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Being in Touch With Your Senses Can Bring You Closer to Lexus, Milan and 2.5 Million Yen


lexus (select to view enlarged photo)

Third Lexus Design Award Competition Opens For Entries

-12 Designs to be Displayed at 2015 Milan Design Week

-International Design Community to Mentor Four Finalists

-Program Includes Financial Support and Trip to Milan

TORRANCE, CA -- Aug. 13, 2014: Ah, the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and feel of Milan in the spring! Designers who have innovative ideas can enter the 2015 Lexus Design Award for a chance to display their works at the 2015 Milan Design Week, be mentored by international creatives and receive up to ¥2.5 million to build a prototype of their own. The third Lexus Design Award competition is open for entries!

First launched in 2013, the Lexus Design Award is an international competition that supports young creatives who tackle problems using design. It features a unique mentoring program for four entrants that helps them produce working prototypes of their innovative ideas and showcase their concepts to an elite design community.

The theme of the 2015 Lexus Design Award is "Senses." A wide range ebof possibilities open with a broad subject that influences perception and is intrinsic to life. This year the theme also bridges design with the driving experience, something with which Lexus is very familiar. All senses are engaged with eye-catching vehicle styling, the sound of the finely tuned engine, the feel of semi-aniline leather seats, and the "new car smell." By considering this array of examples, Lexus seeks to illicit extraordinary responses that explore the five senses.

The Lexus Design Award provides an opportunity for 12 finalists and their works to receive wide exposure in the design community and beyond through exposure at 2015 Milan Design Week. In addition, four of the finalists — twice as many as last year — will receive up to ¥2.5 million and support from international design mentors as they develop their prototypes. This year's mentors are Arthur Huang, Robin Hunicke, Neri & Hu, and Max Lamb. At 2015 Milan Design Week, the creators of the four prototypes will present their designs at the Lexus pavilion before the Grand Prix winner is announced.

Entries to the 2015 Lexus Design Award competition will be accepted through November 3, 2014 at Lexus Design Award 2015 . The 12 finalists will be announced in early 2015. Scroll down to see more details:

Title

2015 Lexus Design Award

Application period

August 11, 2014 - November 3, 2014

Theme

Senses

Judging criteria

•   Depth of understanding of the design concepts for the competition and a unique interpretation of those concepts.

•  Uniqueness of perspective and originality of solutions proposed under the theme.

Judges

Paola Antonelli

Aric Chen

Toyo Ito

Birgit Lohmann

Alice Rawsthorn

Tokuo Fukuichi (Lexus International)

Mentors

Arthur Huang

Robin Hunicke

Neri & Hu

Max Lamb

Award categories

Lexus Design Award 2015 — 12 finalists

Grand Prix — One winner (selected from the four prototype exhibitors)

Prototype exhibitors — Four prototype winners (selected from the 12 finalists)

Panel exhibitors — Eight finalists

Prizes/benefits

•  12 finalists will be invited to Milan Design Week 2015.

•  Four entries from the 12 finalists will receive up to 2.5 million yen each to cover prototype production costs. The designers of the four entries will create prototypes between January and March 2015 through sessions with their assigned mentors.

•  The four prototypes and eight panels will be exhibited at a Lexus exhibition space during Milan Design Week 2015.

•  Each of the four prototype winners will be asked to give a presentation at Milan Design Week 2015, after which a single Grand Prix winner will be named.

Note: Only one individual per entry will be invited, regardless of whether the winning entries are submitted by an individual or a group.

Organizer

Lexus International

In cooperation with

designboom

Design Association NPO

Application process

Apply through the DesignBoom