The ceremony of the Henry van de Velde Awards 25 is over! All winners of this year's edition are known. Find out here who are the winners in the categories Lifetime Achievement, Young Talent, Company, Ecodesign by OVAM, Business Innovation, Consumer, Crafts by Bokrijk, Design Research, Environment, Graphics, Habitat, Spaces and Public by National Lottery!


On 21 January the award ceremony of the Henry van de Velde Awards 25 took place in Bozar. Take a look at the photo report by Fille Roelants and the vlog made by Hannes Coudenys!

Do you want to get to know the story behind the winners? Then subscribe for one of our talks (in Dutch)! In the publication you'll read in-depth interviews with the four main winners and get a behind-the-scenes of the winners of the project categories. 



1. Lifetime Achievement Gold Award: Nedda El-Asmar

Amélie Rombauts and Nedda El-Asmar © Fille Roelants

Amélie Rombauts and Nedda El-Asmar © Fille Roelants

Narghilé, Nedda El-Asmar for Airdiem, 2006 © L. Pironneau

Narghilé, Nedda El-Asmar for Airdiem, 2006 © L. Pironneau

The jury awarded the Lifetime Achievement Gold Award to Nedda El-Asmar for her remarkable trajectory as a designer, in which she manages to combine craft and innovation. Her designs are characterized by a perfect balance between functionality, aesthetics and timelessness, always focusing on elegance and simplicity. Nedda El-Asmars work consists of a diverse range of products, ranging from cutlery and tableware to everyday utensils. Her collaborations with prominent international brands and her commitment to education have made her a leading designer, leaving her mark on the next generation of designers.

“I want to design objects that people cherish”

Nedda El-Asmar,

Designer and silversmith


2. Young Talent Gold Award: Jonas Van Put

Jonas Van Put and Nathalie Van der Massen © Fille Roelants

Jonas Van Put and Nathalie Van der Massen © Fille Roelants

Mirror Monolith, Jonas Van Put, 2024 © Hanne Fransen

Mirror Monolith © Hanne Fransen

The jury awards the Young Talent Gold Award to Jonas Van Put for his exceptional vision and talent as a designer of objects and spaces. His work shows a sense of experimentation, in which aesthetics and functionality come together effortlessly. His design language is honest and thoughtful, his designs honest, relatable and surprising. His work often invites users to connect with each other. He has taken his first steps internationally. Jonas Van Put is also one of the driving forces within a community of makers, where he promotes cooperation and exchange of expertise. 

“I love to playfully experiment”

Jonas Van Put,

Furniture designer


3. Company Gold Award: Atelier Vierkant

Atelier Vierkant © Fille Roelants

Atelier Vierkant © Fille Roelants

Adamas, Atelier Vierkant, 2023, Salone Del Mobile Milan © Bart van Leuven

Adamas, Atelier Vierkant, 2023, Salone Del Mobile Milan © Bart van Leuven

The jury awards the Company Gold Award to Atelier Vierkant for its exceptional merit in the world of ceramics. What started as a small family business, has grown into an internationally recognized player. However, the entire knowhow and production remain in Belgium, supported by a diverse and international team. Materials research is taken to the extreme, resulting in impressive ceramic pots. The company's strong DNA, combined with an unparalleled passion for craftsmanship, has made Atelier Vierkant into a leading export company. 

“No idea is too crazy. We have only one requirement: respect for the clay”

Atelier Vierkant,

Ceramics company


4. Ecodesign by OVAM Gold Award: ETAP Lighting

ETAP Lighting © Fille Roelants

ETAP Lighting © Fille Roelants

ETAP Lighting for Stadskantoor Leuven

ETAP Lighting for Stadskantoor Leuven

The jury awarded the Ecodesign by OVAM Gold Award to ETAP Lighting for its progressive strategy in the field of sustainability. With its innovative concept “Circular Light as a Service,” ETAP has taken an important step towards a circular business model. Instead of selling lighting, the company is offering a service through which customers receive lighting. To realize this shift to service, the product range was completely rethought from the perspective of maintenance, disassembly, repair and replacement of parts, which significantly extends the lifespan of the products. In addition, the company is committed to upgrading existing lighting in buildings.

“Tomorrow’s lighting is circular”

Dominiek Plancke,

CEO ETAP Lighting


5. Business Innovation Gold Award: Open Access Breast Couch

Open Access Breast Couch by Max Schoepen and Radion-D for UZ Gent is a prone positioning platform to achieve more precise irradiation during breast radiotherapy.

Open Access Breast Couch

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: Caretool S!MPLR by S!MPLR is a compact and smart tool that combines essential devices to optimise caregivers' workflow.
  • Bronze Award: Dripl Refill Point by Comate for Dripl is a dispenser where you can fill a drinking bottle or glass with natural and low-sugar drinks.

6. Consumer Gold Award: Urbanisto

Urbanisto by Dott Achilles for Urbanisto is a modular cycling solution that allows you to switch easily between a regular electric bike, a practical cargo bike or a family cargo bike.

Urbanisto

The two other winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: Verde KinetiCore by Lazer Sport is a circular cycling helmet made from recycled and minimised materials.
  • Bronze Award: Fairbuds by Dott Achilles for Fairphone are wireless and rechargeable earbuds with active noise cancelling, designed to last a lifetime.

7. Crafts by Bokrijk Gold Award: Guided by Tiles

Guided by Tiles by Dear Reader, (Eva Moulaert together with Robin Vermeersch) for Ouest Architecture is a tile design to integrate signage and art in theatre Le Vilar, located in Louvain-la-Neuve.

Guided by Tiles

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: IT Pieces by Flora Miranda are generative designs transforming data into textiles.
  • Bronze Award: Al Khat by Gillis & Aniss for Flanders DC is a multifunctional textile made of Belgian wool according to Flemish-Moroccan traditions.

8. Design Research Gold Award: Phonobet

Phonobet by Walda Verbaenen is an alphabet consisting of recognisable letter shapes that helps non-native readers to correctly pronounce an unfamiliar language.

Phonobet

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: Gent Waste Brick for DING by BC materials for Design Museum Gent and sogent is a circular facade stone, for 63% made of waste streams from Ghent and generating only one third of the CO2 emissions of a baked stone.
  • Bronze Award: Hoe maak ik mijn gebouw toekomstgericht? (How do I make my building future-proof?) by archipelago architects for OVAM is a practical client guide on future-oriented (re)construction.

9. Environment Gold Award: Gent Waste Brick for DING

Gent Waste Brick for DING by BC materials for Design Museum Gent and sogent is a circular facade stone, for 63% made of waste streams from Ghent and generating only one third of the CO2 emissions of a baked stone. This project won both the Design Research Silver Award and the Environment Gold Award.

Gent Waste Brick for DING

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: FenNet by Pars Pro Toto for Hommes et Terre is a reusable and movable fence that enables landscape restoration in the pastoral regions of western Africa through reforestation.
  • Bronze Award: Jaga Net Zero by Jaga is a range of heat pump radiators allowing you to heat and cool with high efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

1O. Graphics Gold Award: Musée de la Mémoire ‘PROPRIÉTÉ UNIVERSELLE’ ®

Musée de la Mémoire 'PROPRIÉTÉ UNIVERSELLE' ® by Joëlle Tuerlinckx and Adriaan Van Leuven for Joëlle Tuerlinckx, Captures éditions and HOPPER&FUCHS is an artist's book that tells, confirms and completes the story of the M.M., a museum without walls.

Musée de la Mémoire ‘PROPRIÉTÉ UNIVERSELLE’ ®

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: Tosca by Jelle Jespers for Das Mag and Maud Vanhauwaert is a novel hidden in a poetry book, which pretends to be blank and whose pages need to be cut open.
  • Bronze Award: Safer Streets by Mutant for L'Oréal Paris is a lighting installation addressing the issue of street harassment in Brussels and beyond.

11. Habitat Gold Award: PureAura

PureAura by Dott Achilles for Lingnan University is a simple, low-cost, high-efficiency air purifier designed to improve air quality in small spaces.

PureAura

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: Stock by Stock Antwerpen is a circular alternative to tableware, re-glazing existing biscuits.
  • Bronze Award: Stack by studio MOTO is a modular, abstract furniture system consisting of horizontal and vertical components that snap together as desired.

12. Spaces Gold Award: Mensgericht Design: Stadskantoor Gent

Mensgericht Design: Stadskantoor Gent (Human-Centered Design: The Ghent City Hall) by GELO - Mensgericht Designstudio for Stad Gent. Ghent's municipal offices were radically renovated, prioritising a human-centred design in all areas.

Mensgericht Design: Stadskantoor Gent

The other two winners in this category are: 

  • Silver Award: 019 by 019 is a transdisciplinary platform developing intermediate spaces for intuitive experimentation, collaboration and encounter between architecture, graphic design and visual art.
  • Bronze Award: The Adult Playground by AKQA Brussels x RAAK Design Studio for Helan Onafhankelijk ziekenfonds is a series of benches to encourage parents taking their children to the playground to exercise.

14. Public by Nationale Loterij Gold Award: Open Access Breast Couch

Open Access Breast Couch

Open Access Breast Couch

The public could choose its favourite for the Public Gold Award through an online vote. Open Access Breast Couch by Max Schoepen and Radion-D for UZ Gent received the most votes and consequently clinched a second Gold Award! 


Come to one of our talks

On the occasion of the Henry van de Velde Awards 25, four talks will be organised, during which you will get the chance to hear the stories of the winners and behind the projects. Each talk is hosted in another city in Flanders, is held in Dutch, and welcomes a different main winner plus several winners from the project categories. Have a look at our agenda to find out more about the talks and sign up for your favourite! 


Order a copy of the publication

Want to know even more about the winners and winning projects of the Henry van de Velde Awards 25? Then order a copy of our publication! Besides an overview of all winners and their work, you will read in-depth interviews with the four main winners and get a behind-the-scenes of the winners of the project categories. The richly illustrated publication (160 pages) is bilingual (NL-EN) and was designed by Geoffrey Brusatto. You can order it online for 10 euros (excluding shipping costs). Order the publication here.

The publication can also be bought at Copyright Bookshop, Bozar Bookshop, Design Museum Brussel and CID Grand-Hornu.

You can also order the last 2 publications for 15 euros or the last 5 publications for 25 euros.


De Henry van de Velde Awards were organised by Flanders DC with the support of Vlaams Agentschap voor Innovatie & Ondernemen (VLAIO), Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij (OVAM), Bokrijk, Nationale Loterij, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM) and Bozar. More information on henryvandevelde.be.