Lexus International, the luxury automobile brand, has recently announced the 12 finalists for the Lexus Design Award 2016.

First launched in 2013 to foster the growth of ideas that can contribute to society, this international design competition aims to support young up-and-coming creators from around the world. The fourth annual staging of the Lexus Design Award drew 1,232 entries from 73 countries under the theme of “Anticipation”, said the statement from the company.

A panel of world-renowned designers and creators gathered in November 2015 to judge the entries. This year, entrants impressed the judges by creating designs as yet unseen or undefined but likely to be realised in the near future. After extensive discussion, and after noting the participants’ passion and willingness to explore the unpredictable, the judges chose 12 finalist entries for their potential contribution to design innovation, it said.

The finalists are Agar Plasticity, Dada, Shape Shifters, Trace, aniknown, Bio-Vide, Drop Box, Hexagon, Plants-Skin, Project Play, Resolution of Sound Location and Slow Door, it added.

The four finalists will produce prototypes of their designs under the mentorship of globally recognised creators. Architects and interdisciplinary designers Neri&Hu, along with designer Max Lamb will return as mentors, while designer/architect Elena Manferdini and artist/architect Snarkitecture join as the mentors for the first time.

Takayuki Yoshitsugu, chief representative, Middle East and North Africa (Mena) representative office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “The Lexus Design Award is an attractive showcase for talented designers from across the globe and gives them a great platform to showcase their inventiveness and creativity in design.”

“The theme of design is central to Lexus as a brand in keeping with the Lexus Design philosophy of L-finesse which defines the core character of all Lexus products. We look forward to highlighting these talented individuals and elevate the discussion around progressive design in line with the chosen theme,” he added.

The Lexus exhibition at Milan Design Week will run from April 11 to April 17 at T32 Turneries/Carrozzeria, Via Tortona 32, 20144 (Zona Tortona). The Grand Prix winner of the Lexus Design Award 2016 out of the four selected prototype finalists will be announced on April 11 at a glittering award ceremony, it added. – TradeArabia News Service