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British Land Celebration of Design

British Land Celebration of Design recognises the contribution made by leading design figures and emerging talents to London and the industry, with four Medals awarded each year. Previous winners include David Adjaye, Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers, Margaret Calvert, Dieter Rams, Paul Smith and Bethan Laura Wood.

A panel of established designers, industry commentators and previous winners meet to debate the possible recipients of the four Medals. The Jury consists of: 

Ozwald Boateng, Ian Callum, Sheridan Coakley, Njusja de Gier, Es Devlin, Sarah Douglas, Ben Evans, Tristram Hunt, Domenic Lippa, Jay Osgerby, Yana Peel, Raoul Shah, Joff Sharpe, Justine Simons, Sir John Sorrell, Paul Thompson and Jane Withers.

The 2018 winners received their medals at The British Land Celebration of Design. An exhibition in the Clore Study Room at the V&A also celebrated the work of all four winners.

CATEGORIES

LONDON DESIGN MEDAL is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual who has distinguished themselves within the industry and demonstrated consistent design excellence.

DESIGN INNOVATION MEDAL supported by SAP, celebrates entrepreneurship in all its forms, both locally and internationally. It honours an individual for whom design lies at the core of their development and success.

EMERGING DESIGN MEDAL supported by Storey, recognises an impact made on the design scene within five or so years of graduation.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL supported by Fortnum & Mason, honours a significant and fundamental contribution to the design industry over the course of a career.

2018 Medal Winners
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Hussein Chalayan
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Neri Oxman
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Grace Wales Bonner
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Eva Jiřičná

Making The Medals

Hannah Martin explains, “In the initial discussions with London Design Festival and Pentagram we talked a lot about London, what signified London, and how this could be represented. The idea of a bird in flight felt like it struck the right note with a sense of freedom of thought and a feeling of being able to fly to great heights." 

 

London-based jewellery designer Hannah Martin was commissioned to create a unique award for the London Design Medals. Hannah approached the design and fabrication of the Medals as she would a piece of jewellery, paying special attention to the narrative behind the design of the medal. 

The Medals feature a London bird, the Cockney Sparrow, in flight. Each Medal spans 13cm in diameter incorporating graphic design with Martin's signature facet edges. 

The four Medals were made using a process known as ‘lost-wax casting’ – first realised by hand in hard jeweller’s wax on the bench. The form is then converted to a negative mould, from which future replications can be taken. Conveying understated strength as well as a sense freedom, the medals are finished in either silver, gold or black rhodium.

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