Lexus Design Award India 2022: 5 years of nurturing the next generation of designers in India

Kolkata  : Lexus India announced the winners of the 5th edition of India’s prestigious design awards – “The Lexus Design Award India(LDAI)”, selected from among over 650 high-quality entries basis Lexus’ three key design principles: Anticipate, Innovate and Captivate in the pursuit to craft a better tomorrow.

Continuing with the theme of last year and the impact of the pandemic, this year also the awards were hosted virtually. Lexus innovated to create this virtual edition of the awards with the support of the Association of Designers of India (ADI) as part of the process that nurtures the next generation of creative talent.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Naveen Soni, President of Lexus India, said: “The LDAI is a celebration of Lexus’s shared passion for design creations that make a positive contribution to the society.This year’s LDAI marks its successful 5th year and 2nd in the virtual platform. Beautifully crafted designs, finding solutions for everyday problems faced by the society, which usually go unnoticed are what make us stand out. This year, we are proud to have received over 650 entries that are all potential solutions for the Indian society that will help to craft a better tomorrow.”

The diverse panel of judges this year comprised of Nishma Pandit -Co-founder of Ticket Design, a multidisciplinary design consulting firm, Anand Belhe – Dean, Faculty of Design, CEPT University, Ahmedabad India, David Nordstrom–Former Vice President, Lexus Asia Pacific Division, Anuj Sharma – renowned Fashion designer, Anjali Mody – Serial entrepreneur and Mukul Goyal – Designer under the label Tattva and Mukul Goyal.

The esteemed panel of mentors includedMichael Foley- founder of Foley Designs, Sandeep Sangaru – designer and entrepreneur at Sangaru Design Objects, Amit Krishn Gulati – Industrial designer and entrepreneur, Suhasini Paul – Toy designer and co-founder of PAUL STUDIO, Narendra Ghate – Chief Designer at Tata Elxsi, Vinay Rao – Design entrepreneur and co-founded Bang Design, Unmesh Kulkarni – founder, Oceanic circles, Pradeep Chowdhary – Award-winning designer and engineer.

This year, the LDAI mentorship program for the conceptual category finalists was also conducted virtually where a stellar ensemble of creative pioneers and industry stalwarts helped the finalists refine their projects. The winners were chosen after multiple rounds of an extensive deliberation by the esteemed panel of jurors.

The coveted trophy presented to the winners of LDAI 2022 was designed by renowned designer, Michael Foley. The design features layers emanating from an arc reminiscent of the Lexus ‘L’-motif. A high luster silver finish highlights each layer’s depth, with its warm wood base humanizing the machined anodized aluminum slab.

The LDAI 2022 was a confluence of amazing designers from across the country, coming together for this prestigious award. This year LDAI also ventured into a new space of design by engaging with visitors through a unique NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) of the Lexus LF-Z concept vehicle, minted on Kalamint.io, an NFT marketplace on Tezos.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Mr. Giri Venkatesh (Vice President, Lexus Asia Pacific Department), Ms.Susmita Mohanty (renowned Indian spaceship designer and a serial space entrepreneur), Ms. Barbara Gollackner (Founder, Barbara Gollackner Design Studio), Mr. Hideki Yoshimoto (LDA Global Winner 2013)

ABOUT LEXUS DESIGN AWARD INDIA: The Lexus Design Award India (LDAI) seeks to recognize and reward the best industrial design executed by Indian designers, institutions, design consultancy firms, and in-house design teams of companies. Good design is defined by LDAI as the synthesis of ergonomic, aesthetic, commercial, industrial, and scientific disciplines to create products that simplify, enrich, and better human existence. Lexus, as a brand, has always stood for excellence in design, ergonomics, sustainability, technological superiority, and responsible consumption; and the LDAI will mirror these brand values.

ABOUT LEXUS DESIGN AWARD: First launched in 2013, the Lexus Design Award is an international design competition that targets up-and-coming creators from around the world. The award seeks to foster the growth of ideas that contribute to society by supporting designers and creators whose works can help to shape a better future. It provides a unique opportunity for the finalists to work with globally recognized designers as a mentor to create prototypes of their designs, and then exhibit them at one of the design calendar’s most important events.