The design world is evolving—here’s why Lexus is backing emerging talent with their prestigious award
Design, at its best, changes the way we live. It reshapes how we move through the world, what we value, and how we interact with the systems around us. That’s exactly why Lexus, a brand known as much for its craftsmanship as its quiet precision, has spent more than a decade cultivating one of the most forward-thinking design platforms in the world.
That’s the Lexus Design Award, an initiative that began in 2013 as a way to nurture new ideas: ones that sit at the intersection of creativity and purpose. Its past winners read like a blueprint for the future: Fog-X, a portable habitat that turns mist into drinking water, Print Clay Humidifier, a 3D-printed form made from recycled ceramics, and Zero Bag, a water-soluble clothing package that leaves no trace behind. Ultimately, each project answers a simple question: how can design make life better?
That question has since become the through line connecting the global programme to its local counterpart in Aotearoa. Now in its sixth year, the Lexus Design Award New Zealand has evolved into more than just a competition—it’s an incubator for the country’s next generation of creators. The brief is open-ended, designed to encourage diversity of thought, inviting students to propose imaginative, sustainable solutions that reflect Lexus’ core principles—Anticipate, Innovate, Captivate— and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted globally by Lexus.. From product and fashion to industrial and interaction design, the only constant is the expectation of thoughtfulness.
This year marks the inclusion of two of Wellington’s leading design schools, with Victoria University and Massey University of Wellington joining AUT and the University of Auckland. But the value of the award lies less in its geography and more in its process. Mentorship is central: students receive hands-on guidance from some of New Zealand’s most respected creative figures, including Gosia Piatek, Dayne Johnston, and Emma Wallace of Kowtow, Megan Wyper and Paddy Kennedy of Acme Cup-Co in Wellington, and Simon James and Scott Bridgens of Resident, based in Auckland. Continuing the educational experience, these immersive mentoring sessions move beyond technical feedback—they’re conversations about purpose, values, and how to sustain creativity in a commercial world.
The New Zealand competition is structured to fit seamlessly alongside university coursework, giving students the opportunity to develop Lexus Design Award projects as part of their ongoing design education. When the judging begins in November, entries will be assessed on creativity, thoughtfulness, and potential impact. Each university will name one winner and one runner-up, receiving $3,000 and $1,000, respectively, alongside something far more valuable: exposure to the people and networks that define the country’s creative industries.
It’s easy to view competitions like this as an early-career stepping stone, but the Lexus Design Award operates on a deeper level. It invites young designers to think about systems, not just products; to question how we consume, and how we could do better. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t have to mean disruption—it can also mean refinement, empathy, or simply paying attention. It has also given emerging designers the opportunity to bring thoughtful ideas off the page.
That same philosophy extends globally. At this year’s Milan Design Week, Lexus presented two installations exploring human–machine harmony and the collaborative process of creation. Both reflected the brand’s ongoing dialogue between technology and emotion—a tension that has long defined good design.
In a moment where thoughtful design risks becoming lost in the vernacular, the Lexus Design Award feels refreshingly intentional. It’s less about spectacle, more about substance. And for the next generation of designers—those just beginning to imagine their place in the world—that’s an invitation worth answering.
Lexus Design Award submissions close Friday, 7 November. The Wellington Showcase takes place Tuesday, 18 November, followed by the Auckland Showcase on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
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