The Design Exchange (DX) in partnership with RBC Foundation is thrilled to present Canadian furniture designer Lukas Peet as the first ever Emerging Designer Competition (EDC) Winner. Dedicated to the pursuit of design excellence, the DX is proud to provide Peet with an unparalleled experience for exposure in Canada. Along with a $10,000 monetary prize, Peet will mount a solo exhibition, taking place from February 21 to April 1, 2014.
“Winning the DX’s Emerging Designer Competition will allow me to invest in my own ideas and bring them into production,” says EDC Winner, Lukas Peet. “With the financial support of RBC Foundation, these thoughts will come to reality and with the Design Exchange as a platform, I can take the next step in my career as a designer and producer. For my upcoming exhibition at the DX, I would like to create an edited timeline of my current body of work, ultimately displaying a variety of disciplines and scales.
The Canada-wide search commenced in March 2013 and was whittled down to 13 finalists by a panel of renowned Canadian designers, including Sunny Fong (VAWK), John Tong (+tongtong), Philippe Meunier (Sid Lee), Omer Arbel (Bocci/Omer Arbel Office), and Patty Johnson (Patty Johnson Design).
The final review panel, handpicked by Design Exchange president Shauna Levy, was comprised of three international creative business leaders: Douglas Coupland, Canadian novelist, visual artist and designer; Heather Reisman, co-founder of Kobo and founder, Chair and CEO of Indigo Books & Music Inc., Canada’s largest book, gift and specialty toy retailer; and Marcel Wanders, co-founder of the successful design label Moooi.
The final review panel chose Lukas for his versatility in contemporary furniture design. Lauded for his lighting designs, Peet also produces desks, clocks, mirrors in metal, wood and fibreglass, and much more. The panel sees the potential for his pieces to transcend time—future classics that join form and function and display insight far beyond his years.
According to juror Heather Reisman, “We were impressed by the breadth and diversity of Mr. Peet’s work, as well as the fact that an impressive amount of it was carefully and beautifully considered from concept through to execution.”
Peet is a Canmore, Alberta native who received his industrial design training at the prestigious Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He divides his time between his studio, lukas/peet design and his and his partnership in the new Vancouver lighting company ANDLIGHT.
“I appreciate that Lukas continues to have limitless energy and passion and ambition. So many talented designers in our region give up for one reason or another, perhaps even on a subconscious level. I don’t believe Lukas ever will,” said juror Omer Arbel.
Peet’s work has been widely published and exhibited across Europe and North America. His first product, a light for New York’s Roll & Hill, launched in April 2012 during Milan design week, followed by the North American launch in May in New York. Called Rudi, the series of three pendant lights are made from bent metal tubes that hold handmade cold cathode lamps. The fixtures are available at Roll & Hill and in Canada at Lightform.
“Congratulations to Lukas Peet. This competition creates a great opportunity for emerging Canadian designers to be recognized and celebrated,” says Curtis Hitsman, RBC Regional Vice President, Toronto. “Our hope is that the competition can be a catalyst to professional success for Lukas and all aspiring designers”.