The power of beauty in design satisfies our desire for aesthetically pleasing objects. But the future of design is definitely not just in merely beautiful objects, but in pieces that combine aesthetic principles with functionality and in products that can genuinely improve our lives.
The Henry van de Velde Awards have been celebrating such designs since they were launched in 1994. This Belgian event promotes good design, showcasing national and international Flemish designers, enterprises, products, projects and services that have a positive impact on the economy and on society. The winners of the 2021 edition were recently announced and, as usual, their projects seem very exciting.
The jury selected 17 winners from 198 submissions in seven categories: browse them and you will discover useful projects such as the Nobi smart lamp, designed by Studio Dos Santos for Nobi.
This product is perfect for caregivers who need to monitor elderly people as the lamp helps them detecting a fall, asks whether everything is ok and can even call a family member or a trusted contact (it is possible to reach them using the lamp, without the need for a phone). The lamp has also got other functions and can detect fire and break-ins, remind a person to drink enough water and stay hydrated and can monitor air quality and room temperature.
The Aloxy Pulse device, designed by Studio Dott for Aloxy, can instead help monitoring not people, but processes in the petrochemical industry.
Quite a few of the projects submitted this year focus on alternative materials that can help us protecting our planet. Tim Duerinck developed, for example, an ecological solution to carbon fibre or glass fibre string instruments.
Made with high-tech flax fibre, an artisanal material with a rich local history in Flanders, the string instruments designed by Duerinck require less maintenance as they are more resistant than traditional instruments and they are also less susceptible to fluctuations in temperature or humidity, which means they are always reliable for musicians, both indoors and outdoors.
Duerinck's flax fibre instruments are produced by violin makers entirely by hand, so they are still a great artisanal product and this application of flax fibre to create a wood-like material could open up further design options in other fields (could this material be applied for rigid bags for example?)
Among the winners of the Climate Challenge Award category there is a project that fashion fans will find interesting. Studio AMA, an ethical fashion label, produces pieces using circular and social principles: the studio tries indeed to address three issues - textile waste, mass production and social exploitation.
All its designs are produced from waste materials sourced from the local textile industry and in particular from Flemish textile manufacturers Libeco (linen sheets, tablecloths), Annabel Textiles (fabrics for upholstery and curtains), Clarysse (towels) and Bekaert-Deslee (mattress covers).
Studio AMA created for example a line of affordable shirts, shorts and hoodies based on towels and table linens, its conceptually playful skirts and dresses are made instead with classic men's shirts while its bomber jackets and sweats assembled with a textile characterised by an embossed architectural three-dimensional pattern are actually made with mattress covers and fabrics for interior design.
The design of the pieces is based on the properties of these textiles and the material determines the look of the piece, therefore each creation is different and unique. The designs are also sold with a leaflet describing the origin of the piece, as well as instructions for washing and use.
Using waste materials isn't the only added value in this project, there's also another aspect to consider - social employment. Studio AMA collaborates indeed with Zonnehoeve Production from Eke, a customisation company that provides jobs for disadvantaged people in an adapted and protected work environment.
For Studio AMA founder Soraya Wancour there is an urgent need to find a fast fashion alternative and the studio's collections are a way for consumers to ponder on the fast fashion industry vs slow and ethical fashion dichotomy.
So this year the Henry van de Velde Awards prove that living in challenging times may be hard for all of us, but it can also be stimulating as contemporary problems and issues may be tackled with innovative solutions that contribute to give a very special added value to design.
While you may want to check Studio AMA's site for ideas for Christmas presents or for practical designs for your lockdown needs (towel tops still look stylish even though they are incredibly comfortable), you can still lend your support to your favourite designer or product by casting your vote (online at henryvandevelde.be until Friday the 18th of December 2020) for the Public Choice Award. Winners will be announced at the Henry van de Velde award ceremony, on February 5th 2021 at Bozar, the Centre for Fine Arts, in Brussels, where the Gold Award in each category, the Ecodesign by OVAM, the Company, the Young Talent, the Public and the Lifetime Achievement Awards will also be presented.
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