synergies has been a decisive factor for daab’s success from the very beginning. For every daab project, being on the look-out for new, original talents has been just as important as the interchange between creative genres and the personal enthusiasm for a shared goal.

edaab – the online-community for creative people

A fast and dynamic medium, which allows for direct communication, the internet is the ideal platform for bringing together like-minded people, thus paving the way for a true creative community.

With the internet platform edaab, daab launches a global network for creative minds from different fields, who can exchange ideas and present their projects. Here, the edaab philosophy, which pleads for the plurality amongst artistic genres and aims to stimulate synergies, is put into practice.

And the concept works: the platform today offers thousands of designers, artists and architects a niche for their online activities, enabling collaborations and growing day for day along with its members and their ideas.

Today edaab brings together creatives from across the world, initiating common projects and furthermore providing content for future publications at daab publishing. Even the up-coming designers, who presented their collections every year at the successful fashion show COLOGNE CATWALK are selected through a call-for-entries launched on edaab. Additionally, the edaab Award nominates the best work posted on the online galleries, making them known to the general public.

In the new feature 10Q2 [...] well-known edaab members like Karim Rashid, Matali Crasset, Jürgen Mayer H., Kostas Murkudis, Jean Marie-Massaud and Winka Dubbeldam answer to unusual questions. Like everywhere else on edaab, here too, discussions are welcome.

edaab – the unique online-community

Exchange your ideas with other creative people from across the world, engage in common projects, discuss in blogs, forums and shout boxes and become part of a unique community!

edaab – the exclusive presentation portal

Manage your portfolio in a media library of your own and create galleries for all to see your projects by simply using drag&drop . Your edaab profile will become your own personalized domain (www.edaab.com/yourname) and can be accessed and up-dated from every computer the world over, no matter where you are.

edaab – your springboard into international business

Apply with your edaab-gallery for publications, competitions, special events and exhibitions. In the Call4Entries area, you can find the current calls-for-entry. It might be your project to be featured next in an up-coming daab publication, to be exhibited in a renown gallery or to be presented to an exclusive and specialized public!

edaab – your guide through the creative world

Read the latest news from across the scene, find out about events, exhibitions und conferences. Present your own project, news and event. Read interviews with well-known edaab members and make these your contacts. Find your new job on edaab, be informed about current competitions and calls-for-entry and collaborate with other edaab members!

How to

The future: Taking new paths

In future, there will be even more interactive offers, mobile web services and apps, as well as the steady development of the community. Furthermore, in 2010 edaab will bring out an online-magazine and an online job exchange. All features are orientated towards the needs and wishes of the edaab members. Become an edaab member and be part of a unique creative community.
Recommend us to your creative friends and business partners!