Alongside this enlargement, 4 new Wellington-based business skilled mentors have joined the programme, together with Gosia Piatek, founding father of New Zealand moral vogue label Kowtow, and her enterprise director Emma Wallace. Becoming a member of them are Megan Wyper and Patrick Kennedy, co-owners of Acme. These mentors be part of long-time Lexus New Zealand ambassadors Simon James and Scott Bridgens of Resident, whose experience in furnishings and lighting design has guided the Awards since 2013.
“Design is on the core of Lexus,” says Andrew Davis, Vice President of Lexus New Zealand. “Our model is constructed on craftsmanship and forward-thinking expertise. Increasing the awards to Wellington, a metropolis synonymous with creativity, is a pure subsequent step find New Zealand’s future design leaders.”
Lexus Design Award celebrates rising design expertise, difficult college students to answer a quick, designing a prototype that can anticipate, innovate, and captivate via daring, sustainable options that reply to real-world challenges — the transient, up to date final yr to align with the United Nations Sustainable Growth Objectives.
The brand new Wellington-based mentors convey distinctive native views and experience. Kowtow founder Gosia Piatek says, “Each mentor brings a distinct perspective formed by their very own journey in design. At Kowtow, we use the rules of round and reductive design in every bit we create. We’re excited to convey this lens to information contributors to create designs with influence and goal.”
Acme co-owner Megan Wyper provides, “Being requested to mentor Lexus Design Award entrants is an honour. We’re excited the competitors is increasing into Wellington, giving native expertise a platform to showcase their expertise and daring concepts.”
Lexus ambassadors and mentors Simon James and Scott Bridgens proceed to information college students throughout each areas. “Every year, the calibre of scholar work continues to develop and impress us as mentors. It’s rewarding to work with rising designers as they carry contemporary, modern pondering to actual challenges we face on this world,” says Scott.
Over three months, college students will reply to a quick and obtain hands-on steering from mentors to develop and prototype their ideas. Mentors will attend the periods in-person and supply recommendation and steering to college students alongside the way in which. One winner and runner-up from every college might be introduced at two showcases held in each Auckland and Wellington this November.
First place winners obtain $3,000, runners-up $1,000, and all winners could have the chance to exhibit their design at Auckland Design Week 2026.
Professor Simon Fraser, Programme Lead Industrial Design at Victoria College of Wellington, welcomes the partnership: “We’re excited to combine Lexus Design Award into our educating programme. The mix of a high-profile business partnership and the related mentoring programme with design professionals is especially precious for our remaining yr college students, as they transition from educational research into their skilled careers.”
Affiliate Professor Sven Mehzoud, Head of Massey College’s Faculty of Artistic Arts, says, “The transient’s openness encourages huge inventive interpretation and pushes boundaries, making it an thrilling alternative for our college students.”
“The imaginative and prescient was all the time to see LDA develop in New Zealand, so we’re excited to open this to Wellington and provides rising designers a platform to showcase their work, in entrance of the leaders of their discipline,” says Andrew Davis.
Discover out extra and to enter go to the Lexus Design Awards webpage linked right here.
