Animal masks, a power-generating sculpture, a mood-reflecting light and a range of clothes and accessories that express the human senses lead the 12 projects selected as finalists in the 2015 Lexus Design Award.
This year’s competition took the theme of Senses and attracted 1,171 submissions from designers in 72 countries. The finalists have been selected by a panel of celebrated international designers, creatives and commentators and all will be displayed at the Lexus space at Milan Design Week in April.
Among the 12, four projects (outlined in the videos above) were realized as physical prototypes under the guidance of renowned designers Robin Hunicke, Arthur Huang, Max Lamb and Neri & Hu. Each mentor chose a project to support, based on qualities such as originality, relevance to the theme and the practicality of creating a prototype.
These are detailed below:
ANIMAL MASKS
Designer: Keita Ebidzuka (Japan) — Mentors: Neri & Hu
ANIMAL MASKS allow wearers to see the world through animals’ eyes, evoking a mythical world where symbolism meets reality.
Diomedeidae
Designers: Adriano Alfaro (Italy), Daiki Nakamori (Japan), Gaetano Mirko Vatiero (Italy) — Mentor: Arthur Huang
Generating electricity from its own flapping movements, Diomedeidae is a kinetic sculpture producing motion and light that appeal to the senses.
LUZ
Designer: Marina Mellado Mendieta (Spain) — Mentor: Max Lamb
LUZ uses emotional lighting technology to create an environment appropriate to any weather or climatic condition.
Sense-Wear
Designers: Emanuela Corti and Ivan Parati (Italy)(Caravan) — Mentor: Robin Hunicke
Sense-Wear is a collection of garments and accessories that emphasise use of human senses.
“In keeping with the theme of Senses, many submissions appealed to the five senses or emotional, rather than physical, aspects of the human experience,” reported the judging committee. “After extensive discussion the 12 finalist entries were selected for their potential contribution to design innovation.”
The eight finalists selected for panel displays are:
Braille Reader
Designer: Juchun Jung (South Korea)
The Braille Reader allows people with vision impairment to read printed materials, bridging the senses of sight and touch.
>crosswalk<
Designers: Naoki Kaminaka and Ryo Yamaguchi (Japan)(KAMINAKANAOKIproject2015)
>crosswalk< is a crosswalk design featuring arrows that guide pedestrians.
Embodiment of Fractal
Designer: Hiroyuki Morita (Japan)
Embodiment of Fractal invites the viewer to experience the fresh visual and tactile experience of the fractal growth of a natural forest.
Here Comes the Sun
Designers: Chun-Fu Chen and Chi-Ming Pao (Taiwan)(Department of Product Design, Shu-Te University)
Here Comes the Sun is a heater that simulates sunlight coming through a window, providing warmth and hope.
INSTAMP
Designer: Yuzo Azu (Japan)
Applying traditional East Asian brushwork principles, INSTAMP uses pressure and angle of touch to give emotion and artistic effect to Western lettering.
Leather?
Designer: Amon Matsuo (Japan)
Through the application of traditional Japanese papermaking/moulding techniques to powdered shoemaking by-products, a new, unique material emerges.
Mnote, Mnemonic Note
Designer: Benjamin Xue (Singapore)
Mnote is a writing pad designed to take advantage of our senses to improve memory and help us retain important information.
yamaori taniori tent
Designer: Iyo Hasegawa (Japan)
Inspired by origami, this tent appeals to users’ senses as it is transformed from a flat sheet to a visually appealing shelter.
An ultimate Lexus Design Award Grand Prix winner will be selected from the four prototype finalists and receive the Lexus Design Award trophy. This will be presented at an awards ceremony on 13 April, on the eve of Milan Design Week. The prototypes and panel displays detailing the eight other finalist project will then be on public view in the Lexus Space in the Zona Tortona from 14 to 19 April.
More details are available at LexusDesignAward.com.
