Returning to nurture regional talent, the 8^th edition of the annual “Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize” in partnership with Tashkeel announces the winner of this year’s prize – Neda Salmanpour.

Van Cleef & Arpels and Tashkeel called upon emerging designers living within the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait to submit design proposals for the 8^th edition of the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize (2021) of sculptural works that reflect and depict this edition’s theme of ‘Biomimicry–Butterflies’ through various mediums and outcomes (e.g. materials, function, form or user experience). Entries were judged on the following criteria: Interpretation of theme; originality; concept development; functionality; use of materials, techniques; production feasibility; final design resolution and aesthetics; and overall quality of submission. In addition to representatives of Van Cleef & Arpels and Tashkeel, the judging panel included the design advisor and columnist Cyril Zammit and the editorial consultant and design journalist Pratyush Sarup.

The judging panel chose Neda Salmanpour as the winner for Kaleidoscope, a floor lamp that emulates the harmony and complexity of gathering butterflies.

Kaleidoscope by Neda Salmanpour is a unique design piece that combines artistic acumen with skillful craftsmanship. Inside the onyx stone case imprinted with 120 butterflies a warm light gently pulsates evoking the delicate beauty and the wondrous complexity of nature’s gems. The designer behind the winning product will receive a five-day trip to Paris to attend courses led by the acclaimed Mains d’Or, master craftsmen in high jewellery creation, at the exclusive L’ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels, an institute dedicated to accentuating the methods behind the world of jewellery creation and watchmaking.