Design Thinking Resources

Imperial alum wins Arts Basis 2023 Futures Award | Imperial Information

Imperial alum wins Arts Basis 2023 Futures Award | Imperial Information




An Imperial School London alumnus has gained an Arts Basis Futures Award Fellowships 2023 for her improvements that deal with local weather change.

The Dyson College of Design Engineering’s Louise Skajem, who graduated from Imperial and Royal School of Artwork’s MA/MSc International Innovation Design in 2022, gained the £10,000 Fellowship Award for Bio Design. Her work makes use of materials exploration and biomimicry to design improvements that deal with local weather change.  

The Bio Design Award champions designers working with biomaterials and who’re striving to speed up our transition away from extractive and carbon-centric design and supplies. The award helps formidable practices and design improvements that work in the direction of symbiosis with nature.

The winners have been revealed at an award ceremony on 23 February 2023, introduced in partnership with Leeds 2023: Yr of Tradition, that includes a particular welcome handle from British visible artist, Claudette Johnson MBE. 

Presenting the award was Sarah Wigglesworth, Founding father of Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, who stated: “All the designers confirmed large dedication and function of their analysis which is altering our response to the pure world. Typically beginning with a pure product or situation, these designers search new makes use of and functions for these self-generating assets that would imply we contact the planet extra flippantly.

“The successful Fellow, Louise Lenborg Skajem stood out for the standard of her apply and unique concepts, which have a sensible software to a societal problem. Whereas being visionary, considered one of her initiatives, ‘Resting Reef’ was additionally eminently realisable and a fantastic answer that regenerates ecologies. It was additionally beautifully communicated.”

This award will permit me to maneuver my experiments out of my kitchen and discover a appropriate studio area, which I’m very enthusiastic about. Louise Skajem MA/MSc International Innovation Design alum

Louise stated: “There are such a lot of gifted folks working on this area, so I used to be very honoured to be shortlisted within the first place. I’m nonetheless processing the truth that I gained the Award and the way this adjustments lots for me going ahead.”   

Her most up-to-date challenge, Resting Reef – launched with fellow Imperial alum Aura Murillo – is an eco-burial service that makes use of crushed oyster shells and bone ash to construct reef buildings that improve marine development. 

She added: “I’ll now have the ability to dedicate my full time to Resting Reef, a challenge Aura Murillo and I began throughout our masters at Imperial and the Royal School of Artwork. This award can even permit me to maneuver my experiments out of my kitchen and discover a appropriate studio area, which I’m very enthusiastic about.”  

Photo of seashells
With fellow pupil Aura Murillo, Louise launched an eco-burial service that makes use of crushed oyster shells and bone ash to construct reef buildings that improve marine development

Louise is an interdisciplinary designer who makes use of materials exploration and biomimicry as strategies to design improvements that deal with local weather change. Louise’s artistic journey began after she accomplished a basis yr in Paris, graduated with a BA in Design from Goldsmiths College and a MA/MSc in International Innovation Design at The Royal School of Artwork and Imperial School London, and co-founded two firms. As a designer, Louise enjoys mixing scientific analysis and revolutionary considering to create novel sustainable concepts for the true world.

The UK funeral providers trade within the UK is estimated to be value practically £3 billion, and the common value of dying within the UK is £9,200. Resting Reef goals to redirect this cash away from polluting, outdated practices in the direction of impactful restoration initiatives whereas offering significant legacies. The challenge is at present in a start-up growth part, with plans to launch its first product in Spring 2023.

The awards 

The annual Futures Award for Bio Design champions designers working with biomaterials to speed up the transition from extractive and carbon-centric design and supplies. The award helps formidable practices and design improvements that work in the direction of symbiosis with nature.   

We’re vastly inspired by the ambition and collaborative apply of Louise Lenborg Skajem’s work and all of the shortlisted designers working with supplies and design approaches which might be regenerative, with the capability to revive, renew or revitalise the setting. Mary Jane Edwards Director, Arts Basis

The annual Arts Basis Futures Awards assist the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal second of their profession, offering £65,000 in unconditional grant funding, awarding 5 transformative £10,000 Fellowships, with all shortlisted artists receiving £1,000 in the direction of the event of their apply.

The award was given in partnership with The David Collins Basis.

Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Basis stated: “We’re thrilled to work in partnership with The David Collins Basis to proceed our assist of forward-looking designers and inventive practitioners. We’re vastly inspired by the ambition and collaborative apply of Louise Lenborg Skajem’s work and all of the shortlisted designers working with supplies and design approaches which might be regenerative, with the capability to revive, renew or revitalise the setting.

“We’ve little doubt their respective work could have a major affect, not solely from a biomaterial design-research perspective but in addition in transferring the dial on advanced, long-term environmental change.” 

This story was tailored from a press launch by the Arts Basis.

Most important picture: Arts Basis

Picture: Resting Reef

Related Articles

Back to top button