THE INNOVATOR

WINNER

Assemble

A collection of designers and architects, nothing is too big for Assemble to tackle. From creating a new public art gallery space for Goldsmiths in London within a Grade Ii-listed former Victorian bathhouse to a 450-seat pop-up theatre built for a town square in Southampton, the group (left) come together to make anything seem possible. ‘And their work always has such a brilliantly eco feel and look to it,’ said Kit Kemp

Sarah Watson

If there’s one woman responsible for bringing the buzz back into bathrooms, it’s Sarah Watson, founder of Balineum (tiles from the range, left). Her secret? Commissioning names like artist Viola Lanari, Brooklyn-based firm ASH NYC and collage wonderartist Wayne Pate. ‘I feel like her approach to surfaces – and the fact she champions such unique ones in the bathroom – is setting the tone for strong, confident bathroom design,’ said Sarah Spiteri.

Raw Edges

Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay (left) set up a design studio in 2007 that has consistently pushed the design envelope. From creating storage for Established & Sons that looked like a colourful pile of boxes to using multicoloured tiles to create herringbone floors, their work is, above all, cheerful and fun. Their most recent collection of rugs is made to look like the back of a typical rug, the seemingly random stitches creating an intricate and arresting design.‘they’re consistently innovative,’ said Barbara Chandler, who says she has long been a fan.

Assa Studio

Having worked in 3D printing for well over a decade, Assa Ashuach has become an expert, creating tables and chairs (Upica chair, shown left) using sophisticated computer programmes. His philosophy is that the user should be able to modify the design before it is made and that everything should be created to order and specification, so there is no waste. ‘His technology is progressing so fast,’ said Sebastian Cox. →