Lexus Design Award Winners Solve Current Issues with Design

The four winners of the Lexus Design Award 2023 were announced yesterday (27). An international design competition that recognizes promising creators, the award received 2,068 entries from 63 countries and regions. To select the candidates, the judging panel composed of Paola Antonelli , Karim Rashid and Simon Humphries used as evaluation criteria the core Lexus principles for creating a prosperous society and a better future: Anticipate, Innovate, Captivate and Increase Happiness . The winners of the 11th edition of the award continue the tradition of addressing current issues and trends under the theme " Design for a Better Tomorrow", thus proposing to solve specific social issues in preparation for the coming decades. Commenting on the competition, judge Paola Antonelli commented: “Having served as a judge since the first Lexus Design Award, I have come to appreciate even more the generosity, talent and energy of hundreds of young designers from around the world, and I continue to watch the field of design evolve as these designers take an increasingly visionary and realistic view that embraces not only humanity, but the rest of nature as well.” Check out the winners below!

Fog-X, by Pavels Hedström (Sweden, based in Denmark)

Fog-X is an expandable mobile habitat that has the ability to collect fog to produce 10 liters of clean drinking water per day. It can be used to collect water in arid environments around the world where water is scarce but needed. Pavels Hedström began his career as an architect after obtaining his Master of Architecture and Extreme Environments from the Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design Conservation. He explores how to holistically approach existing ecosystems.

Printing Clay Humidifier by Jiaming Liu (China)

The Printable Clay Humidifier is a 3D printed clay humidifier made from recycled ceramic waste . It can stand alone or be used against a wall or window, making it suitable for small spaces. Sustainable construction increases water absorption . The design is both functional and stylish. Jiaming Liu is an industrial designer who focuses on bringing new perspectives to people’s everyday lives. He is currently exploring cross-cultural and sustainable design. He was born in China, where he completed his bachelor’s degree, and recently graduated with a master’s degree from Folkwang University of the Arts.

Touch the Valley, by Temporary Office (Singapore and Canada, based in the US)

Touch the Valley is a 3D topographical puzzle that can be completed by visually impaired people by matching adjacent contour pieces. The process of completing the puzzle helps them perceive and encourages the experience of the physical world through touch. Temporary Office is a design practice formed by Vincent Lai and Douglas Lee – the former from Singapore and the latter from Canada – who both graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. The team has worked on projects that cross the boundaries of architecture, public space, conservation and product design. With a strong focus on historical research and precedent, Temporary Office seeks to respond constructively to the ever-changing needs of our world in a rational and playful way.

Zero Bag, by Kyeongho Park & Yejin Heo (South Korea)

Zero Bag is a clothing packaging with printed paper detergents attached to a water-soluble plastic. The idea is that after receiving the clothes packaged in the Zero Bag, the user washes the clothes along with the bag in the washing machine before wearing them for the first time. This reduces packaging waste and removes any chemicals from the clothes. Kyeongho Park and Yejin Heo are undergraduate students studying industrial design at Hanyang University's ERICA campus in the Republic of Korea. The duo's main concern is social and environmental issues , for which they explore user-centered solutions through design.