Glittering talent: 2015 Swarovski Designers of the Future Award winners revealed

Milan's Salone del Mobile has today played host to yet another design innovation, with the announcement of the 2015 Swarovski Designers of the Future Award winners.
Hong Kong's Elaine Ng Yan Ling and London-based Tomás Alonso and Studio Swine scooped up the prestigious prize, which will see the young talents collaborate with Swarovski to produce works for the 10th anniversary edition of Design Miami/ Basel (16-21 June).
Selected by a jury of leading figures in the design world, including Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers, Swarovski's Nadja Swarovski and fuseproject founder Yves Behar among others, the award is known as an annual indicator of the most exciting names to watch in the industry. Previous laureates include Asif Khan, Philippe Malouin, Bethan Laura Wood and Max Lamb. The latter three are showcasing impressive collections during this very Salone season.
As part of the award, this year's victors visited Swarovski's historic base in Wattens, Austria, to draw inspiration from the crystal brand's legacy of creativity and innovation. With the archives, workshops and various programs at their fingertips, the designers had plenty to play with, as illustrated in the film - revealed exclusively by Wallpaper* first - featured here.
Rodman Primack, executive director of Design Miami/, spoke of the significance of the prize to the artists and the design community as a whole. 'This year's winners are perfect examples of the kind of talent we are eager to shine a light on; they experiment with materials, push the traditional boundaries of design and bring fresh energy and ideas to the collectible design market.'
Tomás Alonso is a London-based designer, born in Spain, known for his simple aesthetic and functionality. Here, he selects crystals from the collection at Swarovski's historic Austrian base in Wattens
Studio Swine, which stands for Super Wide Interdisciplinary New Explorers, is an Anglo-Japanese duo comprising of architect Azusa Murakami and artist Alexander Groves.
Hong Kong's Elaine Ng Yang Ling is the third winner. She is shown here at Wattens
The trip to Wattens was organised as part of the award. With the archives, workshops and various programs at their fingertips, the designers had plenty to play with
Elaine Ng Yan Ling looks at crystals
Studio Swine peeking in draws
Alonso inspects one of Swarovksi's glittering chandeliers
The purpose of the visit was for the winners to draw inspiration from the crystal brand's legacy of creativity and innovation
Alonso in his London studio
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Industrial chic meets Thai heat at the new incarnation of a beloved London restaurant
Singburi 2.0 brings all the hot and sour thrills of the original haunt in cool Shoreditch surrounds
-
Comfort, kit and enduring aesthetics make the Hyundai Santa Fe utilitarian and upmarket
Tough looks conceal premium features as Hyundai takes its plug-in hybrid SUV upmarket. Wallpaper* tries out the stylish new South Korean 7-seater
-
Goldwin 0’s first-ever performance wear is body-mapped to keep you cool
The ‘Performance Capsule’ from Goldwin 0 – an experimental offshoot of Japanese technical wear label Goldwin – draws inspiration from trail running for its meticulously tested sportswear, which uses experimental ventilation techniques to help you work out in the heat
-
O Milano! Design's epic annual spectacle in photos
Call us biased, but we believe that Milan Design Week is, at this moment in time, the greatest show on earth
-
‘Romantic brutalism’ rethinks Polish craft
An exhibition in Warsaw gives local makers their due, looking inside the burgeoning world of Polish design
-
Eight designers to know from Rossana Orlandi Gallery’s Milan Design Week 2025 exhibition
Wallpaper’s highlights from the mega-exhibition at Rossana Orlandi Gallery include some of the most compelling names in design today
-
Bentley’s new home collections bring the ‘potency’ of its cars to Milan Design Week
New furniture, accessories and picnic pieces from Bentley Home take cues from the bold lines and smooth curves of Bentley Motors
-
StoneX partners with Wallpaper* for material alchemy at Milan Design Week and beyond
The natural stone purveyor teams up with Wallpaper* for a three-year partnership of material adventures, starting with an exhibition at Triennale di Milano
-
David Rockwell’s Milan Design Week presentation is a love letter to cork
Rockwell Group’s Casa Cork installation showcases this under-appreciated material, which is infinitely recyclable and sequesters carbon for decades
-
Emerging galleries to discover during Milan Design Week
Wallpaper’s Milan editor has the inside track on the younger design galleries coming to town
-
Buccellati brings the forest and Furry Animals to Milan Design Week
The jewellery and silverware maison falls back on tradition for its Milan showcase, presenting its now-emblematic collection of intricately crafted creatures