Lexus' 'Sparks of Tomorrow' design concepts to foresee brand's electrified future

MANILA: Lexus announced its participation in the world’s leading event for contemporary design event the Milan Design Week, which will commence from June 6 to 12 in Italy.  

Since its first participation in 2005, Lexus has created immersive experiences for visitors at Milan Design Week. The carmaker has partnered with leading talents such as Philippe Nigro, Neri Oxman, Sou Fujimoto and Rhizomatics among others to create new works of design inspired by Lexus’ values and vision.

In this year’s Milan Design Week, the carmaker will present a trio of human-centered design explorations in its Lexus: Sparks of Tomorrow installation. 

Lexus: Sparks of Tomorrow will include an immersive installation by award-winning architect and designer Germane Barnes with lighting design studio Aqua Creations, new prototypes from Lexus Design Award 2022 finalists, and work by students at London’s Royal College of art envisioning a more sustainable future.

Lexus has partnered with Germane Barnes to create a new iteration of the On/ installation unveiled for Design Miami/ 2021, this time collaborating with Aqua Creations to highlight a commitment to expert craftsmanship and high-quality materiality that is central to Lexus’ ethos.

This version of the installation, debuting in Milan, takes the RZ as the central inspiration, the first dedicated battery-electric model in the Lexus line-up. The installation is centered around a precisely-to-scale, three-dimensional sculptural realization of the RZ, rendered in steel and illuminated; the frame of the car glows and is suspended just above the ground, a vision of a more sustainable future coming into focus.

Concurrent with this installation in Milan, the wireframe model of the LF-Z from Design Miami/ 2021 will be on view at Lexus’ luxury brand experience space Intersect by Lexus in Tokyo. 

Building on this principle of a concept coming to life, the installation will feature Aqua Creations’ Code 130 ° collection of colorful pendant lights illuminating the vehicle, which add a delicate, material and joyful quality to the immersive installation.

Shifting from the futuristic lighting scheme featured in Miami, the lighting from Aqua Creations creates a physical embodiment of electricity and design of the RZ.

On/ creates an environment that is designed to engage viewers of all ages, providing an experience that is both visually dynamic and interactive while offering an inviting space to recharge and reflect.

The installation will be accompanied by an adjacent lounge area featuring the new ToTeM lighting collection by Aqua Creations, providing discrete areas for rest, repose and recharging — reflecting the brand’s commitment to the principle of omotenashi (exceptional hospitality).

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the work of the six finalists in the Lexus Design Award 2022. Finalists were chosen for their original solutions contributing to a better tomorrow, while articulating the Lexus brand’s three core principles: Anticipate, Innovate and Captivate. 

Finalists include Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres, Wondaleaf, Team Dunamis, Poh Yun Ru, Kristil and Shamina, and Kou Mikuni.

Now in its tenth year, the award celebrates up-and-coming creative talent from around the world. This year’s Grand Prix winner, selected by a panel comprising renowned creative visionaries Paola Antonelli, Anupama Kundoo, Bruce Mau and Simon Humphries, will be announced on May 12.

Lexus’ presentation will also include work by students that present radical new luxury transport concepts in a creative program commissioned by Lexus, which is called 2040: The Soul of Future Premium.

This exploration of how luxury transport might evolve towards the middle of the 21st century was launched in September 2021 by Lexus in partnership with the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, one of the world’s most prestigious and influential centres for art and design research and learning.

Photos from Lexus

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