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Lexus Design Award 2016 Finalists Announced

TOKYO, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexus International today announced 12 finalists for the fourth-annual Lexus Design Award, an international competition recognizing up-and-coming creators who are focused on shaping a better future through design.

Lexus Design Award 2016

All finalists will have the opportunity to display their ideas to the public at Lexus' exhibition space on April 12-17, 2016 at Milan Design Week, the world's largest design exhibition.

Four of the 12 finalists – designated prototype winners – will be partnered with world-renowned mentors and receive guidance in producing prototypes of their designs. They will also receive up to 2.5 million yen each to produce these prototypes.

The Grand Prix winner will be selected from the four prototype finalists and will be announced on April 11 at the award ceremony at Milan Design Week.

The four prototype winners are:

  • AGAR PLASTICITY, a project exploring how agar (a gelatinous material obtained from the marine algae) can be used as an environmentally friendly packaging material and alternative to plastic
  • DADA, a block toy that can be freely combined using bands, holes, and pegs to create and realize each child's imagination
  • Shape Shifters, a special cut of garment, applying modular principles to textiles, which allows you to create different outfits
  • Trace, a clock that uses a liquid with UV rays and discoloration properties, allowing us to visualize the passing time

The mentors are:

  • Elena Manferdini, architect and designer
  • Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, architects and interdisciplinary designers
  • Snarkitecture, artists and architects
  • Max Lamb, designer

The theme of this year's Lexus Design Award is "Anticipation." Applicants were encouraged to submit innovative designs and unique interpretations that reflect the essence of the theme. 

A total of 1,232 entries from 73 countries were received.

Initial entries were screened by a panel of globally recognized judges and celebrated design mentors in November in Tokyo. Judging criteria included the depth of understanding and unique interpretation of the competition theme, as well as the uniqueness of perspective and originality of the proposed design concept. The same judging panel will decide the Grand Prix winner in Milan and is comprised of:

  • Paola Antonelli, senior curator at MoMA, New York
  • Aric Chen, curator at M+ Museum, Hong Kong
  • Toyo Ito, Pritzker Prize-winning architect
  • Birgit Lohmann, chief editor of designboom
  • Alice Rawsthorn, design commentator
  • Tokuo Fukuichi, president of Lexus International

The finalist entries and judging committee comments can be viewed at www.lexusdesignaward.com.

Finalists are potentially available for interview, and images can be supplied, please contact:  Jennifer Zawadzinski, jzawadzinski@theoutcastagency.com or 646-746-2173

Those attending Milan Design Week are welcome to visit the Lexus exhibit at T32 Torneria/Carrozzeria, Via Tortona 32, 20144 (Zona Tortona). Further details regarding the Lexus exhibit will be announced in mid-February.

 

Lexus Design Award 2016 Prototype Winners:

Title of Work

AGAR PLASTICITY

Designers

Kosuke Araki, Noriaki Maetani, Akira Muraoka (Japanese)

Country of Residence: Japan

Description

A project exploring how agar, a gelatinous material obtained from the marine algae, can be used as an environmentally friendly packaging material and alternative to plastic

Mentor

Max Lamb

Title of Work

DADA

Designer

Myungsik Jang (Korean)

Country of Residence: South Korea

Description

A block toy that can be freely combined using bands, holes, and pegs to realize each child's imagination, while encouraging them to play outdoors

Mentor

Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu

Title of Work

Shape Shifters

Designer

Angelena Laura Fenuta (Canadian/Italian)

Country of Residence: Canada

Description

Dynamic garments that apply modular principles to textiles, enabling the wearer to configure them to their style preferences

Mentor

Elena Manferdini

Title of Work

Trace

Designers

Begum Ayaskan, Bike Ayaskan (Turkish)

Country of Residence: United Kingdom

Description

A clock that uses photochromatic liquid with a rotating UV light to visualize the passing of time through color changes

Mentor

Snarkitecture

 

Lexus Design Award 2016 Panel Finalists:

Title of Work

aniknown

Designer

Ayami Marugata (Japanese)

Country of Residence: Japan

Description        

aniknown is a creation of clothes for six types of animal, choosing the materials according to each one's feature, behavior and habitat.

Title of Work

Bio-Vide

Designer

Takuma Yamazaki (Japanese)

Country of Residence: Japan

Description

Bio-Vide uses fallen leaves to create tables and envelopes. It visualizes the concept that all things return to earth.

Title of Work

Drop Box

Designers

Group: Ding Dong & Ma Jincai & Peter Luo & Huang Junxi

Ding Dong, Jincai Ma, Peter Luo, Junxi Huang (Chinese)

Country of Residence: China

Description

Drop Box utilizes aerodynamics to allow critical supplies to be safely and economically airdropped to areas in need without using a parachute.

Title of Work

Hexagon

Designers

Chulin Yang (Chinese)

Country of Residence: Australia

Description

Hexagon is an umbrella that uses magnets to connect to other umbrellas, encouraging interaction between people.

Title of Work

PLANTS-SKIN

Designer

Hiroto Yoshizoe (Japanese)

Country of Residence: Japan

Description

PLANTS-SKIN is a planter made of a colored mortar and special ink that visualizes the timing for watering plants.

Title of Work

Project Play

Designer

Oliver Staiano (British)

Country of Residence: United Kingdom

Description

Project Play consists of a series of table lamps that create long-term playful interaction between object and user though wireless technology and magnetized rubber.

Title of Work

RESOLUTION OF SOUND LOCATION

Designer

Takato Sasaki, Yuki Shinohara (Japanese)

Country of Residence: Japan

Description

RESOLUTION OF SOUND LOCATION is a headphone device composed of super directive microphones and speakers that can determine sound sources through adjusting volume.

Title of Work

Slow Door

Designer

Deepak Jawahar & Irina Bogdan

Deepak Jawahar (Indian),Irina Michaela Bogdan (Romanian)

Country of Residence: China

Description

Slow Door is conceived as an assembly of cubic components forming a spatial mechanism that delays the transition through a doorway. It allows us to appreciate the time and space created by the experience.

 

About Lexus Design Award
First launched in 2013, the Lexus Design Award is an international design competition that targets up-and-coming creators from around the world. The award seeks to foster the growth of ideas that contribute to society by supporting creators whose works can help to shape a better future. It provides a unique opportunity for designers chosen as prototype winners to work with a globally recognized designer who mentors them to further develop their designs for exhibition at one of the design calendar's most important events.

About Lexus
Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has earned a worldwide reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service. Lexus is the hybrid leader among luxury brands, offering hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and premier luxury. The evolution of Lexus is reflected in the progressive designs of its new vehicles. The signature spindle grille, dynamic light treatments, and sculptured lines create a distinctive look of luxury for Lexus.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160126/326226

 

SOURCE Lexus International