BRAZIL – The Salão Design Award, one of the most important product design awards in Latin America, is now entering its final judging phase, with the announcement of the projects chosen by the judging committee for the second phase.

A total of 58 finalists were chosen among 629 entries registered by students, professionals and industry / retail, coming from Brazil, Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay. The judging panel this year consists of Brazilian designers Bruno Faucz, Brunno Jahara, Letícia Grisa, Nicole Tomazi and Salvatore Figliuzzi from Germany.

The director of the Salão Design Award, Eduardo Nuncio, highlights the importance of the award for the development of the Brazilian design identity, especially considering that the initiative will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018.

Nuncio also pointed out that, in addition to the cash prizes, the Salão Design Award gives its winners a unique opportunity to showcase their products. “Next year, the award winners will participate in two product shows: in March, at the Movelsul Brazil fair, and in August, during the High Design Expo, which is part of the Brazilian design week program in São Paulo,” he added.

In the award’s final phase, the finalists will send their life-size products to the city of Bento Gonçalves, which is home to Sindmóveis, the association that organizes the Salão Design Award. With a history of 14,213 projects entered to date, Berneck and Interprint sponsor the Salão Design Award this year.