Everyone knows what a luminary is. They’re the figures that inspire and lead by example, the vibrant, talented ones who illuminate others by the strength and spread of their light, the individuals who change the playing field so drastically that it is impossible to imagine a time before them. Others bathe in the warm glow they cast, comforted by its steadiness and enlivened by the promise it represents. But where do you find a luminary? Notoriously difficult to pin down, luminaries are constantly on the go, often travelling at a breakneck speed and on roads less travelled.

 They’re at the vanguard of things, blazing out a new path for others to follow; they’re at the coalface, bravely mining the depths of creativity for new avenues to explore; they’re at the fringes, exploring ways to do things that fall well beyond the norm. Wherever they are, luminaries distinguish themselves by their skill, insight, and foresight, and encourage others to follow their example and grit their teeth, dig their heels in, and give it everything they’ve got.

Often, luminaries are moving so fast and between so many places that it is impossible to get a hold of them and celebrate the full extent of their wonderful and important work. The Luminary category of the INDE.Awards attempts to do just that, recognising industry leaders whose influence is often simply felt rather than lauded. Rewarding an idiosyncratic approach to design and innovative use of technology, materials, and technique, the Luminary award crosses design disciplines and geographic borders. Veterans in all design fields across the Asia Pacific region are eligible for the award, so long as they have had a sustained, demonstrated impact on the landscape of design.

One of only two people’s choice awards in the INDE.Awards program, the Luminary award gives the A+D community a voice to name the leaders and mentors embedded within it. Late last year, INDE.Awards experts and Indesign Media editors selected design professionals in the Asia Pacific region for recognition as Luminaries, nominating individuals that they feel have made an indelible mark on the region’s design. The resulting list is diverse and recognises that excellence spans across disciplines and continents, and is characterised as such by its ability to push the industry in the direction of change and constant improvement.

Fittingly, German ergonomic furniture designers and producers Wilkhahn will once again support the Luminary category of this year’s INDE.Awards. Renowned for their seamless marriage of cutting-edge design with state of the art engineering, Wilkhahn have been a guiding light for generations of industrial designers around the world. For over a century, the company has committed itself to refined, distinctive design that diverges boldly and bravely from the pack.

Since bursting onto the market over six decades ago, Wilkhahn‘s office furniture has led the market when it comes to high performance, striking commercial furniture design. Their dynamic task chairs have helped usher in a new age of health-driven, ergonomics-focused workplaces, and set the standard for countless other ergonomic chairs now entering the market. Beyond this, the flexibility afforded by Wilkhahn‘s space-saving tables far predated today’s agile, open workspaces, demonstrating the kind of remarkable prescience with which luminaries are gifted. Importantly, Wilkhahn‘s extensive design portfolio reminds us time and time again that functionality need not be a limitation on the scope and creativity of design.

Like every true luminary, Wilkhahn is keen to share their knowledge and skills and recognise the talent possessed by others. The company is pleased to enable the much-deserved celebration of game-changing talent in the burgeoning Asia Pacific design industry, and looks forward to seeing the leaders that members of the design community recognise from amongst their ranks.

Vote for your 2018 People’s Choice Luminary now and be in the running to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany!

Thanks to Wilkhahn, we’re giving you the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany for Orgatec 2018. The winner will be flown to Germany for an activity-filled week with the Wilkhahn Asia Pacific team. This exclusive VIP itinerary includes*…

• Flights to Germany for Orgatec 2018
• A two-night stay in a five-star castle
• An all-access tour of the Wilkhahn HQ, the world’s largest furniture factory
• All passes to Orgatec 2018
• VIP city tours of Cologne
• A two-day sojourn in Munich

To enter, simply vote for your favourite Luminary for 2018 and follow the prompts to be in the running.

ENTER NOW!

*All travel and meals are included in the winner’s prize, including all agreed extras such as city tours, conference passes, golf and parties. Any additional purchases will be at the expense of the winner. Terms and conditions apply. Indesign Media Asia Pacific, INDE.Awards Asia Pacific and Wilkhahn Asia Pacific reserve the right to change the terms and conditions at any time without notice.