Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/657286
PSB: What are some of the brands that KISKA currently works with? SS: KISKA has worked with over 200 clients over 25 years. In terms of powersports, key KISKA clients include KTM, Husqvarna Motor- cycles, CFMOTO, Magura, Schuberth and WP Performance Systems. The creative team also works closely with performance brands in a range of other industries. Notable brands include Adidas, AKG, Atomic, Audi, Bosch, Chery, Hilti, Honda, Mennekes, Opel, Osram, Ottobock and Zeiss. PSB: How many people are employed by KISKA and what are the current locations? SS: Worldwide, KISKA employs over 150 people from 28 nations. The bulk of our cre- ative specialists work collaboratively across fields under one roof — our 5,000-square- meter (54,000-square-foot) studio at the foot of Mount Untersberg in Salzburg, Austria. KISKA's North American subsidiary studio, KISKA Inc. is located in Temecula, California. PSB: Why was it decided that KISKA should open an office in California? STEVE MASTERSON: As we have built strong relationships with many of our clients, we found it necessary to support these clients' brands by extending our services to meet the needs of their own global subsidiaries. With KTM for instance, it was essential for KISKA Inc. to support their North American market to keep the brand's communication clear and concise across the board. In addition to sup- porting our client's needs, we felt this would be an excellent opportunity to discover fresh creative talent who are passionate about design and motivated by KISKA's vision of "Designing Desire." Now celebrating our one-year anni- versary, this jump across the pond has proven to be successful. PSB: The company started as a design busi- ness, correct? What other services are being offered now, such as research? Why was it determined that the company should offer more than just design services? SS: You are correct! KISKA did begin as a one- man design business, in 1990 (at Gerald Kiska's kitchen table). However, as the number and range of prod- ucts we designed grew, so too did KISKA's services. Basically, from our perspective as transportation and product designers, we were not entirely on board with the way other agencies were presenting the brands we were designing products for. With support of key decision makers at the client level, like KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, we were able to extend into other service fields. KISKA evolved this way because it is a brand-centric design agency. We know that the product is not the "be all, end all" of a brand — it is an accumulation of uniquely positioned and streamlined touch points, which give the consumer a full brand experience. Currently, the creative specialists at KISKA work across the fields of brand and research (including brand positioning, brand strategy, marketing consulting, strategic product management), transportation design, product design and communication design (corporate communi- cation design, product communication design, print design, digital design and photo/video production). The end result being that KISKA is a brand-building partner. PSB: What makes Kiska different or unique? How are Kiska designed products better or more fun than products designed by other companies? SS: KISKA is unique in its field because of our I.D.D. (Integrated Design Development) approach. Reduced to its essence, I.D.D. refers to how our creative specialists work across fields in mixed teams to build brands. So, products designed at KISKA are espe- cially unique because they've been designed to live up to the brand. If the brand is sexy, the product is sexy (and vice versa). "Signature design" does not exist at KISKA. We're creating products for brands. And, our team of very passion- ate creative specialists get this. There's no ego, no desire to put a personal "stamp" on a design — just a drive to channel a passion into the best possible design solution. It's easy to dream big picture. Execution is another matter altogether. But, with I.D.D. we can do both for brands. PSB: What kind of growth trajectory has the company been on over the past few years? Or, is the company growing? By what YOY percentage growth? SS: At KISKA headquarters in Salzburg, we've been experiencing a parallel 10-15 percent growth year-over-year in terms of profit turnover and our creative team. We've www.PowersportsBusiness.com KISKA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 See KISKA, Page 29 KISKA has grown from its Austrian roots (above) to open a second office in Temecula, Calif. SÉBASTIEN STASSIN