The Design Museum of London has announced the five nominees for the third edition of the Ralph Saltzman Prize, with a focus on emerging product design, to commemorate the design legacy of Ralph Saltzman, founder of Designtex, the American leader in the field of textiles and coverings. After his death in 2020, Saltzman is remembered not only as an innovator, but also as a mentor and organizer of interesting collaborations in the design sector.
“This year’s nominees are a group of incredibly strong designers, and my father would have been pleased to bear witness to their ingenuity and talent,” says Ralph’s daughter Lisa Saltzman, creator of the initiative together with the Saltzman Family Foundation.
The unique aspect of the award is that every nomination comes from a professional designer: among the “selectors” for this year we find Martino Gamper, who chose the multidisciplinary artist Attua Aparicio, and the Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, who indicated the creative studio Astronauts, founded by Danae Dasyra and Joe Bradford and specialized in limited-edition sculptural objects.
Another important factor is that the jury is composed of designers or people working in the field of design: this underscores the goal of reinforcing ideals of community and system promoted by the Design Museum, and its commitment to support new talents. The winner, who receives a study grant of £ 5000, will be the protagonist of an exhibition held at the museum from 1 February to 15 April 2024.