Friday 24 February 2012

Designs of the Year 2012

The Design Museum's Design Awards, 'the Oscars of the design world', showcase the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world.


Jawbone JAMBOX, San Francisco, USA
Yves Béhar, Fuseproject
(Product Design)


If you have no plans for the weekend, this exhibition is definitely a good option and if the weather is kind, there is nothing like a walk by the river on a sunny day to lift up one's spirit.

The awards include seven categories: Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Digital, Transport and Product so there are plenty of creative designs to admire.


Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects
Photography by Iwan Baan
(Architecture)


For a full list of nominations in all categories please visit the Design Museum online. I will focus on the highlights of the fashion category, from a SHOWstudio film of Gareth Pugh for Mac by Ruth Ogben to the highly acclaimed Royal Wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, this is an exquisite selection!


The Duchess of Cambridge’s Wedding Dress
Designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen
Image © Samir Hussein, Getty Images


In the exhibition you can watch a video with Sarah Burton explaining the whole process of creating the dress with its marvellous intricate lace embellishments and fascinating construction.


Image Dress, Autumn/Winter 2010–11 © Alexander McQueen
Sølve Sundsbø / Art + Commerce


Alexander McQueen is also nominated for the prestigious Savage Beauty exhibition at the Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York - Andrew Bolton with the support of Harold Koda. 


Mary Katrantzou, Opus Mixtum Dress
Autumn/Winter 2011
Image by Chris Moore


Mary Katrantzou, who won an Emerging talent award at the last British Fashion Awards, is also on the nomination list for her Autumn/Winter '11 collection.

As Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake is also nominated twice on the fashion category, not only due to his talent as a designer but also to a video animation created by his design studio.  


Issey Miyake, Image by Hiroshi Iwasaki


And last but not least, on the fashion nominations highlights, I have to mention Vivienne Westwood's Ethical Fashion Africa collection Autumn/Winter '11. The grand dame of the punk movement era is conscientious about the world around her and does try to make a difference. 


Vivienne Westwood, Ethical Fashion Africa collection AW '11


Designs of the Year 2012
8 February - 4 July
Design Museum


Other related blog posts:
British Fashion Awards 2011
Shoes for Show
Shoot for the Stars! designers & Showbiz