We’re pleased to announce that the winner of the British Council’s International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year (IYDEY) 2006 award is Paula Dib from Brazil.  Paula is a social designer – working principally in product design – and has specialised in developing craft projects with low-income communities in rural Brazil.  Paula’s prize is a stand at 100% Design 2007 and money to be spent on a design project in conjunction with the British Council.

Speaking on behalf of the panel of judges, Jeremy Myerson commented that “Paula showed an extraordinary ability to present a coherent and distinctive argument linking design, society and ecology. Her witty slogan ‘We do more with less’ succinctly captures her unique combination of realism and idealism”.  A unique typographic certificate by the acclaimed graphic design duo Kerr/Noble was presented to Paula by one of Britain’s leading design entrepreneurs and Creative Director of Artek, Tom Dixon at the award ceremony at 100% Design on 22 September.

About the award

The world of design extends far beyond its conventionally celebrated hotspots in Europe, the US and Japan, and the annual IYDEY award champions the development of young entrepreneurs working in design in emerging markets. IYDEY is distinguished from other design awards because it emphatically recognises the entrepreneurial and leadership ability that bring design to the front of public and business consciousness.

Ten finalists, selected by the British Council and expert partners across the globe, competed for the title in 2006. Our broad definition of entrepreneurs in design included candidates from architecture, graphic design/branding, product design, interactive/digital media and design promotion.

The finalists travelled to the UK for a two-week programme in September which introduced them to fellow design entrepreneurs and exemplary initiatives in London and Glasgow. The programme finished at 100% Design (21-24 September 2006) where the British Council hosted a stand promoting the award and showing the work of the IYDEY 2005 winner, Lanre Lawal (Nigeria).

Selecting the winner

During the visit all finalists make a presentation to the UK jury about their work and about their understanding of, and vision for, design in their country.

IYDEY 2006 Jury

Emily Campbell, Head of Design and Architecture, British Council
Nicole Bellamy, Director, Projects Art Consultancy
Lanre Lawal, CEO, Design Jockey Sessions, Nigeria; Winner, IYDEY 2005 award
Jeremy Myerson, Professor of Design Studies, Director of Innovation RCA and Co-director of the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, Royal College of Art
Ian Rudge, Brand Director, 100% Design

These are the ten finalists, aged 25-35, singled out for their strong creative leadership and entrepreneurial ability and their commitment to advancing design:

Brazil
Name: Paula Dib
Job title: Founder/Partner, Trans.forma Design
Design field: Product design and social development projects
Website: www.transformadesign.com.br (under construction)
Email: pauladib@gmail.com
Paula Dib is a designer and consultant who works with handcrafting communities throughout Brazil to research, design and manufacture products. Through her intervention, ceramics, textiles, weaving, and other techniques are refreshed and transformed from traditional craftwork into a high quality, marketable products that generate income and improve quality of life for  the community.

China
Name: Xie Yong
Job title: General Manager / Director, E-madesign Co., Ltd.
Design field: Product design; design strategy
Website: www.e-madesign.com
Email: yong.xie@e-madesign.com
Xie Yong, based in Beijing, is an active proponent of the importance of design to China’s economic development. He has lectured in the subject while working as a freelance product designer. He has founded two product design consultancies, and through his current company aims to lead one-stop design service market in China.

India
Name: Ramesh Manickam
Job title: Design Director / CEO, Centroid Creative Hubb
Design field: Product design; automotive design
Website: www.centro-id.com
Email: ramesh@centro-id.com
Ramesh Manickam was an Industrial Designer working on motorbikes for eight years in Chennai before starting his own industrial design firm, Centroid Creative Hubb.  He specialises in product and automotive design – everything from pens to tractors – and provides a full service from concept to production support to meet the multifaceted requirements of the Indian market.

Indonesia
Name: Ridwan Kamil
Job title: Founder/Principal, URBANE Indonesia
Design field: Architecture; urban design
Website: www.urbane@cbn.net.id
Email: Rkamil90@yahoo.com
In 2003 Ridwan Kamil returned home from studies and employment in the US and Hong Kong to establish his own architecture and design company, Urbane Indonesia. His award-winning enterprise now works on large-scale projects throughout the Middle East, China and South East Asia. Ridwan also teaches architecture and writes on design and urbanism.

Lebanon
Name: Maya Karanouh
Job title: General Manager and Partner, Cleartag
Design field: Branding; web design
Website: www.cleartag.com
Email: maya@cleartag.com
In 1999 Maya Karanouh, a trained architect, co-founded Cleartag sarl., a Beirut-based branding and web design agency. Cleartag specialises in combining design and business into branding. It has grown from  two people to a team of twelve, developing brands for some of the biggest companies in Lebanon and the Near- East region.

Lithuania
Name: Darius Cekanauskas
Job title: Designer /Director/ co-owner, AD grupe Ltd.
Design field: Product design; interiors; architecture
Website: www.ad-grupe.com
Email: dizainas@takas.lt
Darius Cekanauskas’s design portfolio incorporates projects in a wide range of scales and styles ranging from small souvenirs and accessories to furniture, tradefairs and interiors. In 2005 he co-founded the design studio AD grupe Ltd. which develops products, furniture and interiors, and supervises the production process from design to manufacture.

Oman
Name: Anwar Al-Asmi
Job title: Art Director, Reality Computer Graphics LLC
Design field: Media design for web, print & broadcast
Website: www.realitycg.com
Email: anwar@realitycg.com
Anwar Al-Asmi has worked as a designer in a wide range of fields and is now co-founder and art director of Reality Computer Graphics. Reality offers extensive services in 3-D visualisation, post-production and new media to both local and international clients. Anwar is passionate about raising standards and developing home-grown design in Oman.

Slovenia
Name: Gorazd Malačič
Job title: General Manager, ASOBI Ltd. and Marvin Ltd.
Proprietor of ISLE LOUNGETM
Design field: Design consultancy; brand development
Website: www.asobi.si and www.islelounge.com
Email: gorazd@asobi.si
Gorazd Malačič co-founded Asobi during the recent tough transition period of Slovenia’s economy and quickly established it as the country’s leading product design consultancy. The success of the Isle Lounge, a unique carbon epoxy sofa, put Asobi on the international design map when it was exhibited at the London Design Festival 2005, Milan Design Week 2006, and 100% Design 2006.

South Africa
Name: Heath Nash
Job title: Founder/Designer, Heath Nash cc.
Design field: Product design
Website: www.incapetown.com/heathnash or www.heathnash.com (in development)
Email: elevator3000@mweb.co.za
Heath Nash is an independent product designer and a pioneer in the field of using recycled plastics.  He produces lampshades and other paper and plastic homeware products, and works with a small team of craftspeople using local skills and production methods to create high-end product design. In 2006 he was named Designer of the Year by Elle Decoration in South Africa.

Thailand
Name: Makorn Chaovanich
Job title: Design Director / Managing Director, Cerebrum Design Co., Ltd.
President, Industrial Designer Society Thailand (IDS)
Design field: Product design; branding
Website: www.studiocerebrum.com
Email: makorn@studiocerebrum.com
Philips Design International spotted Makorn Chaovanich as an award-winning product design graduate in Bangkok and employed him in Singapore and Paris to develop audio/video systems, mobile phones and domestic appliances for global market.  In 2005 he returned to Thailand and founded Cerebrum Design, which develops electronic products and brands, and is particularly eager to heighten local understanding of good design through the good practice of his own enterprise.

Winner’s Update
Lanre Lawal - IYDEY 2005 award winner

“Since winning the inaugural IYDEY award in September 2005, the last year has been a whirlwind of activity and ‘hyper-do’. There was a lot of press coverage when I won and people recognise me in the street now… the resulting level of respect and expectation is equally alarming and rewarding! The highpoint of the year was my visit to the Design Indaba Exhibition in South Africa, where I was chosen, along with three other Nigerian designers, to showcase the entrepreneurship, innovation, and potential in our national creative industries scene.

Many priceless new commercial projects have emerged as a result of IYDEY.  My business has expanded and I’ve done work for a number of high profile clients including visual branding for The Office of The Lagos State Government; motion graphics for the logo of GLO mobile, Africa’s largest telecom network; and visual identity for the Lagos Film Office.

It is also important to me to use my IYDEY title to promote design more widely in Nigeria. With my prize money I am working with the British Council to develop a TV programme which raises local awareness about the importance of good design and encourages others about the opportunities of making a living as a designer.  

Finally, the award has allowed me to pursue new directions in design.  Since meeting Tom Dixon in three places around the world (UK, Nigeria and South Africa) I have been inspired to explore tactility and to apply the Design Jockey ethos to product design. As an exciting result of this, a new range of interior products that I have designed are being exhibited at the British Council stand at 100% Design 2006.”

Lanre is CEO of the Design Jockey Sessions, an experimental graphic design firm, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

For more information about IYDEY please contact: Claire.DeBraekeleer@britishcouncil.org