Lexus Announces 2018 Finalists for Prestigious Lexus Design Award

Lexus International recently announced the 12 finalists for the prestigious Lexus Design Award 2018. Now in its sixth year, the distinguished international design competition invites young designers to propose ideas based on this year’s theme ‘CO-’, which is derived from the Latin prefix meaning “with or together in harmony”. The theme explores the possibilities of how design can seek solutions and overcome barriers for a range of global challenges, through the harmonious integration of nature and society.

This year’s Lexus Design Award involved an unprecedented level of participation, attracting over 1,300 entries from 68 countries. Twelve finalists were chosen after considerable deliberation by a panel of prestigious judges, which was further strengthened this year, by the addition of world-renowned architects David Adjaye and Shigeru Ban. Among the 12 finalists, four were selected to prototype their designs under the guidance and mentorship of an elite team of established creators; Lindsey Adelman, Jessica Walsh, Sou Fujimoto and Formafantasma.

The four new creators chosen were CO-RKs, by DIGITALAB from Portugal, a sustainable material and computational process that generates design products; Honest Egg, by aesthetid from Malaysia; connecting Technology and Design to show an egg’s edibility. Recycled Fiber Planter, from Japan, a co-fusion textile and green design repurposing used clothes, in addition to Testing Hypotheticals, an extrapolation factory from the United States; a collaboratively imagined test site that explores speculative relationships between society, technology and the environment. Subsequently, the chosen creators met with their mentors in New York, Amsterdam and Japan this January, and are now hard at work creating prototypes of their designs, under the guidance of the elite team of established mentors.

The four prototypes and detailed presentation boards from the other eight finalists’ designs will be showcased as part of the Lexus Design Event at this year’s Milan Design Week, held in April. The 12 finalists will present their work to the judging panel and international media. Following the presentation, a Grand Prix Winner will be selected.