THE DESIGN MUSEUM ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR ANNUAL PRIZE TO CELEBRATE EMERGING DESIGNERS

#SaltzmanPrize

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The Design Museum has announced the five nominees for its third annual The Ralph Saltzman Prize, which celebrates emerging product designers in recognition of Ralph Saltzman’s design legacy. Created by Lisa Saltzman on behalf of the Saltzman Family Foundation, The Ralph Saltzman Prize reflects the Design Museum’s overarching commitment to champion new talent and nurture the development of a vibrant design sector.

Each nominee was selected by a more established designer from the Museum’s network. All the nominees are pointing to a new direction for design, either by supporting the green transition, through technical innovation or presenting compelling design ideas. All nominees set up their own design practices within the past five years.

The winner will be showcased in a display at the Design Museum and will receive a £5,000 bursary to support his or her work. The winner will be announced in the New Year with the exhibition running from 1 February until 15 April 2024.
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​Designer and maker Marco Campardo was selected as last year’s prize winner. Product and furniture designer Mac Collins was the 2022 inaugural prize winner.

The nominees will be invited to present their work to a selection panel including the Museum’s Directorate and members of the Curatorial Committee, along with Mr Saltzman’s daughter, Lisa Saltzman.

Lisa Saltzman, the creator of the prize, said:

“I created The Ralph Saltzman Prize three years ago to continue my father’s legacy; Ralph Saltzman was a design innovator and forged an incredible career and company when he co-founded and was President of Designtex. Both my parents had a passion for and commitment to great design and this prize is in their honour. 

This year's nominees are an incredibly strong group of designers and my father would have been delighted to witness their abundant ingenuity and talent. ​ These emerging designers are all focused on the future and their work, while wonderfully unique to each, nods back to the qualities my father had when he co-founded Designtex: vision, self-belief, creativity, innovation, and a love of great design.”

Johanna Agerman Ross, Conran Foundation Chief Curator at the Design Museum, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Lisa Saltzman and The Saltzman Family Foundation for the third year on this prestigious and important design prize. A unique aspect of the prize is that all nominations come from practicing designers and the jury is made up of a majority of designers or people working in the design field, so in a way it is both for and by the design community, which reflects the Design Museum’s original vision. This year’s Ralph Saltzman Prize nominees are all very different, but one common factor is that they are pushing for material reuse and experimentation with existing manufacturing processes that challenge what design is and can be. They all offer a fascinating snapshot of contemporary design practice.” 

The 2024 Shortlisted Designers are:

Chair of judges: Johanna Agerman Ross – The Conran Foundation Chief Curator, Design Museum

Judges

In attendance: Lisa Saltzman – founder of the Ralph Saltzman Prize