Three teams shortlisted in «The best design of the year» competition

The competition to design «The Best Design of the Year» exhibition organized by the FAD with the collaboration of the Design Museum has reached the final stage, with three shortlisted teams entering their proposals. One of them will be the team responsible for the design, montage and graphic campaign of an exhibition that has become a classic, providing a chance year after year to discover creative excellence in all its facets.

Of a total 18 candidatures that responded to the call for portfolios, which until 12 February sought multidisciplinary teams (existing ones or purpose-formed) of professionals from space and/or product design and graphic and visual communication design, the jury chose the following tandems: Anna & Eugeni Bach + Esiete, Nam Arq + Bildi and Sarquella Torres + Forma.

Anna & Eugeni Bach + Esiete

Anna & Eugeni Bach is an architecture practice operating in a broad spectrum of design, from urban planning and architecture to the design of interiors and objects, always applying innovation and research to optimize resources and ensure the best synthesis of concept, functionality and beauty. Their work is underpinned by four branches: the professional facet, teaching, research and cultural activity. Prominent among their recognitions are the International FAD Award 2014, a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Awards 2015 and being shortlisted at the 14th Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial 2018 and in that of 2016.

Esiete, created by Javier Pereda, who is also its creative director, and Anna Solsona, art and design director, seeks excellence in ideas and execution. The studio advises on creation strategy, brand re-launching or positioning, creates content to reinforce its clients’ discourse and objectives and generates meaningful experiences to generate ties with people. They have won national and international prizes such as 6 Golds at the ADG Laus Awards and different mentions at the ADCE Awards and the European Design Awards.

NAM Arq + Bildi

NAM Arq is an architecture practice engaged in all kinds of projects to do with architecture, urban planning, interior design and pop-up architecture, a current in which they have specialized in recent years, particularly in the design of exhibition montages. Some of their works have won mentions and awards, such as at the FAD Awards and at various architecture biennials. They are currently preparing an exhibition on the work of the Valencian artist Josep Renau at the Born Centre for Culture and Memory.

Founded by Agnès Simon and Martí Ferré, Bildi is engaged in visual communication projects and provides consultancy and art direction services. Connecting with emotions and seeking a timeless design, they focus on providing value for their clients’ projects. Their most valuable tools: powerful concepts and formal austerity. Their fields of action are cultural, institutional, social and commercial. The studio has won several national and international awards such as D&AD, Red Dot, ADCE and ADG Laus. In these last ones they won three Grand Laus Awards in 2006, 2009 and 2015.

Sarquella Torres + Forma

Sarquella Torres is a multidisciplinary, nomadic office created by Pau Sarquella and Carmen Torres. In 2014 Persiana Barcelona, a company of which Pau is co-founder, brought to market a reinvented traditional shutter resulting from the Racons Públics (Public Corners) ideas competition organized by the FAD. It won the Arquia Próxima Award and a Silver Delta in 2016. Since 2015 they combine teaching in INDA (International Program in Design and Architecture) of Chulalongkorn University with their professional practice between Bangkok and Banyoles.

Created by Joel Lozano and Dani Navarro, who were later joined by Josep Duran, Forma is a Barcelona-based graphic design and illustration studio. They collaborate closely with Roger Pau, a web programmer, with whom they share projects and workspace. With a clear and direct graphic language they create visual identities, illustrations, infographics, icon families, websites, applications and art direction. They are committed to creative work based on concepts with a solid idea behind them, articulating messages and making sense of the formal part.

On 11 March these three shortlisted teams have to present the technical project for their proposal to a jury comprised of Jeannette Altherr, industrial designer; Mónica Bonafonte, FAD managing director; Stefano Colli, architect and designer; Àngela Cuenca, head of exhibitions at Barcelona’s Design Museum; Queralt Garriga, architect; Melchor Martín, plastic artist and curator; Quim Pintó, graphic designer; David Torrents, graphic designer; and Jordi Torrents, head of projects at the FAD.