The Lexus Design Award India aims to identify and award the best works of industrial design created by Indian designers. The award aims to recognize and reward members of the Indian design community who anticipate future challenges, innovate to tackle those challenges and in doing so, captivate the hearts and minds of Indian consumers.
Click on each category to view the winners
This includes all products and product systems that are designed for use by end consumers and intended for mass manufacture. This includes (but is not limited to) consumer appliances, consumer electronics, and products for home and office. This award will not consider product designs that are intended as one-offs or artistic installations. This category includes all types of products except automobiles and automobile related design.
KAAPI - Pour Over Coffee Filter
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Kaapi is a traditional South-Indian drip style coffee filter made in Ceramic, Brass and Cork. The material combination ensures that the product is comfortable to us and serve even when hot. The set consists of a Ceramic Top Cup, Ceramic Bottom Cup, a Brass Press disc and two closer corks. The bottom collector is designed to function also as a serve ware. Ground coffee powder is added to the top cup and pressed evenly using the Brass Disc. Hot water is then poured into the top cup, it drizzles through a two part perforations in the brass and ceramic. The decoction (coffee concentrate) is collected in the bottom cup and served for Filter Coffee. Each piece in this Pour-over coffee filter is individually hand thrown by the potters of Ullavaikal colony in Pondicherry.
This will include all design work that uses textiles and fabrics as an integral part of the design project. This category includes textiles for use by the apparel industry, the home furnishing industry, and other allied business that use textiles as an integral part of a product experience.
Anuvad Humanising e-textiles
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E-textile technology has now been around for two decades, however, few products have successfully made it to the market. Despite the availability of materials; the lack of good design and integration of technology in textile products has created a gap between the lab and the market. Not only that, as the market and its need evolves, there needs to be an active conversation around sustainability. On the other hand, Traditional crafts have an innate sense of sustainable practices as well as open ended processes that allow for exploration. At ANUVAD we create, design and innovate tech-textile products that feel familiar, human and can be adapted organically into the user’s lifestyle. Smart textiles often tend to look 'techy' and therefore not interesting. We at Anuvad are trying to blend innovation and tradition/heritage to create e-textiles that not only integrate technology in the structure of the fabric seamlessly but also look, feel and function in a familiar way, so as to eliminate the phobia that revolves around the adaptability of tech-textiles in our day to day lives. Through this phase of the project we have worked with a community in the village of Bhujodi, Kutch and developed products with integrated heating and lighting in them, such as Heated cushions, Heated rugs and stoles with integrated LEDs. These products are fully functional prototypes that are powered by a power bank, laptop charger and coin cell batteries respectively. The core focus is to create e-textiles that are unobtrusive, uncomplicated, functional and 'human'.
The award for Lifestyle Accessory design will consider (but is not limited to) the design of jewellery, personal accessories, bags, luggage, footwear, clothing, lighting, interior objects and other lifestyle associated products. Like all the other award categories, this award will consider only those entries that are intended for mass or batch manufacture. This award will not consider designs intended as one-offs or custom-made pieces.
Bandit
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The inspiration of the design was seeing the sea of blue tarpaulin while flying into Mumbai. What followed was two years of research into the material, the strengths weakness, market research into competition, and the finally was the design. We used Tarpaulin as the first repurposed material, this was followed by other used materials such as BOAT SAILS, ART CANVASES, AWNING CANVASES. Our bags are designed with the highest quality which ensures the product lasts for a long long time. We wanted to change the thought of fast fashion to a sustainable design philosophy. The design was also created to ensure the user was free to use it the was they wanted to. like a sack, like a laptop holder, a backpack, a sling a tote, all rolled into one, yet keeping the structure simple to make manufacturing simple. While shipping, we use old boxes. this reduces use of fresh cartons. we ship is via India Post reducing our carbon footprint. We are trying more and more innovative ways to repurpose. Apart from the design and manufacture. we are sure that repurposing makes good business sense and is profitable.
This award will recognize the best design work in furniture and products intended for use in residential or commercial interiors. Here again, the design work must be intended for mass manufacture and end-user consumption. This includes (but not limited to) seating systems, office systems, home furniture and lighting. Custom built retail interior design that is location specific and intended as a one-off will not be considered.
Book Worm Pavilion
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Book Worm Pavilion The Sustainable Development Goals call for “all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, to achieve literacy and numeracy” by 2030. Approximately 750 million people over the age of 15 still lack basic reading and writing skills. There exists a direct relationship between reading / human literacy and issues such as reduction in crime, poverty alleviation, improvement of health and increase in employment. The “BookWorm” pavilion aims to foster a sense of learning through the creation of an interactive learning space. Most library and institutional structures are often intimidating for children. The aim was to create a landscape of books which invites children to explore and learn simultaneously. We wanted children to engage in “reading” as a fun activity , encourage children to pick books and read, irrespective of language. The pavilion “worms” through the landscape to offer a unique browsing experience along a meandering pathway. The “BookWorm” is a deployable pavilion measuring 120’0”L x 40’0”W constructed out of approx 3600 modular pre-fabricated components to house books and spaces for reading. The pavilion has a low carbon foot-print and promotes sustainable building technologies to house “reading”, storytelling activities for society at large. The pavilion was fabricated off-shore and deployed on site within a week. Books have been donated by severals schools across the city. These books shall be donated to NGO’s and needy children. We are hoping that the “BookWorm” travels across the country in both rural and urban areas, spreading the message.
Design thinking is the application of design ideas and methodologies in areas that might traditionally be considered as “non-design” domains. Apart from just designers, in recent times, design thinking has been used by CEOs, social scientists, economists, and educators. The award for Design Thinking will be given to projects that bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to difficult problems. These solutions should be scalable and have the potential for impact at a mass level.
Reassigning and reinterpreting the use of vernacular material clay roof tiles
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The Earth possesses the properties of constructing as material. Earth construction has many diverse and varied forms of applications. These techniques turn out to be environment friendly as when the structure gets demolished, the remains of earth return back into the soil and be easily recycled. Over the years due to industrial revolution these vernacular material sand construction techniques have been unnoticed. In today’s time as an indication to modern world, many high energy consumption materials like glass, aluminium, metal sheets, fibre sheets, etc. and techniques are used as products or surface claddings. These not provide aesthetics but are also costly and inappropriate for hot Indian climates. A transitional thought is required to save the environment from degrading and to come up with sustainable alternatives that balance the ecological footprint. We have rediscovered various designing thoughts on vernacular adaptive strategies for sustainable modern façade, products and flooring. Ancient history showcases use of traditional material constructed from natural sources like clay roof tiles, to be used only in one specified way. The various designing possibilities and application from clay roof tiles turns out to be the right material for the prevailing Indian Climates, keeping the interiors cool with aesthetics. Clay as a material minimizes pollution and waste, reduce carbon emissions and generate opportunity of recycling resources with local artists and local techniques. An aim to interweave aesthetics, traditional techniques and local material into modern designs, evolved the replacement to expensive materials to clad as surface.
India has a large majority of people who rely on their craft making skills to earn a living. The handicraft industry is a big contributor to India’s GDP and employs millions of people. The Award for Design for Craft seeks to acknowledge designers who work with craftspeople and crafts collectives to help create products/services that in turn help craftspeople improve their skills and design abilities and simultaneously opens up new sources of income for them.
Carbon Tile
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Carbon Craft Design is a Mumbai based design and material innovation startup building architectural and interior products by upcycling carbon emissions. In January 2020, we launched Carbon Tile, the first tile to be made with carbon emissions. We're into carbon upcycling solutions for architects, businesses and end customers. Addressing Climate Change issues through Craft and Design. Waste Carbon is recovered from the factories, and the extracted carbon is converted to slurry and dry mixes with waste marble chips and binder. The mix is precisely poured into the mold by our craftsmen and compressed into a tile, later cured and then shipped to our customers. Every Carbon Tile is handcrafted right from the start. The process begins with Cutting, Shaping, Joining, Filling and lastly, Forming the tile. We found that the cement tile technique consumes upto 80% less energy compared to the vitrified/ ceramic tiles. We work with local cement tile craftsmen in Gujarat whose craft is in danger due to the onset of vitrified tiles. We empower them through employment to create sustainable products. This creates an opportunity for people in the local communities to improve their standard of living. The processed carbon in Carbon Tile is used in replacing the industrial black pigments which by itself is produced by burning fossil fuels. This along with the natural materials like marble chips, and binder, we introduced a tile that is more durable than a conventional ceramic tile using traditional techniques.
The design of public utilities includes (but is not limited to) everything from electronic voting machines to public seating to rural healthcare systems. The Design for Public Utility Award seeks to recognize products/systems that are designed with a human-centered approach for use by everybody in the social pyramid, especially the underprivileged. These products/systems may fall outside of the traditional profit-motive-led production process that regular for-profit enterprises would undertake. Hence this category will not use commercial success as a judging criterion.
A Shrine and a Well in Asaon, Bihar
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Asaon is a small agrarian village in the Siwan district of Bihar, India. An organically laid out settlement around a lake, the village has grown slowly over centuries with a low-rise, high-density residential fabric. At some point in history, few families migrated to Bihar from Rajasthan and settled in this village. A small village shrine and an old fresh-water well (constructed with Lahori Bricks) marked some of the initial public structures viscerally connected with the personal history of these families. A prominent member of the family was our client for a private project and wanted us to examine a possibility to rejuvenate these two small landmarks and create, in the process, a meaningful space for the community. One of the joys of working in Bihar is the omnipresent availability of masonry as a skill and fired brick as a material with its long history of kilns. Over and above the idea of preserving the sites through simple interventions, we wanted to create a small urban space for the village to convene. The design process ensured that the century-old well was de-silted and the water spring was re-stored. The peripheries of the well were strengthened and simple set of steps were made to make a place for rest and conversation. The shrine was restored and a porous protective envelope was created using wire-cut bricks and a light concrete shell roof. As the shrine was used by people of multiple faiths, we wanted to refrain from making any symbolic formal gestures.
This years’ theme for the Student Category is “Design For a Better Tomorrow – Anticipate, Innovate, Captivate”.
This category will consider original works of a conceptual nature by students who are currently enrolled in design schools across India. All entries submitted in this category must be in accordance with the above theme.
Entries submitted in this category must be industrial design ideas, concepts and explorations that attempt to embody the values of innovation, sustainability, usability, aesthetic refinement and industrial craftsmanship.
Iceheal
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Iceheal is a medical device designed to help the post-injury rehabilitation process by giving both hot and cold effects required for muscle conditioning. The cold effect curtails injury expansion by reducing the speed of blood circulation while the heating effect relaxes tense muscles, and increases range of motion. Current hot and cold therapy products heavily rely on ice and hot water along with the external unit (refrigerator & oven). This makes them difficult to use as carrying, storing, and maintaining ice and hot water can be troublesome. Iceheal gives the chilling effect with the help of electronics technology by eliminating ice from the whole process and uses a heating coil for the warm effect. Iceheal has developed by constant consultation with many professional athletes, coaches, and physiotherapists. With Iceheal you get 2-17 °C and 40-55°C range for cold and hot effect resp. Iceheal uses TEC1-12706 Peltier thermoelectric cooler, heat sink, copper plate, 12 v rechargeable battery, a heating coil, and liquid gel (Sodium polyacrylate). Iceheal eliminates the handling of ice and hot water and gives the desired effect anywhere anytime. With Iceheal forget about injuries and push your limits.
This years’ theme for the Open Category is “Design For a Better Tomorrow – Anticipate. Innovate. Captivate.”
This category is open to design professionals, teachers, thinkers and design enthusiasts. The Open Category will consider original, conceptual work that is in keeping with the above theme. Entrants are welcome to interpret the theme in accordance with their understanding of the challenges of designing for a better tomorrow.
Entries submitted in this category must be industrial design ideas, concepts and explorations that attempt to embody the values of innovation, sustainability, usability, aesthetic refinement and industrial craftsmanship.
Samarth modular air purification system
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Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world. With the rise in air pollution, it is creating a serious threat to the population. Because of this Indians lose more than 18 months of their lives to air pollution. As my graduation project, I took a deeper look and tried too understand the problem and create a solution. India is 2nd most populous country. We have huge economic and space constraints to design a solution for crowded cities of India. For this, the solution should be versatile enough to be able to deployed in various scenarios. We collaborated with a research lab “Airth Research Pvt Ltd” and humanized their patented technology, which is able to capture the pollutant particles without using any filter. We then designed a modular air purification system which is versatile and flexible enough to be deployed in multiple scenarios. In this the whole structure is made up of modular panels. Each of the panels takes polluted air form the back and gives out clean air from the front. All of these panels works in tandem to create a clean air environment around the structure. Since this is a filter less technology, it produces no waste and one can even upcycle the captured pollutant particles.
Micro Irrigation Dam Gates
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Single / multiple Micro Irrigation dams with maximum height of 4 mts are built on small rivers or tributaries. These dams are the lifeline for farmers post end of monsoon season as they help to recharge the nearby open dug and bore wells. The water storage in these micro irrigation dams is expected to fulfil the farmer’s water needs for irrigation and drinking till the onset of the next monsoon. These dams are owned and maintained by Zilla Parishad’s. Designed using strong, durable, easy to install gates using 100% UV stabilised recyclable LLDPE material. It is extremely durable and light-weight. Quick to install as the design is very intuitive and can be easily installed by two people.
Levitate Work Furniture
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Our working habits are going through a transformation, expanding the way we adapt and interact with spaces. Versatility of working culture has opened up the need to create environments that are flexible and can adapt to diverse work habits. Levitate creates a flexible system allowing for a wide range of workspace habits. Levitate is a continuum with a perspective of dynamically enhancing work spaces for the new normal. A simple low cost manufacturing process allows for easy customizations. The furniture line is designed to adapt to extremes of work styles - digitally connected, dedicated thinking time or collective collaborations. Levitate expands the idea of work environments to far more diverse spaces than just a conventional office space; its can seamlessly adapt to industrial environments, shop floors, educational spaces and lean studios. The manufacturing processes allow for quick adaptations and customizations. The collection looks at the perspective of scalable manufacturing using processes that do not require large tooling investments and designed with elements that are customizable and adaptable. Designed for processes that allow for planning based on orders and de-risking production over-runs.
ZULO
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Plastic usage in toys is staggering approx. 90%. ZÜLO attempt to provide a better option than plastic toys. Presently there are no wood-turning craft based magnetic toys in the market. ZÜLO toys are FIRST of its kind that combines this craft and magnets to form different movable building parts. ZULO toys are handcrafted from wood. Along with children (age 6+), adults too can enjoy ZÜLO. Smooth, gentle curves bring a distinct character, warmth and charm which captivates at once. Natural wood grains provide a calming sensory and tactile user experience. Interchangeable parts having magnets provide multiple joineries, thus intuitively triggering imagination and aiding cognitive development in children. In other words, captivating/addictive fun puzzles to solve (a range of 50 toys) for both children (6+) and adults.
HOPE
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HOPE is an Inclusive-product that aims in enabling-Blind & making them independent. India, home to the world’s largest % of Blind. Only 10% of the blind-population in India knows braille (Blind-reading-Language) yet all the existing-products are in braille failing to cater the needs of the community. Medications being one of the basic-necessities for lives, Knowing Braille shouldn’t be a barrier from them being independent. Moreover, due to their inability to consume precise medicine, they are exposed to multiple-health-hazards. Till today there hasn’t been any solution that enables the Blind to consume liquid-medications & such a crucial-problem has been overlooked for all these years. HOPE is first of its kind Inclusive-product that enables the Blind to consume-Liquid-Medicine. Due to their inability to consume precise medicines, it has led to under-dosing, overdosing, missing-out-of-dosages & not completing-treatment-courses, in turn, they are exposed to multiple-health-hazards. HOPE is a simple retrofit-attachment to any liquid-medicine-bottle. It has a completely new approach; it serves a whole new experience of measuring liquid-medicines. It uses both audible & tactile senses for precise measurement, enabling the blind to consume medicine precisely & to distinguish between medicines. Besides enabling the blind to consume liquid medicines HOPE provides a very-comfortable and enriched user-experience for everyone who consumes liquid-medicines. It makes the process of consuming liquid-medicines more hassle-free and Comfortable! HOPE would serve as back-support, upsurging the scope for betterment for blinds in the Healthcare-sector. Let’s make blind people more Enabled & Independent by making HOPE a reality.
Samarth modular air purification system
View Submission
Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world. With the rise in air pollution, it is creating a serious threat to the population. Because of this Indians lose more than 18 months of their lives to air pollution. As my graduation project, I took a deeper look and tried too understand the problem and create a solution. India is 2nd most populous country. We have huge economic and space constraints to design a solution for crowded cities of India. For this, the solution should be versatile enough to be able to deployed in various scenarios. We collaborated with a research lab “Airth Research Pvt Ltd” and humanized their patented technology, which is able to capture the pollutant particles without using any filter. We then designed a modular air purification system which is versatile and flexible enough to be deployed in multiple scenarios. In this the whole structure is made up of modular panels. Each of the panels takes polluted air form the back and gives out clean air from the front. All of these panels works in tandem to create a clean air environment around the structure. Since this is a filter less technology, it produces no waste and one can even upcycle the captured pollutant particles.
Iceheal
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Iceheal is a medical device designed to help the post-injury rehabilitation process by giving both hot and cold effects required for muscle conditioning. The cold effect curtails injury expansion by reducing the speed of blood circulation while the heating effect relaxes tense muscles, and increases range of motion. Current hot and cold therapy products heavily rely on ice and hot water along with the external unit (refrigerator & oven). This makes them difficult to use as carrying, storing, and maintaining ice and hot water can be troublesome. Iceheal gives the chilling effect with the help of electronics technology by eliminating ice from the whole process and uses a heating coil for the warm effect. Iceheal has developed by constant consultation with many professional athletes, coaches, and physiotherapists. With Iceheal you get 2-17 °C and 40-55°C range for cold and hot effect resp. Iceheal uses TEC1-12706 Peltier thermoelectric cooler, heat sink, copper plate, 12 v rechargeable battery, a heating coil, and liquid gel (Sodium polyacrylate). Iceheal eliminates the handling of ice and hot water and gives the desired effect anywhere anytime. With Iceheal forget about injuries and push your limits.
Prof Dhimant Panchal is a graduate of National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad. He has extensive consultancy experience in Design in the areas of Product design, Exhibition design and corporate identity program. As a Design Consultant he has provided services to industries ranging from Home appliances, Eyewear & jewelry, Bio-medical engineering, to Memento & Trophy design for various renowned organizations.
With a career spanning more than 38 years, he was also involved in developing design pedagogy in areas of Industrial design and Fashion & Lifestyle Accessory design. He has worked in diverse capacities in premier institutions namely the National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad, School of Interior Design (CEPT) Ahmedabad, National Institute of Fashion technology (NIFT) Gandhinagar and MIT Institute of Design, Pune. He has held several important positions in Industries in India as well as overseas.
Unmesh is a founder member of Oceanic Circles, a collective for innovation and impact. Previously he has handled global and regional design leadership roles at Honeywell and Philips, working across continents, living in India and China. Prior to that, he co-founded a multi-disciplinary design consultancy and appropriate technology lab, Design Matters. Unmesh has designed physical and digital solutions globally across sectors, technologies, and regions, successfully bringing branded product and service solutions to markets at scale across healthcare, industrial IoT, life-safety, consumer appliances and electronics, lighting, FMCG, crafts, appropriate technologies etc. A firm believer in the power of simplicity and creative empowerment in solving complex, real-world problems, he has a number of design awards to his credit including- 2009 INDEX:Award, Red-Dot, Design for Asia, IDEA Eco-Habitat Award, iF Award etc.
Rashmi set up the country's first all-woman product design firm, The Design Concern, along with her classmate in the early eighties soon after completing her studies in Product Design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. She is a co-founder of Studio Korjan and has been instrumental in many successful design projects. She is interested in ways of understanding and thinking about design processes, how designers think, and methods of mapping and modeling of ideas. She has a keen interest in Design Education and has been teaching since 1990 as a visiting faculy at various institutions including National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad, Faculty of Design, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, NIFT Gandhinagar, IICD Jaipur, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Flame University. Courses she offers include Design Concepts and Concerns, User Centred Design, VisualThinking, Geometrical Construction, and Design Research.
Shibani Jain is an alumnus of NID Ahmedabad, having graduated in 1990 in Visual Communication Design. She was part of the founding team as Head of Design at Tata Interactive Systems during her early career. Here she was involved with design of Computer Based Learning and UX/UI design. Her love for art/craft and desire to work with artisans led her to start one of the earliest dotcoms in the crafts space called Craftsbridge. The e-commerce idea was ahead of it’s time, and so, in 2010, Shibani launched Baaya Design , a design studio and store based in Mumbai. She has now been working with arts and crafts for nearly 20 years.
Her passion is to work with artisans and art forms and innovate them for contemporary, urban spaces. Her entrepreneurial skills have resulted in a unique and specialised studio where design meets tradition in the most meaningful way.
Shibani is the recipient of IICD Global award as Leading Woman in Arts & Crafts as well as the Business World winner for the Most Exceptional Woman in Arts & Culture. Shibani is a co-founder and trustee with the not for profit- Catalysts for Social Action and the Convenor for Hand for Handmade, a collaborative association for all stakeholders in the handmade/craft space.
Fashion designer Anuj Sharma (IND) works mainly in areas of craft development and sustainability. Sharma’s other areas include teaching fashion and understanding human behavior with the help of fashion. He has previously shown his collection in Japan, UK, Sweden, and Bangladesh. He was also a regular at Lakme fashion week in Mumbai. Anuj Sharma entered into fashion with his debut collection called Sunday Market in 2007, after his post-graduation studies in Apparel Design at the renowned design school, National Institute of Design (NID), India and a Masters in High-performance Sportswear Design at the University of Derby, UK, for which he was awarded the Charles Wallice India trust scholarship in 2002.
Anuj Sharma has come up with a unique method to construct clothes without any machine, tools or stitches technique. It is titled Button Masala. The method has led to the Button Masala collection, which has been shown internationally. He has taught the technique of Button Masala to over 20.000 people across the world. He was invited to give a TED talk on the method of his button masala collection in TED x Delhi and he was awarded the Most Innovative Collection of the Year Award 2009 for his collection Button Masala at Marie Claire Made in India Fashion Awards.
David Nordstrom is the Vice President, Lexus Asia Pacific Division. He drives the brand’s marketing strategy in the region and in this role, is also the guardian of the brand’s development through product planning and training. An international marketer with a keen eye for the finer things, David applies these sensibilities to the evolution of the Lexus brand.
Michael Foley runs an independent studio ‘Foley Designs’ known for its innovative thinking processes, zeal for design, originality of thought and the ability to use market and consumer understanding to create new benchmarks in design. Foleydesigns has been involved in landmark projects such as the design of the Queen’s Baton for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and several world-class products for the Indian and global market. Foleydesigns is a product design and strategy company with a legacy in consulting services. It is known for its innovative thinking processes, originality of thought and the ability to use market and consumer understanding to create new benchmarks in design.
Prof. Nandita Abraham is an ambitious and energetic leader who works with a mission to keep students at the centre of all initiatives. With over 25 years of dynamic experience across corporates and academia, Nandita joined Pearl Academy in 2001 as a faculty member. Over the years, she has worked successfully at various positions within the academy. From being a faculty to heading corporate relations & marketing departments, Nandita in her earlier role as Executive Vice President also led Pearl academy’s efforts to integrate industry with the classroom. Amongst many unique initiatives, Nandita spearheaded the path-breaking Pearl Academy – Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) collaboration, which sets a new benchmark for the Industry Academia partnership. Nandita has driven multiple initiatives and has championed pedagogy enhancement and student learning initiatives with a keen focus on internationality and industry connect. Apart from managing strategic key initiatives of the organisation, she has been playing an active role in growth and expansion of the Academy. Nandita is on the Executive Committee, IFFTI – International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes, and the FICCI Higher Education Committee. She has been a member of the CII National Committee of Design, a member of the Research, Education and Industry Committees at IFFTI, and has presented her research on pedagogy, employability and international collaboration in several countries. She has been invited to give lectures at University of Delaware, US; London College of Fashion, UK; and Philadelphia University, US.
Ayush Kasliwal, a National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad alumnus, is one of India’s leading design thinkers, practitioners and advocates for artisans. He, with his wife, Architect, Geetanjali Kasliwal, founded AKFD, focused on Furniture, Lighting and Accessory Product Design & AnanTaya to retail artisanal craft within the culture space. They live and work in Jaipur. Ayush has numerous awards to his credit, including Lexus Design Award India 2019, the EDIDA Designer of the year 2013 award, the Interior Lifestyle Award 2015 by Messe Frankfurt, POOL Best Furniture Design Studio of India 2016, and best project for the Narendra Bhawan in 2018. The UNESCO Award of Excellence recognized his designs in 2018, 2017, 2006 and 2007. He has licensed products to MATER, a Danish ethical design house and Edition Nouveau Objet (ENO) and has also collaborated with many architects on projects and installations. He recently concluded the charpai project for the Serendipity arts festival, in Goa and design of the partner country pavilion at Ambiente 2019 - for Messe Frankfurt.
An experienced designer, Nishma is co founder at Ticket Design a multidisciplinary design consulting firm. She has over the years designed solutions across domains, lead teams, and successfully implemented winning strategies. Under her leadership Ticket Design has established itself as a respected design consulting firm, with a wide variety of award winning products launched in the Indian as well as International markets. Some of the awards that Ticket Design has won are Red Dot Product Design Award, Lexus Design Award, CII award for UX design, Silver award at US Appliance Design, India Star and Asia Star presidential award to name a few.
Nishma is an alumnus of NID (National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad), Asia’s premier design school. Nishma, started her career as an industrial designer with Tata Johnson Controls, designing passenger car seating and going on to design several products for Bluestar, Whirlpool, Siemens, Honeywell etc. She has been a speaker at various design conferences sharing her work experience, and is also invited as a jury for various national and international design awards like DFC (Design for change competition) and Core77 Design awards to name a few.
A graduate of the London College of Fashion, Karishma Shahani Khan founded Ka-Sha a clothing & textile label in 2012. Khan’s work focuses on sustainability and craft delving on ideas of promotion of an entire body of handcraft. A recipient of various design awards, and a spot on the 30’s-Under-30’s Forbes India 2016 list, Khan also showcases her labels seasonal collections at premier Fashion Showcases in India and Internationally. The labels zero waste policy has transpired to create ‘Heart to Haat’, an initiative that aims to promote and recycle material and discarded clothing to create functional products. Co-founder of Change By Design, Karishma works within the eco-system of design for change & impact and Design-led Education. She is also the co-founder of Together - Ek Saath, a foundation that focusses on Livelihood Generation & Skill Development Activities across India.
Amit Krishn Gulati is an award winning industrial designer, entrepreneur and educator with a multifaceted oeuvre encompassing New Product Development, Healthcare, Branding, Built Environments and Retail Experiences. Amit completed the post-graduate programme in Industrial Design from the prestigious National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad in 1995 and is the co-founder of Incubis, one of India’s respected architecture, design and innovation-consulting companies with several Fortune 500 clients. Amit is passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs and works closely with many start-ups. He is one of the founding investors at Barista, India’s pioneering espresso retailer, Abisko, a solar solutions venture and Eye-Q, a successful and fast-growing chain of affordable eye hospitals. Amit is actively engaged in creating design awareness and has served on the CII National Committee on Design for several years and is the Vice President-National Executive Council of the Association of Designers of India (ADI). Amit is a visiting faculty at NID Ahmedabad, School of Planning & Architecture - Delhi, Anant University -Ahmedabad, Vedica Scholars -New Delhi and the Naropa Fellowship - Ladakh. He is a member of the Senate at NID Ahmedabad and on the Board Of Studies at Ambedkar University - Delhi and at Anant University.
The Lunar Rover is a compact, lightweight device that is designed to navigate the moon’s uneven terrain and transmit HD videos back to earth. It can withstand extreme temperatures, overcome various obstacles, and wade through sliding regolith (fine lunar dust). It is solar-powered and can be easily transported due to its light-weight.
Paiwand seeks to up-cycle textile waste into fabrics for apparel and home furnishing. By sourcing textile waste from designers and artisans and up-cycling them through handloom weaving, hand knitting, patchwork, embroideries and other handcrafted techniques, Paiwand aims to develop a collaborative movement that will transform social and environmental standards within the industry.
Paiwand seeks to up-cycle textile waste into fabrics for apparel and home furnishing. By sourcing textile waste from designers and artisans and up-cycling them through handloom weaving, hand knitting, patchwork, embroideries and other handcrafted techniques, Paiwand aims to develop a collaborative movement that will transform social and environmental standards within the industry.
ACCUFILL helps users keep track of the amount of petrol entering their motorbike’s gas tank, ensuring transparency and reducing the likelihood of theft. As a tank cap replacement, ACCUFILL acts as an intermediate device between the fuel gun and the gas tank, providing a real-time reading of the fuel being pumped.
ABLE is designed to help non-ambulatory or paraplegic patients independently transfer themselves between their bed and wheelchair. Its elegant mechanism does not require electricity and keeps the product affordable. Besides making the task safer and more convenient for caregivers, it also helps to enhance the self-esteem and independence of patients.
Meet the e-bike of the future. The Calamus One is highly responsive and efficient, powered by ultra-drive mid-motors and driven by carbon belts. With an emphasis on ergonomics and user experience, it sets the standard in safety, security and comfort, boasting an integrated collision detection system, all-round illumination and a host of anti-theft features.
The Deer Table was named after its sleek deer-like legs and minimalist look. It can be conveniently flat-packed and is available in two different sizes. The use of triangles in its design structure reduces the need for joints and improves its strength and stability. Made from bamboo, it also achieves a fine balance between design and sustainability.
Light, yet flexible and strong, the Butterfly Chair demonstrates the potential of using bamboo as a material for the future of furniture manufacturing. By using dies/molds, standardized parts can be achieved repeatedly and more rapidly. To further display its innovative approach, the Butterfly Chair can be easily flat-packed to occupy less volume during transportation.
SenseFlo is a service that helps apartments and residential societies conserve and use water more judiciously. By installing its non-invasive meter and display unit, building maintenance teams and residents can monitor their real-time water usage more accurately for better awareness and transparency.
Project Avirata is a 4-level online training program that aims to provide both personal and professional growth for teachers across State Board secondary schools in Maharashtra. By leveraging the reach of technology, it ensures that even teachers in remote areas can receive the same high-quality training as their urban counterparts.
A contemporary adaptation of the traditional woolen coats of the nomadic shepherd tribes of Uttarakhand’s Jaunsar-Bawar valley. The garment celebrates and encourages local spinning and knitting traditions while incorporating natural dyeing, handsewn techniques, and embroidery to enhance and accelerate its production process without sacrificing quality.
The BEST Transport Information System leverages the power of mobility and digital technology to deliver real-time information of buses. Built with the latest A.I. advancements, it improves itself over time, adapting to become more personalized based on the individual using it.
Tara Dhokra is a flexible module that can be adapted into hanging screens, trivets, wall decor, or even ceiling installations to suit a variety of budgets and spaces. Based on the traditional craft of Chhatisgarh’s tribal communities, Tara Dhokra’s thin linear construction achieves a modern look that requires tremendous skill to produce.
This leather lighting collection breathes new life into the traditional shadow puppetry craft of “Tholu Bommalata.” By applying a folding technique to goat-hide/parchment leather, structural rigidity can be introduced to produce these three-dimensional lighting products and installations. The leather is also drawn and painted on, resulting in an intriguing design that represents the pinnacle of Indian handicraft.
Nadi Tarangini is a device designed to mimic Nadi Pariksha, the ancient Ayurvedic technique of Pulse Diagnosis, to accurately diagnose physical, mental and emotional imbalances in the body.
NeoFly, the wheelchair, is designed for individual customization, correct posture, energy conservation, and compactness to enhance accessibility. NeoBolt, a motor-powered clip-on, converts NeoFly into a safe, roadworthy vehicle, which can travel up to 30kms per charge on any terrain.
A range of cotton-linen blend, hand block-printed upholstery fabrics, created with patterns designed to bring the magic of Indian heritage water systems into focus.
A compact & stylish South Indian breakfast cutlery set that makes cooking hassle-free
Three different materials were married in creation of this table, using the functional qualities of these materials to develop a unique piece for everyday use. The solid stone base holds the weight of the table and is supported centrally by an elegant steel rod on which sits a chic wooden tray embedded with brass laser-cut natural forms.
A global movement that cultivates the ‘I Can’ mind-set in every child. DFC offers a simple 4-step design thinking framework to help schools foster a learning environment by nurturing both Content and Character, Passion and Compassion, Doing Good and Doing Well - by design and not by chance.
Pluspack encompasses multiple novel features with specific advantages. The design innovations in this package design include a compact carton, dual compartments, an inbuilt tray, anti-tampering features, a labelled pack interface and anti-counterfeit features.
This project seeks to inject new life into the dying art of weaving with palm leaves and coir by exploring the different possibilities of incorporating these designs in contemporary furniture.
A project conceived as a part of the Smart City Mission in Pune, to create a Neighbourhood Upgradation Programme based on 3S concept enabling citizens to move Safely, under natural Shade of trees, thereby creating a Socially vibrant neighbourhood.
CtoK is a charitable trust launched in 2011 with the aim of bringing designers and artisans together, and empowering craftspeople from Kashmir to become independent entrepreneurs.
The designer's work helped upgrade a small-scale machine tool company into a full-fledged, design-centred CNC Automation industry. Industrial Design played a critical role in the company's local and global success.
A resizable cast that locks the elbow and prevents twisting the wrist to speed up recovery of hand fractures.
An IOT-powered sewer inspection & de-clogging system that can be remote controlled via a mobile device.
With the packaging for PaperBoat fruit juices, the design team at Elephant aimed to create an experience similar to squeezing & sucking a fruit. The form was aimed at making the consumption experience playful and fun.
Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest Mid-day Meal programme, providing wholesome lunches to over 1.6 million school children across India, every single day. They leverage technology, design thinking, and innovative engineering to run their enterprise at this scale.
Daily Dump has created a slew of segregation products, composters, books, services to help people reduce the amount of trash and waste that ends up in landfills.
Gowtham Reddy, student of the National Institute of Design, has attempted to create a solution to the problem of watering plants regularly without daily human intervention. His self-watering system can keep plants watered for a 15-day period without allowing mosquitoes to breed in the stored water.
Pool Magazine is a monthly magazine that focuses on Indian Designers, Design firms, Businesses, Arts and Crafts. Perhaps the only one of its kind in India, Pool has helped bring focus and attention to the Indian design fraternity.
Saif Faisal works with the 700-year-old craft of Bidriware, infusing the traditional craft with new thinking and innovative designs. His work strives at designing products for urban consumers using this technique.
Toile Indienne attempts to honor the Indian tradition of storytelling through contemporary and classic fabric collections - inspired by the romance of India’s history, crafts, and legends.
Greensole upcycles the soles of high-quality discarded sports shoes into trendy chappals and sandals. They help reduce waste and generate employment with their innovation.
Baro’s furniture embodies design influenced by the timeless mid-century modern movement, with particular attention paid to the balance between form and function.
The iBreastExam (iBE) is an ergonomically designed and well-suited medical scanner that is designed to be easily used by Community Health Workers. Its form is friendly and non-invasive, and the way it is held allows for a light touch on the breasts that translates into effective readings.
With the packaging for PaperBoat fruit juices, the design team at Elephant aimed to create an experience similar to squeezing & sucking a fruit. The form was aimed at making the consumption experience playful and fun.
The concept of the project is centred on re-imagining the character of the road; to create a social hub of food and festivities that meet international standards, where pedestrians are at the top of the hierarchy.
6th August 2020 - 10th October 2020
October 2020
November 2020
December 2020
January 2021
Submit your design solution using sketches, text, photographs and/or infographics laid out in a 420 mm format. Your A2 sized panel should have a 30mm margin (to be left blank) on the sides. Images should be at least 300dpi
The Panel should clearly state the following:
Open to professionals, students and design enthusiasts from every part of India and only to individuals who have reached the age of majority.
Contest Dates: The Lexus Design Award India 2021 ('The Award') begins August 6, 2020 at 13:30 (IST) and qualifying Submissions must be received by October 10, 2020, 23:59 (IST). The dates are subject to extension, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.
To be eligible for the Lexus Design Award India 2021, all entries must conform to the following broad criteria:
Contest Dates: The Lexus Design Award India 2021 ('The Award') begins August 6, 2020 at 13.30 (IST) and qualifying Submissions must be received by October 10, 2020, 23:59 (IST). The dates are subject to extension, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.
To be eligible for the Lexus Design Award India 2021, all entries must conform to the following broad criteria:
Does the concept and design anticipate not only the needs of the user experience, but the needs of society?
Does the design demonstrate new thinking and originality in its proposal and execution?
Is the design intriguing and compelling when realized in concept and execution?
In addition to the judging parameters given to the jury, these are the additional guidelines given to the jury for the Lexus Design Award India.
The Lexus Design Award India (LDAI) seeks to foster the growth of ideas that contribute to society by supporting designers and creators whose works can help to shape a better future. The award aims to recognize and reward the best industrial design executed by Indian designers, institutions, design consultancy firms, and in-house design teams of companies. Good design is defined by LDAI as the synthesis of sustainable, ergonomic, aesthetic, commercial, industrial, and scientific disciplines to create products that simplify, enrich, and better human existence.
Lexus, as a brand, has always stood for excellence in design, ergonomics, sustainability, technological superiority, and responsible consumption. The LDAI will mirror these brand values.
The LDAI is an annual award that promotes good design across multiple categories. This is the Fourth year of the LDAI.
The award trophy, designed by leading industrial designer, Michael Foley, features layers emanating from an arc reminiscent of the ‘L’-motif. A high lustre silver finish highlights each layer’s depth, with its warm wood base humanising the machined anodised aluminium slab.
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DESIGN FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
As a growing economy, India faces many unique social, cultural and societal challenges. From poverty to healthcare to livelihoods, designers are engaging with civil society at various levels. The award for Design for Social Impact will consider the social impact of a designer’s work in its broader societal context. The jury will look at how the designer’s work has impacted people and the planet. Entrants are encouraged to submit facts and figures, social impact studies, and endorsements by reputable social organizations to support their entry.
THIS YEAR'S WINNER
Tigoona V1
View SubmissionMobility and business solution for Indian street vendors both men and women.
There are more than 10 million estimated street vendors in urban cities of India. Most of them use makeshift contraption on a bicycle to adapt their business needs. Since independence, the design of the bicycle and the life of these vendors remained the same. In our booming retail story, the hawkers or the mobile vendors of India has been awaiting their turn to earn attention and positive transformation. Tigoona V1 is a business and mobility solution for the Indian hawkers/ street vendors. Tigoona offers mobility, safety and comfort to all static street vendors, including women who had no access to mobility due to balancing the bicycle or due to traditional costumes. Tigoona (teen guna or three times) will help street vendors/ hawkers to achieve three times more from their life. Tigoona is a revolutionary mobility solution for Indian street entrepreneurs, sensitively designed for safe use for both men and women. A classic example of human-centric design, the Tigoona could well redefine the way merchandise and materials are moved, distributed and sold. What’s more, it comes in a flat pack, like simple bicycle parts, can be easily customised, and can be repaired anywhere in India. It comes with a solar-powered light for business during the night time and can carry big loads (up to 100 kg). It also enables easy waste management, offers protection against sun/rain, and is also very easy to use for women. Tigoona is envisioned as an enterprise to enable hawkers to get closer to their consumer.