Lexus launches design contest
2012-10-31 08:56
DESIGN MENTORS FOR MILAN: Product designer Sam Hecht, left, and architect Junya Ishigami will mentor the two top finalists in the inaugural Lexus Design Awards.
Lexus has announced the launch of its first Design Award, an international competition for designers across a range of fields, from architecture to fashion.
Lexus, through this programme, "wants to nurture creativity and support the skills and vision of young designers working around the world".
SHOWING MOTION
The winners will have a chance to develop their design prototypes with world-renowned designers, the automaker said, and display their work at the 2013 Milan Design Week running from April 9-14, 2013.
Six experts, ranging from curators to designers and Kiyotaka Ise, the president of Lexus International, will select 10 finalists from the initial entries and two entrants will be chosen to work with product designer Sam Hecht and architect Junya Ishigami as mentors.
Hecht’s London design studio counts Yamaha, Epson and Whirlpool as clients, while Ishigami’s design for the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan counts as one of his most recognised works.
The finalist will also receive financial support to cover their prototype and production costs before showing their work to the news media and public at Milan Design Week.
The two winners will exhibit their full prototypes, while the remaining eight will showcase panel displays illustrating their concepts.
The theme of the inaugural Lexus Design award is “motion” and applications will be accepted from now until December 31, 2012 by DesignBoom. For more information and to register, go to Lexus' Design Award page or Designboom.
The award is open to all nationalities, Lexus said.
