India, 18th December’23: The Lexus Design Award India 2024 has captured the imagination of the design community and set new benchmarks with an unprecedented response of registrations, reaffirming its stature as a global platform for fostering innovation and creativity. This year’s competition, now in its seventh edition, continues to be a melting pot of visionary ideas that transcend boundaries and shape the future of design.
The call for entries in July 2023 served as a catalyst, leading to a surge in participation bringing forth a diverse range of groundbreaking designs. Among the six distinctive design categories, Industrial Design emerged as the frontrunner, closely followed by Furniture Design, reflecting the dynamic nature and broad appeal of the Lexus Design Awards.
The entries have been evaluated by a panel of jurors encompassing luminaries from diverse creative realms such as art, architecture, fashion, and automotive industries, including Subodh Gupta, a lauded contemporary artist, Dr. Anupama Kundoo, a globally recognized architect, author, and researcher, Vinu Daniel, the visionary architect behind Wallmakers, Tarun Tahiliani, an accomplished designer, and Giri Venkatesh, spearheading Lexus’ marketing strategy in the Asia Pacific region. The distinguished panel of jurors lent their extensive expertise to the rigorous evaluation of submissions spanning Conceptual, Industrial Design, Textile Design, Furniture Design, Built Environment, and Tech Design categories.
With precision and discernment, the panel has shortlisted 30 exceptionally talented finalists from a pool of outstanding entries across all the categories. Each finalist’s distinctive creativity and seamless infusion of Lexus’s core values into their solutions have truly distinguished them, exemplifying innovation with a purpose.
CONCEPTUAL CATEGORY
| NAME | PROJECT TITLE |
| NISHAD VIJAY NIPHADE | DISHA – Innovating caregiving, empowering Parkinson’s patients. |
| ISHITA VERMA | FABRIC SPRAY – Targeted topical drug delivery with spray mechanism providing- Rapid absorption, Enhanced penetration and uniform cover. |
| DIPUMON AM | GRABNGO – A food vending machine offering a convenient and engaging experience for fast-moving consumers and travelers. |
| DIPUMON AM | MỌ –A travel friendly device that functions as a steam-iron, fuzz-remover, stain-remover and blower-dryer. |
| BHAKTI V LOONAWAT | MYCOLIVING THE SHROOM EDIT – Mycelium Hybrid Furniture: Leading the Evolution of Fungi-Based built environment |
TEXTILE CATEGORY
| NAME | PROJECT TITLE |
| NEYTT | BIDRI – Striking art pieces that can be used as a carpet or as a wall decor |
| DIVYA SHREE | THE FINAL MIGRATION – A Visual abstraction of the socio-anthropological phenomena of Nomadic-Pastoralist Changpa community’s migration onto backstrap woven textiles |
| AARUSHI | SCORCHED EARTH- PARALI – An upcycling, paddy straw and agriculture residue for eco-textiles, combating air pollution, empowering farmers, fostering sustainability |
| NANDITHA NAIR | POLA ALTERNATE LEATHER – Transforming invasive water hyacinth into alternative vegan leather |
| HARPREET PADAM | BETI – DABU MUD RESIST DYED TEXTILE PRINT – A textile print that communicates the sombre gender literacy ratio of the state of Rajasthan |
INDUSTRIAL CATEGORY
| NAME | PROJECT TITLE |
| NISHANT AGARWAL | BIONICLI – A Bionic Hand Prostheses using Electromyography with Adaptive Grasp and Pinch |
| SAMITA JOSHI | PALSEAT – An Indian toilet seat to help people with cerebral palsy defecate and urinate more ergonomically. |
| STEM | ITO FLOOR LAMP – Ito makes light feel tangible through hand-knotted cotton threads freely suspended on a cast brass frame. |
| NARENDRA KR CHAKRABORTY | SLEEFE – Transforming caps into smart wearables for video, scanning, remote presence, and enhancing convenience |
| RAVINDRA SINGH | MOBILITY FOR THE DISABLE AND ELDERLY – A Hybrid Wheelchair Attachment that elevates mobility by converting Manual wheelchair into Electric Powered wheelchair. |
BUILT ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY
| NAME | PROJECT TITLE |
| STUDIO LOTUS | RAAS CHHATRASAGAR – Distinctive wildlife camping venture that uniquely melds history, biodiversity, and sustainable construction |
| GAURAV RAJ SHARMA | VILLA FAGU – Sustainable house which explores the aesthetic, technical and symbolic possibilities of water-harvesting and passive-solar design. |
| SOUMITRO GHOSH | WILDGRASS-HOUSE IN THE NILGIRIS – An archetypal idea of home as a hut inspired by Adam’s hut and local colonial design, in Connor
for retired couples for weekends. |
| RUCHIRA RATHOD | HOTEL AT BODH GAYA -A tourist hotel in holy Buddhist city uses Memory and Emotion for immersive architecture reflecting Buddhism |
| A LINE STUDIO | SKIN AND BONE RESIDENCE – Sustainable dwelling, built around the persona of retired school teacher to reflect change within society |
| ABHA NARAIN LAMBAH ASSOCIATES | RESTORATION OF BYCULLA STATION – Byculla Station was restored respecting the original architectural features, building materials and construction techniques |
FURNITURE CATEGORY
| NAME | PROJECT TITLE |
| JWALANT MAHADEVWALA | LOOP SEATER – A cantilevered bench that maintains visual tension making it a testament to the art of balance |
| ROOSHAD SHROFF | MARBLE TUBES – Handmade lighting pieces crafted from Makrana with brass accents |
| DEEPTASHREE SAHA | AKHARA SANDHARA – It innovatively melds sustainable materials, a tactile link to Indian wrestling heritage through materiality |
| SHUBHANGAM SINGH | NITYA YANTRA – Koftgiri and art metalwork piece, promoting human ergonomics and self-restoration- amalgamation of traditions and modernity |
| NANDITHA NAIR | POLA ALTERNATE COMPRESSED SHEETS FOR FURNITURE – Transforming invasive water hyacinth into alternative compressed sheets through bio-fabrication |
TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY
| NAME | PROJECT TITLE |
| NEBIN ASHARAF | LUMINOCAGE – EXPERIENTIAL RETAILING & IMMERSIVE PRODUCT SHOWCASE – A futuristic commercial space that prioritizes dynamic lighting, categorized product displays, sensory experiences, and an Alexa-controlled system for client interactions |
| SPARSH | THERMAL FLOATER – A floating solar energy system that triples efficiency while cutting costs, for scalability, modularity, accessibility |
| NEBIN ASHARAF | ISO.BOT – A smart, adaptable medical assistant which aims at minimizing contact between patients and healthcare workers |
| PRIYANSHU MUKHOPADHYAY | EPICUE – A sweat powered, heat stress management PPE for workers in high heat conditions |
| UNMESH PATIL | POKÉMON HOLOSTATION – An Interactive holographic 360-degree multiplayer gaming system with collectable cards |
These unique and versatile concepts have redefined conventional expectations in future designs, embodying the spirit of innovation that characterizes the Lexus Design Award India 2024.
The dedication to empowering shortlisted designers distinguishes LDAI 2024, underscoring its unique approach to nurturing and supporting the creative visionaries within the design community. Apart from the unique opportunity to engage with industry experts in a developmental workshop, winners in the Conceptual category will receive a seed fund. This seed fund aims to catalyze the realization of their visionary concepts, providing tangible support to turn ideas into impactful design solutions.
Speaking on LDAI, noted designer Tarun Tahiliani said, “The Lexus Design Award India 2024 serves as a vital arena, pushing designers to break free from traditional norms. It goes beyond merely recognizing design excellence; it delves into the core of innovation, where diverse perspectives collide to shape a future fueled by creativity and purpose. The designs within the conceptual category were not only intriguing but also distinctly stood out, reflecting a futuristic approach to innovations..”
Anupama Kundoo, a leading architect and LDAI jury member, remarked on Lexus Design Awards 2024, stating, “The received designs epitomized authentic innovation and uniqueness, showcasing a commendable synthesis of avant-garde concepts and functional design principles. This collection critically engages with the evolving discourse in design, highlighting a transformative approach that is both professional and forward-thinking.”
Amit of STIR, shared his experience, “Going through Lexus Design Awards 2024’s design landscape was a compelling interplay of innovation and originality. The submissions reflected a dynamic fusion of artistic vision and practical utility, accentuating a noticeable evolution in contemporary design discourse.”
Speaking on this occasion, Naveen Soni, President of Lexus India, said, “We are gratified by the resounding response to the seventh edition of Lexus Design Award India. The escalating acknowledgment of LDAI underscores the design community’s steadfast dedication to unlocking the transformative power of design for a more promising future. This time, notably, each category showcased designs that were uniquely different, yet collectively innovative, which underscored nuanced creativity designs.”
The pinnacle of recognition awaits the Conceptual category winners as they secure an exclusive invitation to attend the prestigious Lexus Design Event during Milan Design Week in Italy. This unparalleled opportunity will allow designers to network with industry leaders and fellow creatives.
Building on the success of the 2023 winners, the 2024 edition of the Lexus Design Award remains committed to promoting design solutions aligned with the YET Philosophy. The guiding principles of Anticipate, Innovate, and Captivate will be at the forefront, reflecting the overarching goal of contributing to the happiness of all through innovative and thoughtful design.
