Grand Prix Winner of the Lexus Design Award 2016 Announced | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Lexus Design Award 2016 Grand Prix Winner + Mentor

April 11, 2016―Lexus International announced today that an elite judging committee has named AGAR PLASTICITY – A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE by AMAM the Grand Prix winner of the Lexus Design Award 2016.

"This is a bold and ambitious experiment, which aims to address one of the biggest pollution problems of our time. The designers have made tremendous progress during the course of the award cycle, particularly in devising a wide range of possible practical applications for the material. Their success in doing so gives us confidence in their ability to tackle the many challenges and complexities they will face in continuing the development of the project." said Alice Rawsthorn, Lexus Design Award 2016 judge.

The selection was made based on presentations by the four prototype finalists at the Lexus - An Encounter With Anticipation exhibit at Milan Design Week 2016. The works of all 12 finalists are on display, including the Grand Prix winner's prototype, the three other prototype works, and the eight panel displays of the remaining finalists. This year's Lexus Design Award drew 1,232 submissions representing a wide variety of highly innovative ideas from 73 countries. In keeping with the theme of Anticipation, many submissions were designed as yet unseen or undefined concepts that are likely to be realized in the near future.

From Tuesday, April 12 to 17, Lexus International will publicly open Lexus - An Encounter With Anticipation at Spazio Lexus―Torneria in Milan. The exhibit will present a unique encounter that features a special collaboration between the widely acclaimed design team Formafantasma and Michelin Star winning chef Yoji Tokuyoshi.

Lexus - An Encounter With Anticipation

Lexus - An Encounter With Anticipation provides an unexpected and incomparable encounter that invites visitors to experience the world of anticipation. Visiting Japan, Formafantasma was impressed by Lexus' committment to excellence in craftsmanship, integrity in its production, and responsibility in its use of technology. Anticipating the future, Lexus invites visitors to imagine what is yet unseen, and to see how Lexus delivers surprise and enchantment that create amazing experiences.

Lexus designed the three areas within the exhibition space to provide an immersive experience as visitors take a journey into its world of anticipation.

Area 1: Discovering Craftsmanship

Lexus enables visitors to discover its commitment to craftsmanship and building fine cars in this area. The 16 beautiful stools positioned here are finished using the same paint process as that used on the Lexus LF-FC flagship concept, which was premiered at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. By viewing and touching these stools, visitors are able to experience the quality and depth of the colors. Also on display are the twelve finalist works, including the four prototypes, from which "AGAR PLASTICITY – A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE" by AMAM was named the Grand Prix winner, as well as eight panel displays. The winning designs of Lexus Design Award 2016 evoke a sense of anticipation, inviting visitors to walk through and discover the next generation of creators.

Area 2: Revealing the Unexpected

Lexus brings shape to previously unimagined designs, and does so in unexpected fashion. In the center of a room with walls inspired by Japanese shoji, a dynamic floating three-dimensional image of the LF-FC takes shape in an unexpected way. The design creates a sense of anticipation as the viewer watches the concept assume physical dimensions. The display pays homage to the constant search for perfection demonstrated by the Lexus design team as they anticipate the future of mobility.

Area 3: Sensing Innovation

Lexus continually anticipates the needs of people and the environment as it demonstrates a keen sense for forward thinking and innovation. Inspired by the hydrogen-powered LF-FC, the installation uses advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to light a kinetic sculpture inspired by the shape of a hydrogen atom, anticipating a future with clean technology that generates electricity while producing clear water as its only emission.

Clear water then becomes the inspiration for culinary treats, as Chef Yoji Tokuyoshi integrates water's buoyancy and transparent properties to create a unique taste experience served with the spirit of Japanese hospitality. His first dish presents nasturtium leaves topped with a sweet and sour berry paste floating on a pool of clear water. The two flavors mix in the mouth, delivering an unexpected taste experience. The ingredients of his other dish symbolize things that may be seen or may remain imperceptible but hint at the unexpected. As the visitor consumes the clear seafood broth, a transparent ball of natural gelatin is revealed, delivering an unanticipated treat as it fills the mouth with a fresh citrus flavor.

For pictures and more information

Lexus - An Encounter with Anticipation: http://www.lexus-int.com/lexus-design/design-events/

Lexus Design Award website: www.lexusdesignaward.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexusdesignaward/ @lexusdesignaward

Official hashtags: #LexusDesignEvent; #LDEncounters; #LexusDesignAward; #LDAnticipate; #MilanDesignWeek;

About Lexus

Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has earned a worldwide reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service. Lexus is the hybrid leader among luxury brands, offering hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and premier luxury. The evolution of Lexus is reflected in the progressive designs of its new vehicles. The grilles, dynamic light treatments, and sculptured lines create a distinctive look of Lexus luxury.

Lexus Design Award 2016 Entries Selected for Prototype Development

AGAR PLASTICITY - A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE

Title	AGAR PLASTICITY - A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE
Designers (Nationality)	AMAM Kosuke Araki (Japan) Noriaki Maetani (Japan) Akira Muraoka (Japan)
Country of residence	Japan
Description	AGAR PLASTICITY is a project exploring how agar, a gelatinous material obtained from marine algae, can be used as an environmentally friendly packaging material alternative to plastic.
Mentor	Max Lamb

Title	DADA
Designer (Nationality)	Myungsik Jang (Korea)
Country of residence	Korea
Description	A natural toy blocks that anticipate children's future and personality by looking at what blocks they pick up and how they assemble them.
Mentor	Neri and Hu

Title	SHAPE SHIFTERS
Designer (Nationality)	Angelene Laura Fenuta (Canada/Italy)
Country of residence	Canada
Description	SHAPE SHIFTERS applies modular principles to textiles, which allows the creation of different outfits from a single garment.
Mentor	Elena Manferdini

Title	TRACE
Designers (Nationality)	STUDIO AYASKAN Begum Ayaskan (Turkey) Bike Ayaskan (Turkey)
Country of residence	United Kingdom
Description	TRACE is a clock that uses a liquid with UV-ray and discoloration properties, allowing us to visualize the passing of time.
Mentor	Snarkitecture

Lexus Design Award 2016 Panel Exhibits

Title	ANIKNOWN
Designer (Nationality)	Ayami Marugata (Japan)
Country of residence	Japan
Description	ANIKNOWN is a creation of clothes for six types of animal, choosing the materials according to each one's features, behavior and habitat.

Title	BIO-VIDE
Designer (Nationality)	Takuma Yamazaki (Japan)
Country of residence	Japan
Description	BIO - VIDE is a lineup of products, such as tables or envelopes, designed using fallen leaves. It is a visualization of the concept that all things return to earth.

Title	DROP BOX
Designers (Nationality)	Ding Dong & Ma Jincai & Peter Luo & Huang Junxi Ding Dong (China) Ma Jincai (China) Peter Luo (China) Huang Junxi (China)
Country of residence	China
Description	DROP BOX utilizes aerodynamics to allow critical supplies to be airdropped safely in disaster areas without requiring a parachute.

Title	HEXAGON
Designer (Nationality)	Chulin Yang (China)
Country of residence	Australia
Description	HEXAGON is an umbrella that uses magnets to connect to other umbrellas, thereby encouraging interaction between people.

Title	PLANTS-SKIN
Designer (Nationality)	Hiroto Yoshizoe (Japan)
Country of residence	Japan
Description	PLANTS-SKIN is a planter made of a colored mortar and special ink that visualizes the timing for watering plants.

Title	PROJECT PLAY
Designer (Nationality)	Oliver Staiano (United Kingdom)
Country of residence	United Kingdom
Description	PROJECT PLAY is a first-of-its-kind lamp powered by wireless technology and realized through the creation of magnetic rubber.

Title	RESOLUTION OF SOUND LOCATION
Designers (Nationality)	Owls Takato Sasaki (Japan) Yuki Shinohara (Japan)
Country of residence	Japan
Description	RESOLUTION OF SOUND LOCATION is a headphone device composed of super directive microphones and speakers that can determine the sound source and adjust volume.

Title	SLOW DOOR
Designers (Nationality)	Deepak Jawahar & Irina Bogdan Deepak Jawahar (Indian) Irina Bogdan (Romanian)
Country of residence	China
Description	SLOW DOOW is conceived as an assembly of cubic components forming a spatial mechanism that delays the transition through a doorway. It allows us to appreciate the time and space created by the experience.

Mentor Profiles

Neri & Hu, Mentors

Neri & Hu / Architects and Interdisciplinary Designers Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, cofounders of Neri & Hu Design and Research based in Shanghai, have been working on projects around the world which incorporate overlapping design disciplines to create a new paradigm in architecture. In 2014, Wallpaper^* announced Neri & Hu as 2014 Designer of The Year. In 2013, they were inducted into the U.S. Interior Design Hall of Fame. Neri & Hu believes strongly that research is a key design tool as each project brings its own unique set of contextual issues. Providing architecture, interior, master planning, graphic and product design services, Neri & Hu recognizes that contemporary problems relating to buildings extend beyond the boundaries of traditional architecture. Rather than starting from a formulaic design, Neri & Hu's work is anchored in the dynamic interaction of experience, detail, material, form and light.

Max Lamb, Mentor

Max Lamb / Designer A modern day artificer, Max Lamb is a product and furniture designer whose design sensibility is informed by his extensive knowledge of manufacturing techniques, respect for materials, and skill as a maker. A native of Cornwall, Max has been tinkering with objects and engaging with the physical landscape since he was a small boy; a curiosity that led to an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art and subsequently the foundation of his workshop-based design practice. Max explores both traditional and unconventional materials and processes, blending experimentation and rationale to create furniture and products that are both honest and intelligible. Max runs regular design workshops for companies and institutions around the world.

Elena Manferdini, Mentor

Elena Manferdini / Designer and Architect Elena Manferdini, founder and owner of Atelier Manferdini, with offices in Italy and California, has completed design, art and architectural projects in the United States, Europe and Asia including the Pavilion of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Her firm has collaborated with such internationally renowned companies as Swarovski and Sephora, and her work has been featured in journals and publications including Elle, Vogue and the New York Times. Currently Graduate Chair at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, she exhibits internationally and lectures widely having spoken at MIT, Princeton, Tsinghua University and Bauhaus. She was recently awarded the 2013 COLA Fellowship to support the production of original artwork. In 2011 she received a prestigious annual grant from United States Artists (USA) and her Blossom design for Alessi received the Good Design Award.

Snarkitecture, Mentors

Snarkitecture / Artists and Architects In 2008 Daniel Arsham and Alex Mustonen founded Snarkitecture, a collaborative and experimental practice operating in territories between art and architecture. Sharing a mutual interest in the intersection of art and architecture since their student days together at Cooper Union in New York, their first commission was for Dior Homme. Deriving its name from Lewis Carroll's fanciful poem "The Hunting of the Snark", Snarkitecture designs permanent, architectural scale projects and functional objects with new and imaginative purposes, creating moments of wonder and interaction that allow people to engage directly with the surrounding environment. Transforming the familiar into the extraordinary, Snarkitecture makes architecture perform the unexpected.

Judge Profiles

Paola Antonelli, Judge

Paola Antonelli / Curator Antonelli joined The Museum of Modern Art in 1994 and is a Senior Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design, as well as MoMA's Director of Research and Development. Her first exhibition for MoMA, Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design (1995), was followed by Thresholds. She has lectured at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and has served on several international architecture and design juries. Her goal is to insistently promote understanding of design until its positive influence on the world is fully acknowledged and exploited. She is currently working on several shows on contemporary design, and on Design Bites, a book about foods from all over the world, appreciated as examples of outstanding design.

Aric Chen, Judge

Aric Chen / Curator Originally from the United States, Chen is the newly appointed Curator of Design and Architecture at M+, the future museum for visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong. Before that, he served as Creative Director of Beijing Design Week in 2011 and 2012. He had earlier been an independent curator and design writer in New York, contributing to dozens of publications including The New York Times, Metropolis, Fast Company, Architectural Record, and PIN-UP.

Toyo Ito, Judge

Toyo Ito / Architect Ito graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Architecture in 1965. His main works include: Sendai Mediatheque, Tama Art University Library (Hachioji), The Main Stadium for the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung. Under development are: Taichung Metropolitan Opera House and others. Among his many honors are the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize, Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement from the 8th International Architecture Exhibition "NEXT" at the Venice Biennale, Royal Gold Medal from The Royal Institute of British Architects and the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Birgit Lohmann, Judge

Birgit Lohmann / Chief Editor of designboomBorn in Hamburg, Lohmann studied industrial design in Florence before moving to Milan, where she has lived and worked since 1987. She worked as a designer and product development manager for a number of Italian architects and master designers. She has also worked as a design historian for justice departments and international auction houses. As a researcher and lecturer, she has conducted seminars on industrial design at a number of prestigious international universities. In 1999, she co-founded designboom, where she is currently the Chief Editor, Head of Educational Programming and Curator for International Exhibitions.

Alice Rawsthorn, Judge

Alice Rawsthorn / Design Commentator Alice Rawsthorn is the design critic of the International New York Times. Her weekly Design column, published every Monday, is syndicated to other media worldwide. Alice is a trustee of the Whitechapel Gallery and the Michael Clark Dance Company, and chair of trustees at the Chisenhale Gallery. Her latest book, the critically acclaimed Hello World: Where Design Meets Life published by Hamish Hamilton, explores design's influence on our lives past, present and future.

Tokuo Fukuichi, Judge

Tokuo Fukuichi / President of Lexus International Graduated with a bachelor's degree in art and design from Tama Art University. He has held many design-related positions at Toyota Motor Corporation, leading up to his current position as the president of Lexus International.