12 Finalists announced in the 2015 Lexus Design Award

Animal masks, a power-generating sculpture, a mood-reflecting light and a range of clothes and accessories that express the human senses lead the 12 projects selected as finalists in the 2015 Lexus Design Award.

This year's competition took the theme of Senses and attracted
1,171 submissions from designers in 72 countries. The finalists have been selected by a panel of celebrated international designers, creatives and commentators and all will be displayed at the Lexus space at Milan Design Week in April.

Among the 12, four projects will be realised as physical prototypes under the guidance of renowned designers Robin Hunicke, Arthur Huang, Max Lamb and Neri & Hu. Each mentor has chosen a project to support, based on qualities such as originality, relevance to the theme and the practicality of creating a prototype.

An ultimate Lexus Design Award Grand Prix winner will be selected from the four prototype finalists and receive the Lexus Design Award trophy. This will be presented at an awards ceremony on April 13, on the eve of Milan Design Week. The prototypes and panel displays detailing the eight other finalist project will then be on public view in the Lexus Space in the Zona Tortona from April 14-19, 2015.

The judging committee reported, "This year's Lexus Design Award drew a large number of submissions and a wide variety of wonderfully original ideas. In keeping with the theme of Senses, many submissions appealed to the five senses or emotional, rather than physical, aspects of the human experience. After extensive discussion the 12 finalist entries were selected for their potential contribution to design innovation."

Finalists selected for prototype development
Title: Animal Masks
Designer: Keita Ebidzuka (Japan)
Description: Animal Masks allow wearers to see the world through animals' eyes, evoking a mythical world where symbolism meets reality
Mentors: Neri & Hu

Title: Diomedeidae
Designers: Adriano Alfaro (Italy), Daiki Nakamori (Japan), Gaetano Mirko Vatiero (Italy)
Description: Generating electricity from its own flapping movements, Diomedeidae is a kinetic sculpture producing  motion and light that appeal to the senses
Mentor: Arthur Huang

Title: LUZ
Designer: Marina Mellado Mendieta (Spain)
Description: LUZ uses emotional lighting technology to create an environment appropriate to any weather or climatic condition
Mentor: Max Lamb

Title: Sense-Wear
Designers: Caravan - Emanuela Corti and Ivan Parati (Italy)
Description: Sense-Wear is a collection of garments and accessories that emphasise use of human senses
Mentor: Robin Hunicke

Finalists selected for panel displays
Title: Braille Reader
Designer: Juchun Jung (South Korea)
Description: The Braille Reader allows people with vision impairment to read printed materials, bridging the senses of sight and touch

Title: >crosswalk<
Designers: Naoki Kaminaka and Ryo Yamaguchi (Japan)
Description: >crosswalk< is a crosswalk design featuring arrows that guide pedestrians

Title: Embodiment of Fractal
Designer: Hiroyuki Morita (Japan)
Description: Embodiment of Fractal invites the viewer to experience the fresh visual and tactile experience of the fractal growth of a natural forest

Title: Here Comes the Sun
Designers: Chun-Fu Chen and Chi-Ming Pao (Taiwan)
Description: Here Comes the Sun is a heater that simulates sunlight coming through a window, providing warmth and hope

Title: INSTAMP
Designer: Yuzo Azu (Japan)
Description: Applying traditional East Asian brushwork principles, INSTAMP uses pressure and angle of touch to give emotion and artistic effect to Western lettering

Title: Leather?
Designer: Amon Matsuo (Japan)
Description: Through the application of traditional Japanese papermaking/moulding techniques to powdered shoemaking by-products, a new, unique material emerges

Title: Mnote, Mnemonic Note
Designer: Benjamin Xue (Singapore)
Description: Mnote is a writing pad designed to take advantage of our senses to improve memory and help us retain important information

Title: yamaori taniori tent
Designer: Iyo Hasegawa (Japan)
Description: Inspired by origami, this tent appeals to users' senses as it is transformed from a flat sheet to a visually appealing shelter

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