Words like multi-dimensional, futuristic, and experimental may conjure images of the latest sci-fi films, however in the design world those who portray these aspects are considered more extraordinary than extraterrestrial. Since 2006, W Hotels, in partnership with Miami Design/Basel, has presented three outstanding design firms with prestigious awards. “Innovation, creativity and a cutting-edge approach to the philosophy of design are at the heart of what we do at W Hotels,” said Mike Tiedy, SVP, Global Brand Design & Innovation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Asif Khan of the United Kingdom, Mischer’Traxler of Austria, and Singapore’s Studio Juju all recently received the venerated title of “Designer of the Future,” which was selected by an international panel that included Wava Carpenter of Design Miami, Aric Chen of Beijing Design Week, Li Edelkoort of Edelkoort Inc., Marcus Fairs of Dezeen.com, Alexis Georgacopoulos of ECAL, Konstantin Grcic of KGID, Kenya Hara of Muji, Constance Rubini of the School of Decorative Arts Paris,  Zoe Ryan of the Art Institute Chicago; and Mike Tiedy of Starwood Hotels.

“With this year’s award, we wanted to highlight the young design vanguard while exploring works that are intentionally interactive,” said Design Miami/ Director Marianne Goebl. The theme of the competition, “Conversation Pieces,” forced candidates to use avant-garde thinking to create furniture, lighting, architecture and/or digital/electronic media that exemplified the ability to encourage the dissolution of social barriers and conversation. The winners have been bestowed the opportunity to display their commissioned designs at selected W Hotels around the world.

The pieces will be on brief display from June 14-18 at Design Miami/Basel with public hours of admission from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.  For more detailed ticket information visit Design Miami’s website.

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