Mohammed Iman Fayaz wins Hublot Design Prize 2021
The 2021 Hublot Design Prize winner is illustrator Mohammed Iman Fayaz, as announced at a ceremony at the London’s Serpentine Galleries
Mohammed Iman Fayaz has won the 2021 Hublot Design Prize, announced by a jury composed of Marva Griffin Wilshire, founder and creator of Salone Satellite; Hans Ulrich Obrist, artistic director of Serpentine Galleries; Alice Rawsthorn, design critic, longtime Wallpaper* contributor and 2020 guest editor; and Formafantasma, the design studio and winner of the 2018 Hublot Design Prize.
US-based illustrator Fayaz was chosen from a shortlist of eight and announced as winner at a ceremony at Serpentine Galleries. It is the sixth edition of the prize, launched in 2015 by Jean-Claude Biver and Pierre Keller as a way of supporting younger generations. The shortlist – composed of Ben Ganz, Christoph John, Eva Feldkamp, Federica Fragapane, Mohammed Fayaz, Irakli Sabekia, Thebe Magugu, and Archibald Godts & Theresa Bastek of Studio Plastique – united designers across a range of different disciplines and styles.
Winner Fayaz, a member of art collective and creative studio Papi Juice, impressed the judges with his works of art and infographics, which reinvent the traditional form of illustration. Fayaz also documents the queer and trans communities, supports his local community through pro bono projects that capture post-pandemic scenes in bold colours, and designs arresting posters, dispensing advice to first-time visitors to marches, for example.
A post shared by mohammed iman (@brohammed)
A photo posted by on
‘There is simple communication on them – the march is free, it’s outdoors, a mask required, to let people know what’s going on and not put them off,’ he explains. The poster he drew for a silent march for Black trans lives, was, unusually for him, in black and white to reflect the sombre nature of the event, and was acquired this year by MoMA. ‘It was before in-person gatherings were really allowed, so with something as simple as putting the masks on the poster – it’s not the most beautiful thing but it is powerful,’ Fayaz says. ‘You can still see yourself, you see your friends, you see your colleagues, your loved ones.’ The protest drew 15,000 people, the largest for trans lives in history.
What the Hublot Design Prize 2021 jury said
‘We were absolutely unanimous that Mohammed was the winner,’ says Alice Rawsthorne. ‘He really has documented an extraordinary community of queer and trans people of colour who at times are very vulnerable and at others are happy and joyous. I think he’s caught their complexities and subtleties and idiosyncrasies, and that’s such a difficult thing to do.’
The Pierre Keller Award was also presented to Eva Feldkamp and Federica Fragapane at the event. Fragapane elevates statistics into works of art with her intricate illustrations of facts. ‘Data generally is one of the most dynamic areas of design at the moment and the pandemic obviously accelerated that as we all became obsessed with data trackers,’ says Rawsthorne. ‘Federica is a brilliant data designer because she takes very complex data and expresses it in a way which makes it much more accessible to many more. The visual language with which she decodes it is so original, so innovative and so seductive.’
Feldkamp connects creative professionals with not-for-profit organisations through her company, All in Awe. Rawsthorne adds: ‘Eva is filling a gap in the design community by building bridges between non-profit and social enterprises and charities that need the work of talented designers and architects for social community projects, and the growing number of designers who want to engage with those projects.
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition taps into the brand's creative followers
The unconventional features of Nothing Phone (2a)’s new limited edition come from a community-driven project to reshape the style and ethos of the smartphone
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
What is the sound of Stone Island? A new musical project helps you find out
Stone Island Sound is a new, evolving music project from the Italian label, seeing contributions from John Glacier, Yaeji and more across playlists and live performances
By Jack Moss Published
-
Brew were always on my mind: Pet Shop Boys release new tea set
As part of a new line of merchandise marking 40 years of Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe celebrate the humble cuppa
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Hublot presents new limited edition Big Bang Unico Essential Grey
Hublot’s monochromatic new Big Bang model is available exclusively through hublot.com
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Samuel Ross unveils his Hublot Big Bang watch design
Samuel Ross brings a polished titanium case and orange rubber strap to the Hublot Big Bang watch
By Pei-Ru Keh Published
-
Playful design meets chic heritage in the Hermès Kelly watch
The new Kelly watch from Hermès rethinks the original 1975 timepiece
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Discover the tonal new hues of the classic Nomos Club Campus watch
The Nomos classic wristwatch Club Campus now comes in two new collegiate colours. The perfect graduation gift from the Glashütte manufacture
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Bulgari unveils the thinnest mechanical watch in the world
The new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra watch is a record-breaking feat of engineering
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Breitling and Triumph unite on a racy new watch and motorcycle
1960s design codes are infused with a contemporary edge in the collaboration between Breitling and Triumph
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Gerald Genta’s mischievous Mickey Mouse watch design is rethought for a new era
The Gerald Genta Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse watch pays tribute to Genta’s humorous design codes
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Shinola honours Georgia O’Keeffe with a new watch
Shinola Birdy watch stays faithful to the minimalist codes of Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting, My Last Door
By Hannah Silver Published