Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website 2019 Lexus Design Award finalists named
january 30, 2019 - Lexus

2019 Lexus Design Award finalists named

Six Transformative Solutions Harness the Power of #design Innovation to Build a Better Tomorrow.

  • Six finalists were selected from a total of 1,548 entries and will now enter the prototype creation stage with continued support from #Lexus.
  • In preparation for prototype creation, a Lexus-sponsored mentoring workshop was held at the newly- opened Intersect by #Lexus in New York City, where finalists received hands-on guidance with four globally acclaimed creators: Jessica Rosenkrantz, Shohei Shigematsu, Sebastian Wrong and Jaime Hayon.
  • Finalists will introduce their prototypes to a global audience for the first time ever this April at Milan #design Week 2019, after which the Grand Prix winner will be selected.

Lexus announced today the names of the six Lexus #design Award finalists for 2019. This year's finalists employed technology in even more #creative ways to spark new ideas and conceptualize transformative solutions that have the power to change lives. Most of the solution concepts below looked to address the challenges of tomorrow today including biodegradable materials, renewable energy sources and reduction of our carbon footprint.

Lexus #design Award 2019 Finalists
● Algorithmic Lace, #lisamarks (USA); A 3D-custom lace bra for breast cancer survivors.
● Arenophile, #rezzanhasoglu (Turkey / Country of Residence: UK); A project exploring desert
sand with different binding materials to create products.
● Baluto, #jeffreyedelacruz (Philippines); A modular housing system designed to withstand
earthquakes and high floods.
● Green Blast Jet Energy, #dmitriybalashov (Russia); A turbine that collects and converts aircraft
jet blast to energy during take-off.
● Hydrus, #shuzhanyuan (China); An emergency treatment equipment offshore oil spills that
increase work efficiency.
● Solgami, Prevalent (Ben Berwick) (Australia); A window blind that generates electricity and
increases internal illumination.

According to technologist and 2019 LDA judge, #johnmaeda, "This year's submissions revealed a strong awareness of the connectedness of our world and the need for increased social consciousness." Speaking more on the transformation happening in the area of #design thinking, he said, "It's clear that the fusion of classical #design and computational #design is now happening especially in the minds of designers looking to solve our world's biggest problems. I'm optimistic that as we continue to nurture and embrace this new generation of designers we'll see a better tomorrow."

Earlier this month, the finalists engaged in a 2-day mentoring workshop at the recently opened Intersect by #Lexus brand space in the heart of New York's Meatpacking District. Here, four globally acclaimed designers: Jessica Rosenkrantz, Shohei Shigematsu, Sebastian Wrong and Jaime Hayon offered inspiration and their diverse expertise to kick-off and prepare the finalists to start creating their prototypes. Hayon, who served as a judge on the first #Lexus #design Award in 2013, returns as a mentor this year, and said: "The finalist's ideas are very interesting, and some are truly breaking boundaries. Through the mentoring workshop, I myself was also inspired by interacting with a different generation who looks at technology for the 21st century from a fresh angle. Further the varied backgrounds of the mentors made the whole project richer." He added, "Milan #design Week is a big boom of ideas and a wonderful environment for an international exchange of creativity, a perfect place for the finalists to show courage and challenge this great opportunity."

Following the inspiring and highly valuable workshop, finalists will have ongoing access to each mentor as they develop their prototypes during the months leading up to Milan #design Week in April. Their prototypes will then be displayed at the #Lexus event space in Milan on 8 April. Prototypes will be judge by four world-renown #design leaders and select the Lexus #design Award 2019 Grand Prix winner.