MANILA, PHILIPPINES – “Design is essentially about solving problems,” says David Humphries, Head of Toyota and Lexus Global Design. “Curiosity, open-mindedness, and the ability to listen and observe are essential to this task.” The world is moving into an era where the mobility experience will be much more than just cars, and this makes the Lexus Design Award even more relevant.
Launched in 2013, the Lexus Design Awards is an annual international competition for up-and-coming creators from around the world. It seeks to contribute to society by supporting designers and creators whose work shows the potential to support the mass production of happiness and shape a better future. This noble mission is indeed even more pertinent during the unique circumstances we find ourselves in today.
This year, 6 finalists were selected from more than 2,000 entries from 66 countries to be part of this once-in-a lifetime experience to prototype their ideas and be mentored by four leading global design experts Joe Doucet, Mariam Kamara, Sabine Marcelis, and Sputuniko!.
An elite panel of judges (Paola Antonelli, Dong Gong, Greg Lynn, and Simon Humphries) looked for innovative ideas that embodied the three key principles of the Lexus brand – Anticipate, Innovate, and Captivate – with an emphasis on design that leads to a better tomorrow.
The 2021 Grand Prix winner who took home the top prize was New Zealander Henry Glogau with his ‘Portable Solar Distiller’ proposal. The designer entered the Lexus Design Award competition primarily for the experience of working with world class mentors followed by the opportunity to make his vision a reality.
Graduating from the Royal Danish Academy with a Masters specializing in Architecture and Extreme Environments, Henry’s aim with his design was to provide drinking water, natural light and energy from leftover salt brine for informal coastal settlements. He looked at the challenges and importantly, where there was opportunity to utilize what was already readily available in these environments. “What was quite important for me was thinking about how we could work with our ecosystems instead of working against them,” he explains.
Glogau’s ‘Portable Solar Distiller’ proposal provides clean drinking water from polluted water or sea water, using sunlight. Merging local resource production with community architecture, this low-tech solution also serves as a shaded gathering place. “Being part of a prestigious award like this with a company that is truly passionate about Design for a Better Tomorrow, and which gives up-and-coming designers a platform and solid foundation to build their design futures on is incredible,” said Glogau.
Other designs this year included ‘CY-BO’ by Kenji Abe (Japan), which is a sustainable, reusable packaging material that can be assembled like cells; ‘Heartfelt’ by Gayle Lee and Jessica Vea (New Zealand & Tonga, based in New Zealand), which is a device that enables virtual hugs; ‘InTempo’ by Alina Holovatiuk (Ukraine) which are mitts that may help distract from stressful situations by novel usage of rhythm and music; ‘KnitX’ by Irmandy Wicaksono (Indonesia, based in USA), a digital 3D knitting of functional, electronic textiles for multi-modal visual, auditory, and tactile material interaction; and finally, ‘Terracotta Valley Wind’ by Intsui Design (China, based in Japan) which is a terracotta evaporative cooling system for subway stations utilizing train-induced wind to function.
With its mission of supporting and nurturing young creators, the Lexus Design Award provides experiences that launch creative careers. Previous Lexus Design Award winners have gone on to continue their journey as designers, bringing their talent to diverse creative spheres.
After winning the Lexus Design Award 2021 Grand Prix, Glogau is poised to make a positive difference in the world. Humankind will surely benefit from his groundbreaking innovation. “The power of simplicity was what hit me the hardest,” he said. “It seems easy, but it’s very deep, and kept helping me all the way to the end. Looking ahead, I will be working for a while in a green innovation company where I’ll be inspired by projects involving architecture and the environment.”
Lexus strives to work with emerging talent in the field of design who demonstrate a shared vision for a better tomorrow – both for people and the planet. Henry and all of the design award finalists have fully demonstrated their passion to create solutions and their ability to adapt and innovate.
For more information on the Lexus Design Awards, visit https://fal.cn/3eSWR
