Two DID groups won the two inaugural Launch Pad Asia awards 2014 in Singapore.
Haikal Aziz (left) receiving his prize from Raj Nandan (right), CEO of Indesign Media Asia Pacific
Division recent graduate, Haikal Aziz, whose simply titled “Light” entry was inspired by a play of lightness and balance. With this project, the designer says he wanted to find a way to “use a material that was heavy, yet looked light”.
Singapore.
Ken Koo, Asia President of Red Dot Design Award and one of the judges, says,” It’s simple, elegant and poetic. The unobtrusive design easily fits and enhances a broad variety of environments. The design is also professionally executed and exudes quality.” The other jury member Alexi Robinson, founder of Hong Kong-based interior design firm Alexi Robinson Studio, adds, “The play of gravity is interesting as a tool for light manipulation.”
Nigel Geh and Gloria Ngiam receiving their prize from Raj Nandan (extreme left), CEO of Indesign Media Asia Pacific
DID final year students, Nigel Geh and Gloria Ngiam, for their “Spot” multipurpose light, which was inspired by the simplicity and functionality of industrial work lights. “With Spot, we retained the mobility of conventional torches and industrial work lights, as well as the dynamic rotational movement of theatrical stage lights,” says the team, adding that the object is designed to be used anywhere in the home.
Judge Wendy Chua, Designer and Director of design collective Outofstock says, “The idea is simple, the solution even more so. Although there are doubts as to how it is going to balance its weight in the desk lamp option, the execution of form and function does create a beautiful product that one can imagine using in one’s daily rituals, be it a bedside lamp or a bathroom light.” Ken Koo adds, “The designer artfully translates a basic idea into an object of desire. The aesthetic appeals to your emotion and draws you to touch and use it. Every component is necessary and yet minimised, resulting in an appropriate presentation of the function, which is the illumination. The large diffused light source seems well capable of emitting good quality lighting.”
In addition, Leow Yuan Kai, DID recent graduate, his work “Polyframe” has also been shortlisted in the competition.
Polyframe by Leow Yuan Kai
Launch Pad Asia has three parts: competition, exhibition, and mentorship program. Its function is to nurture local design talent, bring it onto a national stage, and provide emerging designers with career guidance and feedback from established industry figures at a vital point in their careers.
In its first year in South East Asia, the expertly curated Launch Pad program of events goes far beyond its highly publicised, highly trafficked Finalists Exhibition of prototypes. Launch Pad promotes real relationships between people, ideas and products in design.
This competition is organized by Indesign Media Asia Pacific which is the first and only media company dedicated to architecture and design in the Asia Pacific region.
For more information about the competition, please refer to http://www.launch-pad.com.sg/
