On April 19, the SaloneSatellite Awards jury selected the six 2023 winners. A 12th edition marked by the innovation of processes and traditions as well as the safeguarding of sustainable and community thinking.
The 12th edition of the SaloneSatellite Awards was held during the Salone del Mobile from April 18 to 23. A competition that gives out six prizes, awarded by a jury of industry professionals composed this year of Paola Antonelli, senior curator of design, director of architecture and design, research and development at MoMA, Beppe Finessi, design critic, Gianluca Gessi, president of Gessi, Francesca Gugliotta, design editor, Francesco Librizzi, designer, Claudio Luti, president of Kartell, Steven Ma, designer, Anna Moldenhauer, editor-in-chief of Stylepark, Roberta Silva, CEO of Flos, and Marilena Sobacchi, press office of Salone del Mobile.Milano. Nearly one hundred projects were in competition, coming from all different countries, covering different geographical latitudes and design approaches.
The first three prizes
The first prize of this 12th edition was awarded to Honoka from Japan for his Tatami Refab project, which combines the use of tatami mats in everyday life with 3D printing. Here the designer uses 3D printing and poor reclaimed materials in a versatile project that innovatively reintroduces traditional brands and culture into everyday life and domestic spaces.
First prize at the 12th edition of the SaloneSatellite Awards, Tatami Refab project, design: Honoka
The second prize was awarded to Hong Kong-based Studio Ryte for its Triplex stool. From lightweight to efficient structure, from compactness to durability, the Triplex stool in linen fiber is an experimental piece of furniture that responds to the nomadic lifestyle of today.
Second prize awarded to the Triplex stool, design: Studio Ryte
Finally, the third prize was awarded to Ahokpe + Chatalin, present at the SaloneSatellite under the name Belgium is Design, for its Kudoazò hammock, made from recycled fabric hand-spun in Benin. The fabric comes from unraveled sweater threads found in African markets while the shape is inspired by the fabric strip.
Third prize awarded to the Kudoazò hammock, design: Ahokpe + Chatalin (Belgium is Design collective)
Three special mentions awarded
This year, the three special mentions received the Róng Design Award, which consists of a month-long residency at the Rong Design Library in the Yuhang District of Hangzhou, China. They were awarded to the Spaniard Joaquin Ivan Sansone for his cane stool Junki, born from the research of the material, creating a robust bench, thanks to the combined minimal strength of each element. Another special mention was awarded to the Venezuelan Fragmentario, for the project Avocado Seed Brick, made from avocado seeds and a binder made from Sargassum seaweed. This project is one of the applications of the designer’s research into the properties and use of avocado seeds to balance excess and deficiencies of materials.
Junki stool, design: Joaquin Ivan Sansone
Avocado Seed Bric project led by Fragmentario
Korean Weonrhee was awarded for the small table Primitive Structure, a focus on two points: the cycle of the material during the construction process and on the primitive origin of its own culture.
Primitive Structure table, design : Weonrhee
The three winners were chosen for their research and will be assisted in successfully integrating Chinese crafts and traditional materials into their creative process. The objective of this residency is to introduce and promote these Chinese particularities in the global design world, supporting the creativity and growth of young designers.
