2018 saw the 8^th Edition of the Milan Design Awards – celebrating the best Fuorisalone installations ( some 1,500 free exhibitions which were open to the public )

Milan Design Award, produced by Elita and Fuorisalone.it is the competition that rewards the best events of the Milan Design Week

The 2018 edition were sponsored by IED and Hyundai and is supported by the main official Fuorisalone circuits and projects:  –  5VIE art+design, Brera Design District , elita – enjoy living italy, Milano Space Makers, Porta Venezia in Design, Tortona Design Week, Triennale di Milano, Ventura Projects and Zona SantAmbrogio.

The goal of the Milan Design Award is to reward the most unique experiences offered to the visitors, identify the aesthetic expressions that characterize contemporary design trends and highlight, through the selection of the projects, the new socio-cultural phenomena, as it occurred in the previous editions with the awards assigned to Maarten Baas (Best Concept 2017 and Best Impact 2014), Formafantasma (Best Technology 2017) and Tokujin Yoshioka (Milan Design Award 2017), just to mention a few.

The Milano Design Award 2018 judging criteria ………….

The Major Award : Rewards the installation that best interprets a contemporary design and a future conceptual vision by best representing the 5 sub categories below

“We will observe the overall impact of the installations through the lens of project coherence, without neglecting the visitors reactions. The public’s experience is the barometer to evaluate the success of an installation. The more the elements that compose it are balanced and respectful of the overall project, the more the event succeeds in its dissemination intent. Design diffuses culture not only through objects and experiences, but also by offering a perspective view of contemporary socio-cultural phenomena.”………………….. Paolo Ferrarini, juror since the first edition

Best Technology : Rewards the best implementation or technological, digital or mechanical/analogical interpretation, at the service of an imminent future.

Best Sustainability : Rewards the project that puts ethics and sustainability at the centre of creative thought and suggests virtuous behaviours.

Best Engagement : Rewards the interaction between installation and visitor, the involvement that most satisfies the desire for participation and inclusion.

Best Playfulness :  Rewards the ability to amaze and astonish the visitor thanks to the game and the spectacularization of daily life.

Unicorn : Rewards the most effective expression of lateral thinking, alternative and generator of innovations.

2018 WINNERS

Milano Design Award 2018 :  “Monster Cabaret”

By Lasvit – Monster Cabaret installation at the Teatro Gerolamo

” For the project’s extraordinary ability to make the products dialogue with the context and the spectators, staging in an ironic and unsettling way the marvels of matter and creativity in all its nuances “.

Czech glass making house – brings to the Teatro Gerolamo a show made of animals, outcasts, anti-heroes and fantastic creatures, all made of glass.

The visitors of this show – by Maxim Velčovský, with the participation of Alessandro Mendini, the Campana Brothers, Yabu Pushelberg, Nendo, Fabio Novembre, Daniel Libeskind, Maarten Bass, Moritz Waldemayer, Maurizio Galante – witness the representation of the monstrosity of our times and at the time of a burlesque show and restless dances every hour

“  I am happy and honored that the jury has chosen LASVIT among so many beautiful presentations. We wanted to show the exceptional Monster collection in a different, edgy, daring way. Being given this award just underlines our vision to be the most inspirational glass making company in the world,” ………………. Leon Jakimič, President and founder of LASVIT

Best Technology 2018: “Transitions”

by Panasonic Design at the Pinacoteca di Brera

“ For the project’s ability to evoke an experience of technology as much intangible as much unique and relevant enveloping the visitor and proposing a sensory orchestration with an extraordinary impact ”

A spectacular installation, which exploits Panasonic technologies in air conditioning, image processing, sound, lighting and even personal care

Best Sustainability 2018: “3D housing 05”

by Massimiliano Locatelli of CLS with Italcementi, Arup and Cybe in Piazza Beccaria.

“For having proposed a concrete and sustainable solution in the architectural project in a perfect balance between material quality and emotional experience”

A prototype of a house built with 3D printing and cement powders.

Best Engagement 2018 : “The Diner”

by David Rockwell with 2×4 for Surface, at via Ferrante Aporti 15, Ventura Centrale.

” For the quality of the environment and for the kind of involvement that suggests an estranging and evocative space/ time journey“.

A contemporary interpretation of the unforgettable American diner

Best Playfulness 2018: “Hidden Senses”

by Design Centre of Sony Design at Via Savona, 56

“For the courageous intuition in proposing a physical, archaic and amusing interaction, giving a soul to chair – an archetype of design”.

Five rooms: in each a different case study: moving from one to the other the “Hidden Senses” are gradually revealed.

Unicorn 2018: “Giants with Dwarf”

by Stephan Hurlemann for Horgenglarus at via Ferrante Aporti 9, Ventura Centrale

” For the courageous intuition in proposing a physical, archaic and amusing interaction, giving a soul to chair -an archetype of design “.

The dreamy installation of wooden giants celebrates the ancient production of tables and chairs by the Swiss company

2018 Milano Design Awards Jury

The Jurors were tasked with researching some essential aspects of the key events and installations in the city based upon the criteria of – involvement, vision, contemporaneity, relationship with the city and aesthetics.

” We are very satisfied with this edition of the Milan Design Award, because the original and original objective of this award is to bring out through the selection of projects, on the one hand the main areas of research and experimentation in design and creativity, on the other hand to underline the mood that the city of Milan shows in its relationship with this week of opulent exploratory energy.  The variety of projects awarded this year gives us back a dense panorama of quality, of processes as well as of products, highlighting a strong desire for substance and innovation, which however does not renounce play, lightness and dreams ” ………………………. Valentina Ventrelli

This year’s jury were comprised of –

Han Han (researcher of Strategic Design, project manager for Beijing Design Week and managing director of Kids Design Week in China),

Stefania Siani (vice president and executive creative director of the advertising agency DLV BBDO, member of the board ADCI and partner of Le Dictateur),

Valentina Ventrelli (expert in contemporary aesthetics, researcher, consultant of Future Concept Lab, co-author of essays on emerging trends, historical member of the scientific committee of Milan)

Paolo Ferrarini (content curator and university professor, innovation consultant, Italian correspondent of Cool Hunting).