On June 22 night, the AriAnteo Chiostro dell'Incoronata in Milan hosted the award ceremony of NABA Design Award 2023. Reaching its fifth edition, the design prize from an idea of Claudio Larcher (NABA Design Area Leader) celebrates the works of students of the BA in Design and MAs in Product and Service Design, Interior Design, and Social Design.
The best design project and the Jury Prize
The Best Project of the Year 2023 went to "Niente da vedere" ("Nothing to see") by Chethra Iotti, Matilde Martegani, and Andrea Motta. It highlights the paradox between empty flats and the housing emergency in the Giambellino neighbourhood in Milan. Through an installation, the project points out the walled/plated windows. The intervention is a visual stimulus raising interest and awareness of the political and social value of the context.
On the other hand, "UP" by Lucrezia Bellandi, Niccolò Binotto, and Giuseppe Caputo won the Jury Prize 2023. Inspired by balloons, the project explores their versatility, elastic, plastic, and sustainability properties. "UP" is a kit to make a random-shaped lighting device, a colourful and ever-changing lamp.
The fifth edition of the NABA Design Award: the other prizes
The quality of the projects is clear by scrolling through the twelve additional award categories.
BA Interior Project: "Artists Escape" by Jude Badih and Nino Digiuseppe.
BA Product Project: "Co-Essere" ("Co-Being") by Dana Berro, Cagla Enginer and Maria Vittoria Zini.
MA Interior Project: "Reversed theatre" by Olga Garanina and Elise Walseth Krogenes.
MA Product and Service Project: "Jam" by Melda Çevikel, Thanat Juengprasert, Sofia Monchieri and Junrao Wang.
MA Social Project: "Sistema Meteoropatico" ("Meteoropathic System") by Martina Petiti and Marta Prati.
Photo: "MDW: Milano Design Week 2022 Report" by Michelangelo Carraretto, Sofia D’Andrea, Paolo De Castiglioni, Gjergji Gjoka, Alessandro Luciani, Brinda Sharma and Oliwia Syroczynska.
Drawing and sketch: "Ritratto da un algoritmo" ("Portrait by an algorithm") by Gianni Iraci.
Tecnique and materials: "Marsiglia wood" di Fenia Capobianco, Francesco Pio Carpentiere and Debora Di Pinto.
BA Interior Thesis: "SEAM Sea Memory Museum" by Giulia Colombo.
BA Product Thesis: "LAUR" by Martina Locatelli.
MA Interior Thesis: "Una nuova vita per l’ex Colonia Marina di Cagliari" ("A new life for the former Marine Summer Camp of Cagliari ") by Laura Usai.
MA Product and Service Thesis: "Peso, la conseguenza" ("Burden, its consequence") by Michela Panizza.
The partnership, the design prize, and the jury
The students' efforts and creativity were rewarded with a selection of prizes from the main partner of the fifth edition, HONOR. Meanwhile, the trophy the winners received was designed by Claudio Larcher and took shape within the laboratories of the Design Area under the supervision of Carmelo Zocco (Design Laboratory Manager). It is made of solid wood and PLA sheets recycled from 3D printers' waste, a testament to NABA's commitment to sustainability and circular design principles. To conclude, a special thanks goes to the members of the jury, made up of Luciana Maiorano (Head - Archiproducts Milano), Laura Traldi (Journalist and NABA lecturer) e Lorenzo Damiani (Founder and Designer - Lorenzo Damiani Design Studio).