Beating competition from a total of 1,171 entries from 72 countries, UAE-based designers Emanuela Corti and Ivan Parati won the Grand Prix of this year’s Lexus Design Award during a prize-giving ceremony at the Milan Design Week 2015.
“We are very proud that the only finalist from the UAE managed to captivate the judges of Lexus Design Award,” said Saud Abbasi, Managing Director of Lexus at Al-Futtaim Motors. “This success speaks volumes of the amazing talent existing in this country especially in the arts and design which sit at the core of the Lexus brand’s design approach.”
Using the theme “Senses” as the basis for their creation, the duo created “SenseWear”, a collection of clothes and accessories that emphasize the use of senses. The primary purpose is to stimulate and improve awareness of the human senses. The outfits are designed either to mute physical sensations or to sharpen them, depending on the need.
“We are extremely proud with this achievement, not only because our hard work finally paid off, but because through SenseWear, we hope to help people with irregular sensory activities who want to engage with their own senses or experience a new perception of their own surroundings; such as autistic children,” said Emanuela Corti.
SenseWear prototype consists of a collection of wearable items including BiteMe, HoldMe, PullMe, SqueezeMe, and PumpMe which can be used to emphazise or calm down certain human senses.
BiteMe is a necklace for tasting, touching and shaking. The various beads in the product provide different textures and flavors. It recalls multi-sensory kids toys and can be used to train and discern different tastes and tactile experiences (ideally with the individual’s eyes closed).
HoldMe is a hoodie poncho that makes sounds, helping to focalize the wearer’s auditory capabilities. It is covered with musical flakes that emit sound in response to movements, while two built-in super ears help the wearer listen to new, unexpected sounds.
PullMe is an aromatic scarf, effectively a portable collection of familiar scents and fragrances that is used to conjure up pleasant moments and comfortable sensations. Its several retractable extensions can be loaded with scents, specimens, or small objects.
SqueezeMe is a multi-purpose scarf for an emotional emergency use. Normally worn around the head, its elastic material stretches around the body in order to generate a deep pressure that would calm wearer like a warm hug. The product’s accurate performance is obtained by the study of a specific laser-cut pattern on the fabric.
The PumpMe jacket incorporates an inflatable device to buffer the wearer against unwanted external sensations and create a contact-free personal space. The inflatable part aim to provide a deep pressure around the body which gives a calming sensation to people affected with Sensory Processing Disorders.
Emanuela and Ivan form a design collective called Caravan that envisions a multidisciplinary approach to create an alternative point of view to the contemporary public and domestic environment. Its members share common interest in culture, material and social aspects of a globalized community, trying to re-establish a balance among being, having and doing.
“As a brand, Lexus places great emphasis on the senses in the design and creation of cars to offer true driving pleasure. We are very happy that the UAE-based artists, who won this year’s Lexus Design Award were able to translate this philosophy into elements that not only stimulate the senses, but benefit those with the most need for sensory solutions” concluded Abbasi.
Lexus Design Award is an international design competition aiming to foster the next generation of creators who are shaping a better future through design.
The prototype work of Corti and Parati was exhibited during Milan Design Week, the world’s largest design exhibition, along with the rest three shortlisted prototypes and works of 11 other finalists forming an exhibit created by world-renowned space designer Philippe Nigro in collaboration with acclaimed chef Hajime Yoneda.