Dynamic design duo
TWO young Port Elizabeth designers beat off other contenders to claim the prestigious titles of the winners of the first-ever Cobra Design Competition recently.
The competition, which called for exciting new cutting-edge and eco-conscious tap and mixer designs, saw four exceptionally talented designers being recognised for their outstanding pieces of industrial design.
Winners were Andrew Mboyi for Edge in the student designer category and Leigh Mclaren for Ceramic Lace in the professional/other category both were awarded R30000.
Cobra product manager Ramielle de Jager said the standard of entries from all over South Africa exceeded expectations, with designers taking the brief to heart.
"Andrew's electronic Edge met the brief perfectly. Although electronic taps aren't new, they're mostly designed for and used in commercial buildings. Yet it is in residential homes where they could be most beneficial in terms of saving energy and water. That's what made Edge so brilliant – it was designed with the homeowner in mind. In the professional category, Leigh's Ceramic Lace was undeniably innovative and an unexpected design concept as far as the aesthetic went. It was different from Edge, but in its own way met the briefing requirements spot on."
Mboyi is currently studying architecture at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. He says Edge aimed to successfully marry sustainability with a timeless design.
"Embracing the digital age and utilising digital systems to monitor, manage and create a general awareness on water usage was also a big factor in the design. The iconic Michael Jackson 'lean' came later in the process, but added a critical aspect to the overall dimension."
Mclaren is a candidate architect at B4 Architects in Port Elizabeth, and passionate about design. "Apart from ecological awareness, my mixer, Ceramic Lace, was inspired by ceramic as a material," says Mclaren.
"Ceramic is at the forefront of bathroom design, but it also has its roots in South African art. This allows the mixer to be more than just a functional element, and representative of its time and place."