BEST IN CLASS
Welcome to the 15th edition of the Wallpaper* Design Awards, celebrating all the very best in design from the past year. The issue is split into two parts. Our highest honours are the 11 major Judges’ Awards, shortlisted by Wallpaper* and the winners chosen by our panel of esteemed judges – Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design at MOMA; Bjarke Ingels, stellar architect and founder of BIG; Wallpaper’s reigning Designer of the Year 2018 Philippe Malouin; ethereal manipulator of space and form Do Ho Suh; blockbusting Broadway set designer David Korins; and finally, Buffalo Girl, style icon and, most recently, Kieran Hebden-collaborator Neneh Cherry. A huge thank-you to them for their valued time and wisdom.
The rest of the issue is dedicated to awards selected by Wallpaper* and our extended family of contributors, writers and curators from around the world. Notable highlights include Jean Nouvel’s exquisite games compendium with Bottega Ghianda; Elmgreen & Dragset’s super-sleek bar (for those on the inside looking out); Isay Weinfeld’s remake of the iconic Four Seasons Restaurant in New York; Dieter Rams’ minimalist handbag for Tsatsas; and our very own dream space for domestic disco divas, complete with Gufram glitter ball.
We also celebrate head bouquets and hands-free umbrellas; a rolling Michael Anastassiades speaker for Bang & Olufsen; expertly butchered veg; pop-coloured sinks by Carlo Colombo for Antoniolupi; Ole Scheeren’s landscaped fast-food counter for Dean & Deluca; midcentury furniture revived in reconstituted fishing nets; a perfectly judged refurbishment of Jørn Utzon’s only UK house, by Coppin Dockray; and Michele De Lucchi’s concertina-cut kettle for Alessi.
The past year has been a standout one for good design that behaves beautifully, that thinks about its impact in every sense. It’s heartening to celebrate the people and brands that strive to make a difference, to innovate and design a better life, which leads us to look forward optimistically to 2019. Enjoy the issue!