Kolkata: Lexus India announced the winners of the 4th edition of India’s prestigious design awards – Lexus Design Award India (LDAI), selected from among over a thousand high quality entries basis Lexus’ three key design principles: Anticipate, Innovate and Captivate in the quest to craft a better tomorrow.
Lexus organized its first ever virtual edition of the awards with the support of Association of Designers of India (ADI) as part of the process that nurtures the next generation of creative talent. The LDAI 2021 was a confluence of amazing designers from around the world, coming together for India. The trophy presented to the winners of LDAI 2021 was designed by renowned designer, Michael Foley.
This year’s edition also saw the introduction of 3 new awards; the People’s Choice, Lexus Guests’ Choice and Media Choice awards, voted on by members of the public, Lexus guests and the media fraternity respectively.
P.B. Venugopal, President, Lexus India, said, “This years’ edition of LDAI presented us with a new challenge of bringing together designers on a virtual platform to celebrate the power of design. At LDAI, we work with a strong belief that through design we can find solutions to the problems faced in India. This year, we are so proud to have received over a 1000 entries that are all potential solutions for the Indian society.”
This year, the LDAI mentorship program for the conceptual category finalists was also conducted virtually where a stellar ensemble of creative pioneers and industry stalwarts helped the finalists refine their projects. The winners were chosen after multiple rounds of extensive deliberation by the esteemed panel of jurors.
Prof. Dhimant Panchal, LDAI 2021 Jury Chairperson, said, “India, as a society, is constantly evolving and design plays an important role in shaping our future. LDAI has provided an amazing platform for Indian design practitioners and young design students from diverse backgrounds. The quality of the entries this year show the sensitivity and maturity of designers to respond to a set of diverse challenges and opportunities that we have around us. I’m glad to see that apart from industry focused solutions, there are more inclusive and socially relevant solutions this year.”
| CATEGORY | WINNER | PROJECT |
| Open Category | Abhinav Saxena | Project Title: Samarth Modular Air Purification |
| Student Category | Achyut Shanbhag | Project Title: Iceheal |
| Product Design | Shreelekha Lakshmipathy | Project Title: Kaapi |
| Textile Design | Chhail Pradhansingh Khalsa | Project Title: Anuvaad Humanising E-Textile |
| Lifestyle Accessory Design | Satyajit Vetoskar | Project Title: Bandit |
| Furniture Design | Nuru Karim | Project Title: Bookworm Pavilion |
| Design Thinking | Manoj Patel | Project Title: Reassigning and reinterpreting the use of vernacular material clay roof tiles |
| Craft Design | Tejas Sidnal | Project Title : Carbon Tile |
| Public Utility Design | Ruturaj Parikh | Project Title: A Shrine & A Well in Asaon, Bihar |
| Design For Social Impact | Abhijit Bansod | Project Title: Tigoona V1 |
| Jury’s Choice | Satish Gokhale | Project Title: Micro Irrigation Dam Gates |
| Special Mentions | Michael Foley Dhairya Shikhar | Project Title: Levitate Work Furniture Project Title: Zulo |
| Media Choice Award | Siddharth UR | Project Title: HOPE |
| Lexus Guests’ Choice Award | Abhinav Saxena | Project Title: Samarth Modular Air Purification |
| People’s Choice Award | Achyut Shanbhag | Project Title: Iceheal |
Keynote Speakers were: Simon Humphries, Head of Toyota & Lexus Global Design, Vinay Venkatraman, CEO & Founder of Leapcraft, Denmark, and global LDA 2020 Grand Prix winner, Bell Tower Team from Kenya. Panel of Judges were: Dhimant Panchal, Unmesh Kulkarni, Rashmi Korjan, Shibani Dasgupta, Anuj Sharma and David Nordstrom. Panel of Mentors included: Michael Foley, Nandita Abraham, Ayush Kasliwal, Nishma Pandit, Karishma Shahani Khan, Amit Krishn Gulati
