PORADA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2024: THE WINNERS
The prize ceremony of the PORADA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2024 will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 12:30 PM at Porada’s showroom in Milan, Via Borgospesso 18.
Now in its twelfth edition, the competition is promoted by Porada, a leading furniture and home accessories company from Cabiate, and POLI.design, a Consortium Company founded by the Politecnico di Milano, under the patronage of ADI, the Association for Industrial Design.
This year’s theme focused on the different types of beds.
The jury, which met on February 21 at Villa del Grumello on Lake Como, selected the winners – three in the Professionals category, three in the Students category, plus a “Giacomo Allievi” Special Mention and an additional Special Mention. The winning projects successfully captured the spirit of the competition, interpreting Porada’s values and identity while enhancing the use of solid wood and presenting innovative and original designs centered around beds.
The total prize pool of € 11,000 was allocated as follows:
Professionals category:
1st prize: € 3.000,00 – Nicolas de Vismes with “KOYA”
2nd prize: € 2.000,00 – Andrea Ferri with “YUNA”
3rd prize: € 1.000,00 – Stefano Airaghi with “SPINDLE”
Students category:
1st prize: € 2.000,00 – Anna Eerdmans, Ravensbourne University London, with “BOSCO”
2nd prize: € 1.200,00 – Advay Gupta, Istituto Marangoni Milano, with “BARCA”
3rd prize: € 800,00 – Jacob Zettersten, Royal Danish Academy Copenhagen, with “OASIS”
“Giacomo Allievi” Special Mention (€ 1.000,00): Alessia Pagotto and Valeria Francescato with “SOFIA”
Special Mention: Susanna Rocca with “VELOUTÉ”
This year’s competition saw impressive participation: 652 applicants and 418 projects submitted from all over the world, reviewed by the jury: 190 in the Professionals category and 228 in the Students category.
There was a significant response from Italy, but also a strong international presence, with entries from France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Serbia, Denmark, India, the Philippines, Canada, Russia, Japan, the USA, Indonesia, Turkey, Paraguay, China, Colombia, and many more countries.
The winner in the Professionals category was Nicolas de Vismes with his project “Koya”. Inspired by the traditional craftsmanship and construction of wooden structures (“Koya” means “hut” in Japanese), the project embodies a harmonious blend of functionality and minimalist architectural syntax. Thanks to the flexibility of its components, the bed can adapt to different spaces and can be configured in four different layouts. Whether placed against a wall to optimize space or at the center of the room, it seamlessly integrates into any interior while allowing for customization of the sleeping environment. Made of stained solid oak and leather, it can also accommodate various interchangeable upholstery options.
Anna Eerdmans, a student at Ravensbourne University London, won the Students category with her project “Bosco”. Featuring elegant and organic shapes inspired by nature – particularly the morphology of branches and leaves – the bed enhances the beauty of wood (available in Moka-stained ash or Canaletto walnut), thanks to openings in the removable, washable wool fabric upholstery, which reveal the curvature of the wood and highlight its artisanal craftsmanship. The jury appreciated the modular approach to the component design, the detailed material list, and the creation of a physical study model.
The jury was composed of:
- Tiziano Allievi (President of Porada)
- Bruno Allievi (Partner and former President of Porada)
- Roberto de Paolis (POLI.design)
- Umberto Cabini (Vice President of ADI and President of the ADI Compasso d’Oro Foundation)
- Maria Tber (Owner of Divanya Luxury, Porada retailer in Casablanca)
- Otmane Lazraq (Partner at Lazraq Studio)
- Valentina Raggi (Senior Editor, AD Italia)
- Julian Tiefenbacher (Senior Editor, Elle Decoration Germany)
- Marco Grassi (Artist)
In evaluating the projects, the jury took into account originality, innovation, and the exploration of new design solutions related to the traditional craftsmanship of solid wood, experimentation with materials and surface finishes, and the ability of the projects to define and anticipate usage scenarios and innovative concepts for the use of wooden furniture and contemporary accessories, with particular attention to typological, technological, and morphological aspects of beds.
As the winner of the “Giacomo Allievi” Special Mention, architect Elisabetta Allievi selected “Sofia,” the project by designers Alessia Pagotto and Valeria Francescato. Their proposal stood out for its outstanding balance between traditional craftsmanship linked to woodwork and modern design, expressed through the structural and creative development of the project. The tall, enveloping headboard, made of Canaletta walnut, enhances the quality of the materials and the artisanal care, while integrating a lateral upholstered element. This makes the bed suitable not only for rest but also for activities that require more structured support, such as studying or reading. Its ergonomic design ensures comfort for moments of relaxation or productivity.
An additional special mention was also awarded to Susanna Rocca, a student from LABA – Libera Accademia di Belle Arti in Brescia, Italy, for her project “Velouté.”
At the end of the jury’s deliberations, Tiziano Allievi, President of Porada, commented:
"The Porada International Design Award is one of the most exciting opportunities for exchange and dialogue throughout the year. Having the chance to observe and evaluate projects designed by creatives from all over the world is not only professionally enriching but also a source of personal growth for each of us. We are very happy with this year’s results, and we are especially pleased to see some familiar names among the student winners — participants who have already stood out in past editions. We wish all participants a bright professional future"