Lexus has proudly announced the four winners of the 11th edition of the Lexus Design Award, an esteemed global competition dedicated to identifying and nurturing emerging design talents.
This year’s competition drew a remarkable 2,068 entries from 63 countries, which were meticulously reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges: Paola Antonelli, a renowned curator and design expert; Karim Rashid, a celebrated industrial designer; and Simon Humphries, a prominent designer and creative leader at Toyota.
The theme for this year’s award, “Design for a Better Tomorrow,” served as a call to action for participants to develop innovative solutions that address contemporary social challenges and envision a more sustainable and equitable future.
The winning designs were selected based on their alignment with Lexus’s core principles of “Anticipate,” “Innovate,” and “Captivate”—principles that drive the brand’s mission to advance design and technology for the benefit of society.
Kei Fujita, Chief Representative of the Middle East & Central Asia Representative Office at Toyota Motor Corporation, expressed enthusiasm for the growing global recognition of the Lexus Design Award, remarking, “We are thrilled to see the Lexus Design Award gaining increasing acclaim from creative minds worldwide.
This year’s winners have presented exceptional concepts, demonstrating remarkable creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking vision.”
Lexus Design Award 2023 Winners
1. Fog-X by Pavels Hedström:
A novel expandable mobile habitat designed to capture fog and convert it into potable drinking water, providing a sustainable solution for water scarcity.
2. Print Clay Humidifier by Jiaming Liu:
A 3D-printed humidifier crafted from recycled ceramic waste, offering a non-electric means to maintain optimal humidity levels.
3. Touch the Valley by Temporary Office:
A 3D contour puzzle that enables visually impaired individuals to explore and understand the physical layout of their surroundings through tactile interaction.
4. Zero Bag by Kyeongho Park & Yejin Heo:
A biodegradable clothing package that dissolves in water and acts as a detergent, capable of removing chemicals from garments while being environmentally friendly.
Following the announcement, the three-month mentoring program began in mid-January, featuring workshops where the winners collaborate with four esteemed mentors: Marjan van Aubel, Joe Doucet, Yuri Suzuki, and Sumayya Vally. This mentorship aims to refine the winners’ ideas and develop their prototypes into fully realized projects.
In Spring 2024, Lexus will showcase the progress of the prototypes and their evolution through the mentoring process. Additionally, Lexus plans to engage the global audience by introducing a People’s Choice Award, inviting the public to vote for their favorite among the four winning designs as the best representation of “Design for a Better Tomorrow.” Details of this public voting opportunity will be revealed at a later date.