de Velde
Nedda El-Asmar
With her explicit choice of pared-down objects in silver, Nedda El-Asmar went on a strong personal journey. She reconciles craft with industry and reformulates banal utensils to an aesthetic higher level. Her contemporary icons bring a touch of poetry to our living environment.
About Nedda El-Asmar
- 1968: Is born in Aalst in a Belgian-Palestinian family.
- 1987-1991: Studies Jewellery Design, Gold & Silversmithing, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp.
- 1991-1993: Gets a Master in Jewellery Design Gold & Silversmithing, Royal College of Art, London.
- 1992: Designs the silver Condom holder.
- 1994: starts collaborating with Hermès.
- 1997: Wins the Henry van de Velde Young Talent Award.
- 2007: Becomes Designer of the Year by Biennale Interieur and Knack/Le Vif Weekend.
- 2008: Wins the Ultima for Design of the Flemish government.
- 2007-2019: Is artistic coordinator and lecturer in Jewellery Design and Silversmithing, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp.
- 2019-present: Is artistic coordinator and lecturer in Jewellery Design and Silversmithing, PXL-MAD School of Arts, Hasselt.
- 2021-present: Works on the research project 999.9 on the dematerialisation of gold.
“My Condom holder perfectly sums up my design philosophy to this day: I love pared-down, utilitarian objects that exude beauty and poetry”
The jury on Nedda El-Asmar
The jury awarded the Lifetime Achievement Gold Award to Nedda El-Asmar for her remarkable trajectory as a designer, in which she manages to combine craft and innovation. Her designs are characterized by a perfect balance between functionality, aesthetics and timelessness, always focusing on elegance and simplicity. Nedda El-Asmars work consists of a diverse range of products, ranging from cutlery and tableware to everyday utensils. Her collaborations with prominent international brands and her commitment to education have made her a leading designer, leaving her mark on the next generation of designers.
Would you like to read an in-depth interview with Nedda El-Asmar? Then order a copy of our latest publication! You will find an overview of all this year's winners. The richly illustrated publication (160 pages) is bilingual (NL-EN) and was designed by Geoffrey Brusatto. You can order it online at 10 euros.
