de Velde
About
Mission
The Henry van de Velde Awards showcase and laud Flemish designers, companies, products, projects, services and systems that, through the smart use of design, have a positive impact on society, the environment and the economy.
The Henry van de Velde Awards are widely supported thanks to the shared vision of a professional and independent jury with significant expertise in the sector. With its own website, the official award ceremony, the publication and the activities, the Henry van de Velde Awards is a true platform for Flemish design.
The Henry van de Velde Awards are presented by Flanders DC and are the most important design awards in Belgium. Because design is so broad, designers, organizations, clients and companies with recent products, services or projects can enter within the following nine categories: Business Innovation, Consumer, Crafts, Design Research, Digital Product, Environment, Graphics, Habitat and Spaces.
The favorite project from these categories receives the Henry van de Velde Public Gold Award through an online vote. The jury also announces the winners of the Henry van de Velde Lifetime Achievement, Young Talent, Company and Ecodesign by OVAM Gold Awards.
Organisation
Flanders DC is the unique contact point for entrepreneurship in design and fashion. Flanders DC supports design and fashion entrepreneurs in the start-up, growth or professional expansion of their business.
"The Henry van de Velde Awards stand for innovation and corporate social responsibility. We want to propagate the fact that design can be used for innovation to all our Flemish companies."
Vlaams Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen (Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship) (VLAIO) is the Flemish government's point of contact for all entrepreneurs in Flanders. VLAIO stimulates and supports innovation and entrepreneurship and contributes to a favorable entrepreneurial climate.
Partners
"Be part of the solution, not the problem. With the Henry van de Velde Awards, we like to reward companies and designers who design products or services that help create a liveable planet for us all."
The Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij (The Public Waste Agency of Flanders) (OVAM) ensures that we deal with waste, materials and soil in Flanders in a well-considered and environmentally-conscious manner.
“VAKlab is Bokrijk’s centre of expertise and services on contemporary craftsmanship and entrepreneurship. That perfectly aligns with what the Henry van de Velde Awards stand for.”
Bokrijk brings together monumental heritage, culture, nature and tourism through collaborations across disciplines, such as tourism, education and nature, but also design and creative economy.
“The National Lottery is a proud partner of the Henry van de Velde Awards. Thanks to our players, we can contribute to initiatives and projects that have a positive impact on people and society.”
Every year, thanks to all National Lottery players, 345 million euros can be invested in organizations and projects that make a difference for many people, thus ensuring a better society.
“The aim of our partnership with the Henry van de Velde Awards is to challenge designers to come up with innovative ideas and solutions for a climateproof environment.”
The Flanders Environment Agency (VMM) wants to have a positive impact on the Flemish living environment and help make it climate proof.
"We are very happy to host the Henry van de Velde Awards because they are the most important design awards in Belgium. In this way, we also hope to familiarise our broad, art-loving and international audience with a sector that contributes to a better world."
Bozar offers a dynamic and versatile program of concerts and exhibitions, with offerings that fuse debates, theater, film, literature and other art forms.
Contact
For all questions you can send a mail to info@henryvandevelde.be or call us at 03/746 09 46.
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Follow all updates on the awards through Instagram and Facebook.
Any questions about registering for the awards? Make sure to check the answers to frequently asked questions here.
History
The prizes were launched in 1994 by the former Vlaams Instituut voor Zelfstandig Ondernemen (VIZO), Dienst Kunstambacht, later known as Design Flanders. They are unique in their genre in Belgium because they aim to cover the entire broad design sector, fully in line with the vision of Henry van de Velde himself.
The Henry van de Velde heirs agreed to dedicate the design prizes to and name them after the designer and architect Henry van de Velde, one of the great Belgian designers of the 20th century.
Throughout the years, the Henry van de Velde Awards have responded to developments in the design field. The awards are regularly adapted in line with developments, but three of them have been in existence since the beginning: Lifetime Achievement (or Career), Young Talent and Public. In 1995 they were joined by the Henry van de Velde Company Award, which is also here to stay.
The first editions were presented and shown in the Museum of Decorative Arts (now Design Museum Ghent), which later became the Design Flanders Gallery in Brussels. When the space there also became too small, Design Flanders found an enthusiastic partner in the Flemish Parliament. At that time, the OVAM also became a partner of the Henry van de Velde Awards with the OVAM Ecodesign Award PRO. And in the same year, the awards were also expanded to include the Henry van de Velde Labels, quality labels for products and a replacement for the prize for the best product.
Since 2014, the awards have been presented in the magnificent Henry Le Boeuf concert hall in Bozar. For the exhibition, the public can visit the Foyers. More than 1,400 people attend the ceremony each year.
In 2016, the changing role of design becomes clear in the abolition of the Henry van de Velde Labels and the introduction of awards in multiple categories that showcase the social, economic and aesthetic value of design. The introduction of the categories is clearly paying off. Not only is the number of entries potentially increasing every year, but there is also a great deal of interest from the general public, both in voting for the Henry van de Velde Public Gold Award and at the presentation and exhibition in Bozar.
