Design Shaped by History – SIBU DESIGN Shares Its Story
There are company stories that read like an instruction manual.
And then there’s ours: best experienced like a thoughtfully curated moodboard – layer by layer, material by material, with a few unexpected effects in between.
Welcome to the story of SIBU DESIGN.
1985 – When design was allowed to be bold
1985 was a different world. Perms were a statement, chrome was the future – and design was free to want a little more. It was in this very year that we founded SIRO-BURG DESIGN: seven people, limited space, but an abundance of ideas. Our first product was called MULTISTYLE – a name that, in hindsight, feels almost prophetic. What may sound like start-up romance today was simply reality back then: make it, test it, export it.
And it worked. In our very first year, our products reached 20 countries. While others were still thinking about markets, we were already moving internationally.
Late 1980s – When lack of space became a sign of growth
By 1987, one thing was clear: ideas need room. So we began the first construction phase at what is now our headquarters in Ternberg. Soon after came printed decorative strips, mirror polystyrene panels – and a growing sense of who we were: we prefer to do it ourselves – and do it better.
The shift to in-house production in 1989 was not only a smart business move, but a promise of quality.
To this day, all of our products are manufactured exclusively in Ternberg, Austria.
The 1990s – When design became strategy
The 1990s were the decade in which boldness turned into structure. Mirror stripes rolled off the production line by the millions, our manufacturing space expanded, competitors were acquired – and suddenly, we were present in 45 countries. Along the way, we earned ISO certifications, EU export awards, and established our own in-house development department.
And then, of course, there was design: daring colours, three-dimensional effects, perforated panels – surfaces you wanted to touch. Looking back, we can smile at what was considered modern at the time – but it was precisely this spirit of the era that defined us. We didn’t just follow trends; we shaped them.
2001 – From SIRO-BURG to SIBU DESIGN
Sometimes, it takes a new name to express what you have long since become. In 2001, we became SIBU DESIGN. More space, a high-bay warehouse, a subsidiary in Singapore – and a clear focus on what lay ahead. Sustainability was part of the conversation from the very beginning: recycling facilities, conscious material choices, responsibility.
Awards followed, as did new product lines and new industries: caravan, furniture, interior design, and later even fashion. H&M and Wolford suddenly counted among our clients. And who could forget the fashion show in Vienna? For us, SIBU DESIGN was never just a backdrop – we were part of the performance.
When surfaces became statements
What began with mirror mosaics and smooth mirror panels grew increasingly complex from the 2000s onwards – visually and functionally. Surfaces were no longer merely coated; they were shaped. Structured panels with a leather look – deliberately without using real leather – suddenly revealed snake and crocodile patterns, fine graining, decorative stitching and even metallic effects. At the same time, expectations of what our products could do continued to rise: fire-resistant, printable, customisable – created for brands, not for uniformity.
From 2010 onwards, the focus expanded to include lightness and resilience: acrylic panels with integrated designs, velvety haptics and mirrored structured surfaces unlike anything the market had seen before. In short, decoration became function. And function became design with conviction.
Success is teamwork – and our customers are part of it
One of the key reasons for our success lies not in machines, materials or ideas alone – but in dialogue. Many of our strongest product lines were born from collaborative thinking with our partners and customers. Nowhere is this more evident than in the caravan and motorhome sector: what began as a single enquiry evolved into a fully independent pillar of our business.
We have never seen ourselves as mere suppliers, but as development partners. We listen, question, test, discard and refine – often until a challenge turns into a solution the market has never seen before. This culture of co-creation continues to shape our products to this day. Perhaps it is our most consistent design feature of all: surfaces created through genuine collaboration.
Crises, creativity, and comebacks
Of course, not everything has always gone smoothly. The 2009 financial crisis, a fire in 2016, COVID-19, a restructuring process in 2023 – every good story has its moments of tension. What matters is what happens next. And this is where our core shows: solution-focused, creative, agile.
We developed protective walls, explored new materials, and launched bestselling products such as OPTICAL MIRROR and SL OCEAN. Especially sustainable product lines, like the NATURE-LINE and the LUXEWALL Panel Collection, also emerged during these times – often from seemingly small ideas or vague customer requests.
Today – and tomorrow
In 2025, we will celebrate 40 years of SIBU DESIGN. With around 190 decorative decors in multiple variations, millions of square meters of production capacity, state-of-the-art technology, and a team that knows: good design never stands still. ACOUSTIC WALL PANELS, a new 5-axis milling machine, a trading company in Germany – our story continues to unfold.
And when we look back at old patterns, colours, or textures, we can smile. That knowing wink is part of it. Design is always a reflection of its time. And over the past four decades, SIBU DESIGN has done more than reflect – we have left our mark.
The story continues. Without a doubt.
Get inspired…
…and register for our monthly mailing. Here we show you once a month a current project and inform you about our product newcomers.