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ELITE
DESIGN
AWARD 2019

« Haute Couture bed »

The Elite Company, founded in 1895, which head office is in Aubonne, Switzerland, organises, starting on 2018 September 10th, the second edition of « Elite Design Award », rewarding the best creations with the theme: « haute couture bed ».

Elite seeks to support creation and innovation by design by offering designers the opportunity to reflect about furniture and its function in general, namely the base and headboard, items which are at the core of our daily lives. Aesthetics and design have to match with comfort.

The rules The brief

The company
Elite

Presentation

Elite is part of the craft tradition of Master Upholsterer Jules-Henri Caillet and was created in Yens-sur-Morges in Switzerland in 1895. Initially, the family specialised in upholstery and then went on to gain expertise in mattress manufacturing and build a reputation in the region. With the advent of automated tools, Robert Caillet, the founder's son, sought to integrate progress within his company by marrying craft and mechanisation. In his view, and indeed that of successive generations, progress was key to the manufacture of a good mattress.

Artisan production offers freedom of choice and the opportunity to use high-quality natural materials (Swiss wool, alpaca wall, cashmere, pure tail hair, camel wool, Tussar silk, etc.). Expertise in combining these different materials and rigorous design combine to produce exceptional bedding. “Fine materials for a good night’s sleep”. From the outset, the family business was careful to select only environmentally friendly, sustainable raw materials. Production, which still takes place in Switzerland, relies on a relationship of trust with partners, expertise and attention to details by the company’s employees. This leads to ethical, ecological and social responsibility both on the part of partners and customers as on that of its employees.

  • The birth
    a mattress
  • The Boxspring,
    ancestral know-how
  • The headboard,
    the essence of the bed

Elite house seeks to forge its own distinctive path and prioritise craftsmanship and well-being. It is alert to customer experience and offers bespoke solutions. It strives its utmost to ensure that its products are both sustainable and environmentally friendly.

From consultation to manufacture, Elite’s employees are constantly on hand to meet their customers’ every demand. A job well done, the pursuit of excellence – these are the values that Elite seeks to convey in designing its products. The company is defined not only by its quality guarantees and commitment to innovation internally, but also by its fine, delicate materials and the talents of its craft workers.

Elite is part of a long tradition of bed making and seeks to advance the design of premium beds. This competition looks to foster new ideas through the combination of design and traditional craftsmanship.

WINNERS 2018

1
Maite Otano et Pablo Santos 1st prize Maite Otano and Pablo Santos

Pablo and Maite are a team of multidisciplinary designers based in Barcelona. Their activity involves product and furniture design, with a strong focus on the user's experience. The foundation of their project is the balance between functionality, harmony and durability. They look for innovation, excitement and pleasure, aiming to make people's life easier and more pleasant.

See the project

2
Fuhua Wang et Weichih Chen 2nd prize Fuhua Wang and Weichih Chen

Fuhua and Weichih are Taiwanese designers graduated in product design from NABA in Milan in 2015 and 2016. After they met in Milan they decided to work as partners for multiple design projects. Their design approach specializes in materials driven, process led, and industrial design across consumer products and electronic goods. 

See the project

3
Chung-Yen Chang 3rd prize Chung-Yen Chang

Chung-Yen Chang is a Milan based product and furniture designer. After graduated from Domus Academy, he started his career in collaboration with Stefano Giovannoni. In Chang’s work, the design conducts as not only shape polishing but also as a practical solution that reflects user experience and emotional connection beyond the objects.

See the project

Goals

Prize

1st 5’000 CHF
2nd 3'000 CHF
3rd 2'000 CHF

Aims of the competition

  • Show Elite’s expertise
  • Boost creative design in the field of bedding
  • Transform ideas to product
  • Give students and young professionals the opportunity to be exhibited at Milan Design Week 2019

Theme: « haute couture bed »

Beds can be viewed as symbolic objects which have developed over time. In the 17th century, they were objects of great value and it was common practice to receive visitors while lying on one's bed. They also provided a display area which told stories of power with hunting trophies hanging above. Nowadays, they are more private and while they are still used as decorative objects of one style or another, they are not deemed sufficiently important within our living spaces.

The purpose of this competition is to rethink beds and their environment as objects designed for current lifestyles, while retaining the essence of authentic traditional craftsmanship. The proposal is intended for private individuals and should tell a story which takes account of the area around the bed (whether it is placed centrally, against a wall, etc.) and the particular experience of its user. The project should describe the distinctive character of the bed both in terms of its use and the quality of its design details much as if it were an item of haute couture and also describe the volumes, materials and assemblies used.

This haute couture angle can also be approached through the expression of a dream or an emotion either consonant with or dissonant from the pace of our always-connected working lives. This object is effectively intrinsic to the experience of waking and sleeping and may gain in importance in daily activities. This item is known for its longevity and could even be viewed as an accessory to its owner’s changing desires. Indeed, it may be distinctive for its very flexibility.

Candidates must propose a bed frame (base and headboard) which fits into its environment. The proposal is designed for private individuals who desire a unique item of furniture. The proposal should take account of the manufacturing constraints contained in the design brief. You are strongly encouraged to draw on the expertise offered by Elite and its current production methods – cabinetmaking, upholstery and leatherwork. The idea is to fuse imagination with the expertise of high-end cabinetmaking companies which offer remarkable skills in design details.

Participation Conditions

Who

The Elite Design Award is open to anyone longing to one of the following categories:

  • Graduates of schools of design, architecture, interior design or engineering
  • Practitioners without qualifications, but who can provide evidence of having worked in the areas of design, architecture or interior design
  • Students of schools of design, architecture, interior design or engineering
  • Any person wishing to innovate in bedding
  • Individually or in teams (2 people max.)

What

The following criteria will be used to assess the proposals:

  • Consistency with the positioning of the company (craftsmanship, luxury, well-being)
  • Quality of the presentation and narration (clarity)
  • Aesthetic quality of the project
  • Functional quality of the project (use and experience)
  • Technical and functional feasibility
  • Creativity and originality of the response to the competition theme and specifications

Technical characteristics and constraints

These constraints must be adhered in order to combine style and comfort:

  • The base bed must be a minimum of 10 to 12 cm deep
  • The reference mattress you shall work with is 180 cm wide and 200 cm long
    (Elite mattresses are 22 cm to 35 cm deep)

Disqualifications:

  • If more than one project is sent by team or individually
  • If the project contains more than 3 pages or less than 3 pages
  • If the team contains more than 2 persons
  • If multiple registrations

Calendar

1 Registration process

  • 10th September 2018:
    opening of the registrations
  • 1st November 2018:
    deadline for the registrations and the issue of registration numbers

2 Submission process

  • 1st November – 10th December 2018:
    (December 10th 2018 midnight Geneva time, as recorded by the date and time that the email is sent, is the final deadline to submit the project at the following address : eda@elitedesignaward.ch

3 Selection process

  • January 2019:
    selection of the projects by the jury
  • February 2019:
    announcement of the winners*
  • 9-14 April 2019:
    presentation of the projects and award ceremony during the Milan Design Week 2019

*The winners will be informed by email. The non-winners participants will be informed via social media only.

Jury

jury-do-something-great

Be creative !

When the projects have been submitted, the jury will meet in January 2019 to select the prize winners.

Gabriela Chicherio

She is working in Zurich, focusing on concepts, exhibitions, furniture and accessories. She develops products, produces small series, works as a freelancer and visiting lecturer. She is a Co-Founder and Co-Curator at the Design Biennale Zürich that took place for the first time in September 2017.
www.chicherio.com

Iria Degen

After a law degree in Zürich and her studies at École Camondo in Paris, Iria Degen worked for the French interior architect, Andrée Putman. In 2000 she founded her own interior design studio. Today she runs her office in Zurich and has realized numerous international projects. She is a member of the Association of Swiss Interior Architects and she is the Swiss delegate of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers.
www.iriadegen.com

Daphna Glaubert

Architect and design management specialist

Trained as an architect, Daphna Glaubert worked for 8 years in international architecture and design offices before specializing in design management and innovation. She currently collaborates with the HEIG-VD business school and the ECAL design school to promote the practice and culture of design within companies.

Jörg Boner

(Studio Jörg Boner), Industrial designer

Jörg Boner is based in Zurich. His developments continue to question conventional modes of production. His work emphasises innovation in production and functionality in use as much as the beauty and elegance of objects.

François Pugliese

Director of the Elite company

François Pugliese has an enterprising mindset and always wants to innovate in the bedding sector in oder to offer exceptional products within a focus on well-being and craftsmanship.

Sandro Savoretti

Trained as a cabinetmaker 30 years ago, Sandro Savoretti runs his own workshop with a team of over 20 employees in Tolochenaz. Over the years, he has been working with the best architects who benefit from his recognised know how and creativity. Thanks to his knowledge and experience Sandro creates unique leaving spaces and made-to-measure furniture.

Registration

Candidate carrying the project

(reference person in case of team)

* Required fields

Co-crew 1

(in case of team)

Commitment and confidentiality

I certify that I have read and accepted the privacy policy, the conditions of participation, the rules and the brief. Otherwise, I will not be able to participate in the Elite Design Award competition. In addition, I certify that all the informations in this form are accurate.

The privacy policy