Brit Insurance Design of the Year Award: Part 1

MYTO hair by Konstantin Grcic

The shortlist for the Brit Insurance Design of the Year Award 2009 have been announced; and among the high caliber field one finds designers and producers listed by smow. German designer Konstantin Grcic has been shortlisted for his MYTO chair for Italian producer PLANK, the Italian siblings Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for their Steelwood Family for Magis and Arik Levey for his Workit, work station for Vitra. In addition the graphic designers Cornel Windlin, Rebecca Stephany, Marco Müller have been nominated for their design work for the book Project Vitra.

Workit by for Vitra by Arik Levey

The Brit Insurance Design of the Year Award is among the most prestigious European design awards and as ever an exhibition of all shortlisted entries will be on help at the Design Museum in London. Those who find themselves in London between 12 February and 14 June 2009 can enjoy not only the works of Grcic and Bouroullec but of all shortlisted designers, including Shepard Fairey for his Barack Obama election poster– already a celebrated classic of modern graphic design.

Project Vitra (Published by Birkhäuser)

A special, almost unique, feature of the Brit Insurance Design of the Year Award is that chance for the “lay” public to vote for their favorites. The public vote does not result in a prize; unfortunately one must add, for a public prize alongside the expert jury prize would make the award a true acknowledgment of a designs universal appeal and appreciation. Until March 17 all who wish have the opportunity over the official website to vote for their favorites. The winner will be announced on March 18th – the same day as the final winner is unveiled.