Verdict from the Jury Regarding the 2024 Designers in Residence Program
Pforzheim, Germany, is set to welcome three young designers from around the world as part of the "Designers in Residence" program at the EMMA creative center. The recipients of the scholarships for 2024 are Alejandra Alarcón from Mexico/Finland, Elisa Lutteral from Argentina/USA, and German product designer Simon Rogalla.
The scholars were selected from over 400 applications from 65 countries, marking an increase of approximately 43% compared to the previous year. The global reach of the program is noted by Almut Benkert, head of the creative economy department at the Pforzheim Economic Development and Marketing Agency (WSP).
Alejandra Alarcón's project focuses on engaging with other cultures to rethink the concept of tableware for multisensory and meaningful dining experiences. She aims to question Western eating rules and propose alternatives for the future of food design.
Elisa Lutteral will investigate materials as carriers of power in her work, focusing on alternative futures where boundaries are less defined. Her work aims to create jewelry objects with soft and hard counterparts.
Simon Rogalla's project aims to research sustainable and dismantlable construction techniques. Inspired by his experiences as a scout, he will explore rope techniques for constructing furniture and other objects.
The jury for the scholarships included Louise Bennetts, a fashion designer and lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London, product designer Romin Heide, and jewelry artist Jiro Kamata.
Pforzheim, known for its focus on jewellery and design, notably through the School of Design at Pforzheim University, may be the location for design activities and projects involving these three designers, although specific project descriptions or background information were not found in the current search results. For well-documented project details, external specialized sources or direct contact with institutions like the School of Design at Pforzheim University might provide specific information about designer involvement in spring 2024 projects.
The opportunity for young designers to work intensively on a project for three months, with workshops, materials, and a network of experts and creative people available, is considered valuable. The scholars will live and work in Pforzheim from April to June 2024.
The EMMA creative center in Pforzheim welcomes three designers from around the world each year as part of the "Designers in Residence" program. This year's recipients are eager to immerse themselves in the city's rich design culture and contribute to the ongoing creative discussions in Pforzheim.
The scholars, Alejandra Alarcón, Elisa Lutteral, and Simon Rogalla, will utilize their time at the EMMA creative center in Pforzheim for education-and-self-development, engaging in lifelong-learning through workshops, materials, and a network of experts, as part of the "Designers in Residence" program. They aim to apply their learnings towards reimagining tableware, questioning Western eating rules, investigating materials as carriers of power, researching sustainable construction techniques, and designing jewelry objects with soft and hard counterparts.
