Lexus Announces Grand Prix Winner for Lexus Design Award 2016 | LEXUS

LEXUS

Fourth Annual Design Competition

Japanese Design Unit AMAM Wins Grand Prize

Lexus announced the winners of the fourth annual international design competition, "LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2016."Four Prototype WorksFrom these, AMAM's "AGAR PLASTICITY – A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE" was selected as the Grand Prix winner.

Text by Kosaku Waseda (OPENERS)

Grand Prize Winner: Agar-Based Packaging Material

The LEXUS DESIGN AWARD is an international design competition aimed at fostering and supporting emerging creators, now in its fourth year. Under the theme "Anticipation," 1,232 entries were received from 73 countries. In November, judges and mentors carefully selected 12 winning entries. Four of these were chosen for prototype development under the guidance of mentors, and from those four, the Grand Prix winner was selected.

The Grand Prix was awarded to "AGAR PLASTICITY – A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE," created by AMAM, a unit comprising Kosuke Araki, Natsuki Maeda, and Akira Muraoka.

Agar is traditionally used as a food ingredient in Japan and is utilized in the fields of chemistry and medicine worldwide. It is sold in a dried state, revealing delicate structures, and is remarkably light for its volume.

Focusing on these characteristics, the team explored its use as a cushioning material. Typically, items are shipped encased in plastic packaging, which becomes waste or is recycled immediately after unpacking.

The current distribution system, reliant on plastic packaging, is not ideal when considering the resources and energy required for its production and disposal. AMAM decided to address this issue, recognizing the increasing necessity of utilizing sustainable natural resources.

The project proposes not only cushioning material but also agar-based packaging. Furthermore, during prototype development, experiments were conducted to create agar-derived plastics. After use, these agar-based products can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Due to its properties, it can be directly used to improve soil water retention, and even if it were to enter the ocean, it would not harm marine life.

"AGAR PLASTICITY – A POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF AGAR FOR PACKAGING AND MORE," along with the other 11 award-winning works, was exhibited at "LEXUS – An Encounter with Anticipation," Lexus's installation at "Milan Design Week," the world's largest design exhibition.

Additionally, "LEXUS – An Encounter with Anticipation" is scheduled to feature a triumphant exhibition of the Grand Prix winner and a selection of other works at "INTERSECT BY LEXUS – TOKYO," Lexus's brand experience space in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, in May 2016.

Lexus International
http://www.lexus-int.com/jp/lexus-design/design-events/