Milan, 21st March 2024 – Nominations open today for the PORADA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2024, the international design competition sponsored by Porada – a leading manufacturer of furniture and furnishing accessories – and POLI.design, a consortium company affiliated with the Politecnico di Milano. The contest, now in its twelfth edition, will see BEDS as its protagonists, focusing once again on originality, innovation, and the research for new design solutions, in order to reward the most creative entries submitted by students and professionals of design, – both Italian and foreign.
Projects will have to envisage solid wood as the prevailing (but not necessarily exclusive) material, matching Porada's values and identity and enhancing the use of production technologies and processes typical of solid wood, taking into account – in addition to compliance with specific functionality – compliance with current safety regulations, ergonomic, environmental and sustainable design requirements.
The application to participate in the competition and the candidature must be made via telematic procedure, through the dedicated portal, no later than 31st January 2025.
"For this twelfth edition of the competition we have chosen a new theme, the BED, which we had never considered in the past; for Porada, the world of upholstered furniture is relatively young, having introduced this category in the collection no more than a decade ago. As every year, we are very curious to see how the participants will develop the theme and what creative projects they will propose. We are always open to putting into production the idea that best fits the Porada world, as has happened several times in the past and in the collection that we will present at this year's Salone del Mobile”, explains Tiziano Allievi, CEOof Porada.
"Once again, we are happy to support PORADA in this competition open to international professionals. For us, it is the confirmation of POLI.design's constant commitment towards the promotion of talents and creative projects looking towards the future of design and our Country's economy," explains Cabirio Cautela, CEO of POLI.design. "POLI.design has always been a place of interchange between innovation needs and creative ideas, often even radical ones, at the service of companies and society. With this type of initiative we try, with our partners, not only to offer skills and tools to face the challenges in the world of work, but also opportunities for visibility and a 'showcase' on the world”.
A jury of design experts, including representatives from Porada, POLI.design and ADI, will have the task of judging and selecting the winners. In evaluating the proposals submitted, the following will be considered: originality; the degree of innovation and research of new design solutions referring to the typical processing of solid wood; experimentation with materials and surface finishes; the projects’ ability to define and anticipate scenarios of use and innovative concepts in the use of wood furniture and contemporary furnishing accessories with particular regard to the typological, technological and morphological determinations of the bed system.
The Jury will decide three winners for each category, Students and Professionals, and a winner of the Giacomo Allievi Special Mention, for a total prize of 11,000 euros; the award ceremony will take place during a dedicated event organized by Porada.
For more details on how to participate and to submit your application: www.porada.it or www.porada-design-award.polidesign.net.