@Belmond Award 2020
Now in its third year, The 2020 Belmond Design Award recognized not one but two recent graduates in 2020 for projects that demonstrate an intrinsic knowledge of how design and craftsmanship are married together.
Great design shapes the human experience. New Designers provides a unique platform for fresh design talent to connect with design educators, professionals and consumers, for creative exchange and collaboration. Belmond, renowned for its global collection of exceptional hotels and luxury travel adventures, announced its continuing partnership with New Designers, the UK’s largest design graduate show, which supports up-and-coming creative talent.
Belmond’s brief for 2020 ND Awards challenged this year’s graduates to propose a design for one of its barges, which cruise the picturesque rivers of France. They epitomize the concept of slow travel, which offers travelers the luxury of reflecting, unwinding and connecting with those around them.
Belmond Awards aims to support young design talent and gives them a platform during a particularly difficult period for those starting out on their career.
With the Covid-19 pandemic leading people across the world reflect on things they value, The Belmond Award 2020 asked candidates to create a design that celebrates or highlights an aspect of life which they consider to have true value. This may be literal, in the form of an object of desire, or more abstract, with something that evokes a universal emotion. Sustainability and environmental friendliness are key criteria, alongside originality and innovation.
The winners of The Belmond Award 2020 – Alexandra Carr et Harry Gordon – will be commissioned to design a product to be displayed at one of Belmond’s distinctive properties, with Belmond undertaking to facilitate and fund the winner’s collaboration with a manufacturer to produce their design. The prize includes a £1,000 bursary, as well as the opportunity for the winner to learn from Belmond’s in-house design experts and wider network of creative professionals, craftsmen, and women.
Established over 40 years ago with the acquisition of the Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Belmond is a pioneer in the world of travel.
Belmond luxury hospitality group joined the LVMH group in 2019, and currently owns and operates 46 unique hotel, rail and river cruise experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations. Belmond’s belief that good design defines authentic experiences led to its partnership with New Designers, the UK’s leading event for design graduates, and the creation of The Belmond Award to support up-and-coming creative talent.
Follow all the 2020 New Designers winners @instagram.com/newdesigners/
Alexandra Carr Untitled Project; UNIVERSITY: BA (Hons) 3D Design (Designer Maker) , University of Plymouth; @newdesigners.com/awards/product-industrial-spatial-design/
Alexandra Carr’s project represents a series of lamps, made through an amalgamation of 3D printed components and hand sewing to create unique and bespoke clusters of shapes illuminated from behind. The contextual basis of this project has focused on generating a methodology that creates intrinsic notions of preciousness in objects made from PLA.
Alexandra’s passion to create modern new forms using plastic waste combined with medieval embroidery techniques convinced the jury that innovation can go hand-in-hand with traditional crafts to create something precious.
