Rado announces the winner of Rado Star Prize UK

David Knowles named winner of the Rado Star Prize UK

The various shows and events including designjunction that marked this September’s London Design Week have come to a close but for one designer, his design journey continues after winning a prestigious prize from the Swiss watch maker Rado.

This year, a panel of distinguished judges have awarded the second edition of the Rado Star Prize UK to David Knowles who impressed the judges with his entry “GC18” – a coffee table inspired  by  the   Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, a unique landscape of stunning natural beauty. 

The inspiring place features interlocking hexagonal columns of ancient black basalt staggering out of the ocean, forging a majestic pathway of multi-faceted levels.

Knowles’ GC18   coffee  table responds  to  that landscape’s  aesthetic elements resulting in a furniture piece that is tactile, intriguing and thought-provoking; consequently inspiring mindfulness. 

“It has been a great opportunity to showcase my design at Rado Star Prize UK.  I am honoured to  win  the award, especially to have been judged by a panel I admire  so much.  I hope  this  will  be  the  start  of  setting  up  my  design  career”  comments David Knowles,  winner  of  Rado  Star  Prize  UK  2018. 

Knowles, a  3D  Design  student  from Northumbria University received £5,000 and a True Thinline Plasma as a prize for his winning project. GC18 was selected from a shortlist of ten designs, with each entry responding  to  the  theme  ‘On  Time/Time  Off’.

David Knowle, left, with Hakim El Kadiri, Bethan Gray
and Will Sorrell.

 The  theme  explores  the  concept  of passing  time,  enriching  life,  and  products  that  enhance  user’s  awareness  of  where they spend their time. 

Rado CEO Matthias Breschan commented: “The creativity and thought present in this year’s Rado Star Prize UK entries is very impressive. I am pleased that Rado can help to promote the work of young designers such as David, the Rado Star Prize UK is a great example of Rado’s continued dedication to design.” 

“This  second  edition  of  the  Rado  Star  Prize  UK  has  challenged  the  judges  with  a fantastic selection of projects.” commented designjunction Event Director, Will Sorrell.  The stellar line-up of judges who selected the winner included award-winning designer Bethan Gray; Head of Design at John Lewis Philippa Prinsloo; Vice President of Product Management at Rado Hakim El Kadiri; Founder of Arts Thread Katie Dominy and designjunction Event Director Will Sorrell.