Exhibition «ADI Awards 2024. Industrial design and design culture»

For thousands of years design has been the tool through which we humans have modified our environment in a quest for better living. Everything that surrounds us is, to some extent, an artificial construction: cities, streets, buildings, tables, chairs and lamps. Even that which we often perceive as natural has in reality been directly or indirectly transformed by human action.

Designing does not necessarily imply an abrupt change in the definition of the attributes of that which exists; rather, it is based on the possibility of improvement. It is from this starting point that we at ADI-FAD, the Industrial Designers’ Association, want to again recognise the best design of the year in our sector and our environment through this exhibition.

This show brings together a selection of 164 products, segmented into the four fields into which the competition is currently structured: Delta Awards, ADI Medals, ADI Culture and ADI Career. From this selection, will emerge the winning products and projects of the ADI Awards, which will be made public on June 13, 2024 during the awards ceremony.

Delta Awards 2024

Since 1961 ADI-FAD is behind the Delta Awards in recognition of the work of businesses and designers, seeking to promote excellence in design in the creation of innovative, functional and ethically responsible objects.

As the configuring elements of the material and intangible culture of our time and our country, up to 131 products form part of this exhibition, segmented into 10 categories: Accessories and tools, Design for food, Digital devices, Design for the body, Exterior equipment, Interior equipment, Lighting, Materials and construction elements, Mobility and Packaging.

The objects were selected by the committee of experts made up of Maria Baxauli, Jordi Ballesta, Daniel Caballero, Pilar Chiva, Jim Palau, Mireia Andreu, Ricardo Zuccarelli, Jordi Esteve, Valérie Bergeron, Tomàs López, Ariadna Rousaud, Lucia Bruni, Raul Garcia, Elsa Yranzo, Alejandra Gandia-Blasco, Júlia Esqué and Agnès Blanch.

The exhibition also features the recipients of the Gold Delta and Silver Delta Awards, chosen by the international jury comprised of: Raffaella Mangiarotti, Lucas Muñoz, Phillipe-Albert Lefebvre and Marisa Santamaría.

ADI Medals 2024

Seeking to contribute to building bridges between academia and the industrial world and to foster the talent of the younger generations, ADI-FAD, with the collaboration of the Banc Sabadell Foundation, recognises the best degree, master’s or postgraduate dissertation projects in industrial design.

Of a total of 82 projects the jury, made up of Xavier Torras, Bern Donadeu, Àngela Montagud, Xueyu Ji and Pablo Sevilla, has chosen 15, which form part of this exhibition. One of them has been distinguished with a Gold ADI Medal and two Silver ADI Medals.

ADI Culture 2024

Seeking to promote the public recognition of projects that help in the social and conceptual fostering and updating of product design or in incentivizing dialogue, ideas and initiatives in the discipline, ADI-FAD recognises the best cultural projects, events, exhibitions, installations, publications, documentaries and other expressions that conduct a more in-depth examination of the experimental field, of research and of innovation.

From a total of 57 projects entered, the jury of the ADI Culture Awards 2024, comprised of Reme Samper, Pilar Marcos, Anna Majó, Massimo Menichinelli and Xavier Franquesa, shortlisted 16 projects. Two of them were distinguished with a Gold ADI Culture Award and two with a Silver ADI Culture Award.

ADI Trajectory 2024

The ADI-FAD Board of Directors also recognizes an ADI Trajectory Award to a person or institution with a long and successful career in promoting design culture.