Service cart, table mirror, hanger, bedside table, baby swing—all made of plywood. Five young designers are competing in the Plydesign competition for the favor of a professional jury and the public. Vote on Hype&Hyper, and decide who should win the Audience Award!
The success of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2021 has encouraged Hungarian design brand Plydesign to expand its work with new creative talents. They have launched an open call for ideas for plywood objects, accessories, and furniture design for students in higher education in Hungary. The call attracted a lot of interest and received entries till 31 July 2021.
Following the deadline, a seven-member jury evaluated and judged the project designs. Successful product development and market launch require a complex set of conditions, which can be achieved by coordinating different disciplines. The aspects of product development and manufacturing were represented by Ádám Tremmel, Production Manager of Licit Ltd. and Milán Kiss, Development Manager of Licit Ltd. Jörg Föster, one of the inventors of 3D plywood, looked at how concepts harness the potential of modern technology. Tamás Babits (founder, owner, and managing director of Plydesign Ltd., owner and managing director of Licit Ltd.) examined the entries with eyes trained in overseas and domestic environments from a business and marketing perspective. Krisztina Cselényi, with her many years of experience in the Hungarian Design Council and the European Furniture Industries Confederation (EFIC), contributed to the evolution of the projects. The elaborateness and thoughtfulness of the designs were analyzed by István Juhász DLA, Associate Professor at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and András Kerékgyártó DLA, Senior Designer at Plydesign Ltd. and Adjunct Professor at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design.
Out of the many entries received, the jury selected five finalists whose designers began a month and a half of product development. The jury will choose the winner, who will receive a grand prize (a cash award of one million HUF and six months of paid career training) based on their performance and project summary presentation. In addition, Plydesign will sign a commercialization contract with the winner, under which the winner will be entitled to a patent fee on the sale of the product.
The winner of the Audience Award will be invited to participate with the Plydesign team at the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair in February 2022. Who should be the Audience Award winner of the open call? You decide! Choose your favorite concept and cast your vote by 8 October here on Hype&Hyper (scroll to the end of the article, where you will be redirected to the voting site).
Meet the five finalists and their entries!
FANNI BARTA
“DOUBLE-DECKER” BEDSIDE TABLE
Fanni Barta’s DOUBLE-DECKER bedside table can be easily customized to the user’s needs by combining two simple elements. To optimize material and production, a pressing template is sufficient to produce the elements. Their dismantling and interlocking allow space-saving storage and transport. The stability of the homogeneous and uniform structure is enhanced by the fact that few fasteners are needed to fix the shelves. The name choice is no coincidence either; DOUBLE-DECKER is a clever addition to the fleet.
ANNA KOVÁCS
ACCESSORY OBJECT CONCEPTS
Anna Kovács gave interesting suggestions specifically for everyday accessory objects. There is a lot of potential hiding in the dispenser for wipes and tissues; just think of the increased hygiene awareness required in public places, where textile towels are no longer recommended, due to the epidemiological situation. Everyday items such as napkin holders and hangers can be taken in many design directions, resulting in a mass-producible, sustainable and likable alternative to mass-produced objects.
LAURA SCHILLINGER
“DECKHAND” SERVING CART
Laura Schillinger ensured that her serving cart design harmonizes with Plydesign’s image and complements the “FLOTTA” collection. The naming also reflects the concept of the fleet and is a reference to the auxiliary function of the piece of furniture. The advantage of rolling storage cupboards is the flexibility offered through mobility, allowing us to deploy them in any corner of the home where we need extra surfaces. The clean, minimalist design and the slightly angular, rigid character are offset by the warmth of the wood and the cut-outs on the sides.
ÁRON SÜTHEŐ
“DINGI” BABY SWING
Áron Sütheő’s baby swing aims to become an integral part of the family throughout childhood or even across generations. His textile designs not only extend the life of the object (the removable textile seat is washable and different sizes are available to suit the current needs of the rapidly growing children) but also provide smart storage for smaller items. The structure allows safe swinging, halting larger swings that would be dangerous. In addition to swinging, it can also take up a static position when needed, thanks to the support legs.
ILDIKÓ VARGA
“LEAN ON” TABLE MIRROR
The Lean On table mirror is a formal manifestation of a delicate gesture between two surfaces facing different directions. Airy, like a ballet movement, yet there is tension at one point where the two splayed arcs meet. This duality is the essential element of the concept: a playful, easy gesture held together by force. The appearance of the gesture becomes clear in a side view, and the repetition created by the curved plywood highlights the direction and connection of the filigree arcs that rest on each other. The angle of the mirror can be adjusted depending on the height and angle at which the user uses it.
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