All entries are judged by a high-caliber international panel of experts, designers and journalists. For the first time there will be a two-stage selection procedure. In the first phase nine judges will assess the entries, selecting three products from each of the 10 competition categories. The selected products will be exhibited at Domotex 2014. January 10, 2014 a panel of five judges will choose the winners. “A fine hand-knotted rug is a blend of skilful craftsmanship, knowledge and awareness of tradition, individual creativity and aesthetic judgement. It is an essential element in any high-end interior where quality and class count. Such rugs have always been emblems of distinction and sophistication. The plethora of contemporary rugs available on today’s market gives decorators unparalleled opportunity for personal expression, and the Carpet Design Awards at Domotex highlight some of the best examples of these rugs”, says panel member and chairman Kristiina Lassus, an internationally renowned designer from Milan. 

The Awards give the winners the certainty that their products are a success and deserve the accolade of Best of the Best in their respective category. Prizes are awarded in each of the ten categories. Since the inception of the competition the categories have been continuously upgraded and extended to address the latest trends. This year a new category – Best Transitional Design – has been added in recognition of the growing importance of traditionally designed carpets boasting modern design elements. A further prize will be awarded on the basis of a poll conducted among the visiting public in which they select their “best-liked” carpet among the exhibits.

Those carpet manufacturers who reach the final stage of the competition can present their carpets at the Carpet Design Awards stand in Hall 16 at Domotex. This Awards stand provides visitors with a popular platform where they can exchange ideas, gain inspiration and experience new trends.

Premiere: Competition for young designers and students

Another new feature at Carpet Design Awards 2014 will be the Carpet Design Competition for Young Designers and Students. The competition aims to inspire an interest among the new generation of designers in the art of knotted carpets and is intended to show that the manufacturing process imposes no limits on the creative input of designers. Six selected carpet designs are currently being hand-knotted in Afghanistan and will be presented at DOMOTEX in January. It is from this selection that the judges in Hannover will pick one winner in each of the categories “Young Designer” and “Student Designer”. The competition is being sponsored by the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO), a Division of the US Department of Defense. More information is available at: www.afghanmade.com

In 2013,  the competition attracted 214 entries from manufacturers in 25 countries. More information on the terms of participation for the 2014 Carpet Design Awards, application forms or information on the judges can be obtained at http://www.domotex.de/en/cda-2014 . 

The judges:

Kristiina Lassus (I), internationally renowned designer/design expert, Milan

Costas Voyatzis (GR), Editor in Chief and Public Relations officer of design blog Yatzer.com, Athens

Peter Kindermann (A), carpet expert at Kika/Leiner, Graz

Janis Provisor and Brad Davis (USA), head and creative director at Fort Street Studio, New York

Michael Sodeau, (UK), Design Studio Michael Sodeau Partnership (MSP), London

Categories: 

01 Best Studio Artist Design

02 Best Modern Design Standard

03 Best Modern Design Superior

04 Best Modern Design Deluxe

05 Best Traditional Design

06 Best Transitional Design

07 Best Modern Collection

08 Best Traditional Collection

09 Best Innovation

AfghanMade – Young Designer

AfghanMade – Student

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