LEXUS DESIGN AWARD reveals four innovation winners for 2023

four lexus design award winners in 2023

From a humidifier 3D-printed from recycled ceramic waste to a portable catcher that turns fog into drinking water, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD announces four winners for 2023. Also including clothes packaging that dissolves in water and a contoured map to aid the visually impaired, the competition has increased its yearly laureates to four for the first time. Each winner continues to emphasize Lexus’ founding mission to Design for a Better Tomorrow by supporting the next generation of creative talents.

Congratulations to the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2023 winners: Pavels Hedström, Temporary Office, Jiaming Liu, and Kyeongho Park & Yejin Heo.

fog-x by Pavels Hedström

Based in Denmark, Pavels Hedström is a Swedish architect working holistically in ecosystems. He designed Fog-X as an expandable mobile habitat that collects fog to produce 10 liters of drinking water a day. The device provides a lifeline for communities in arid environments around the world where water is scarce but needed.

‘With the back up of the mentors and Lexus, I received support for both financially and experience. Many professionals were involved to make my idea come true – that is fantastic!‘ remarks Pavels Hedström.

Fog-X by Pavels Hedström

Print clay humidifier by Jiaming Liu

Jiaming Liu is a Chinese designer who explores sustainable design through advanced manufacturing techniques. By recycling ceramic that would commonly be sent to landfills, the Print Clay Humidifier turns this waste into a benefit for society. It forms a uniquely aesthetic yet functional shape that increases water absorption. Whether placed alone or used against a wall or window, the design is elegant and practical even in small spaces.

‘I really benefited from the experience to talk, share and learn from the mentors and other winners. At the beginning, I was very nervous but I really enjoyed using every session to share ideas and improve my project,‘ adds Jiaming Liu.

Print Clay Humidifier by Jiaming Liu

Touch the Valley by temporary Office

Touch the Valley is a 3D topographic puzzle that, when assembled, aids visually impaired people in navigating their surroundings. Users touch, play and piece the contoured parts together. This process increases the perception and remembrance of the space around them. The studio behind the design is Temporary Office, led by Vincent Lai of Singapore and Douglas Lee of Canada. The now US-based designers work by rationally yet playfully responding to the changing needs of our environment through architecture, public space, and product design.

‘By collaborating with the mentors and hearing their advice, I am really excited to prototype and then test our puzzle with a user group of visually impaired people,‘ comment Vincent Lai and Douglas Lee of Temporary Office.

Touch the Valley by Temporary Office

Zero Bag by Keongho Park & Yejin Heo

Keongho Park & Yejin Heo, from the Republic of Korea, created Zero Bag as a new clothing package that not only dissolves in water but disperses washing detergents. After receiving the clothes wrapped in the bag, both the clothes and packaging can be run though a washing machine before wearing the items for the first time. The idea was born from the normal behavior in Korea where newly purchased clothes are washed to remove chemicals before wearing. By reducing plastic waste, the design highlights the duo’s focus on creating environmental and user-centered solutions through their work.

‘LEXUS DESIGN AWARD gave us the opportunity to develop our work. It is time to see what else is possible with Zero Bag, how it can be used in other industries, and how the design can evolve with our network, including the other winners,‘ proposes Keongho Park & Yejin Heo.

Zero Bag by Keongho Park & Yejin Heo

judges and mentors for lexus design award 2023

The four LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2023 winners were selected among 2,068 entries from 63 countries and regions around the world. The three-judge panel – including Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA; Karim Rashid, Designer and Founder of Karim Rashid Inc.; and Simon Humphries, Head of Toyota & Lexus Global Design – evaluated the diverse design submissions based on Lexus’ principles for a Better Tomorrow: Anticipate, Innovate, Captive, and Enhance Happiness. The winning entries continue with the award’s tradition of addressing the issues and trends of our times.

‘I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD. It is an honor to review such a vast body of work and ideas in the promotion of design as the definitive shaper of the future and culture. Competitions such as this were formative to my creative and professional growth, and I look forward to seeing the beautiful individuality and originality that will results,’ comments Karim Rashid, judge for LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2023.

Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA (image © Marton Perlaki); Karim Rashid, Designer and Founder of Karim Rashid Inc. (image © Nikola Blagojevic / Spektroom); and Simon Humphries, Head of Toyota & Lexus Global Design (From left to right)

The next-gen designers proposed solutions to pressing social issues faced across the world. Held in January 2023, the four winners joined a special mentoring workshop alongside Marjan van Aubel, Solar Designer at Marjan van Aubel Studio; Joe Doucet, Designer and Founder of Joe Doucet x Partners; Yuri Suzuki, Artist and Designer/Partner at Pentagram; and Sumayya Vally, Architect/Principal at Counterspace. These mentors gave invaluable, professional insight into specific fields within design, and also gave detailed feedback to winners as they finalize their prototype designs.

‘We live in challenging times where the design we create for the future needs to be considered in terms of whether it will work in the years ahead. That is, will it be suitable, practical, and possible? I hope to give them a future-proof perspective. For emerging creative talents this offers a springboard for their careers. I am excited to be part of this!’ adds Marjan van Aubel.

Marjan van Aubel, Solar Designer at Marjan van Aubel Studio (image © Sander Plug); Joe Doucet, Designer and Founder of Joe Doucet x Partners; Yuri Suzuki, Artist and Designer/Partner at Pentagram (image © Nick Glover); and Sumayya Vally, Architect/Principal at Counterspace (image © Lou Jasmine) (From top left to bottom right)

As the four winners develop their ideas into prototypes, the acclaimed mentors will continue to collaborate and provide professional assistance through a three-month mentoring program. The final works will be presented in a special exhibition in the city during Milan Design Week 2023, showcasing how the winners transformed their concepts after interacting with the mentors. Lexus also invites the public to vote online in the People’s Choice Award that will allow anyone to choose their preference from among the four winners best representing ‘Design for a Better Tomorrow’.

award info:

brand: Lexus

competition: LEXUS DESIGN AWARD

judges: Paola Antonelli, Karim Rashid, and Simon Humphries

mentors: Marjan van Aubel, Joe Doucet, Yuri Suzuki, and Sumayya Vally

winners: Pavels Hedström, Temporary Office, Jiaming Liu, and Kyeongho Park & Yejin Heo