Design student Helena Litvinyuk wins the 12th edition of the Rometti Prize with her project ‘Mercurio’, a spectacular set of lamps.
The ‘Rometti Prize’ competition aims to promote innovation and originality in the field of ceramic art, opening the doors of manufacturing to young people, in a constant dialogue between art, craftsmanship and design.
This year, the jury had to evaluate no less than 150 projects, created by students from twelve Italian and international Art Academies, Universities and Design Institutes, and the Product Design project “Mercurio” – developed by RUFA student Helena Litvinyuk – was named the overall winner.
On the evening of Saturday, 7 October, in the presence of local institutions, personalities from the world of culture and, above all, the finalist students, the eleventh edition of the competition was officially concluded with an event organised precisely in Umbertide, in the headquarters of the manufacturing company.
“The 2023 edition was characterised by projects of extraordinary quality”., emphasised Ceramiche Rometti owner Massimo Monini and artistic director Jean-Christophe Clair, pleased with how the award is growing year by year and taking on an increasingly international scope, helping to bring novelty and originality to the manufacture’s production.
The prototypes were presented to the public and assessed by the jury, which awarded the most interesting works according to the criteria of form, decoration and functionality. Of the more than 150 projects submitted, which forced the jury to make an arduous selection, the ‘Mercurio’ lamp set designed by Helena Litvinyuk triumphed. Second place for the ‘Boules’ vase by Chiara Zannotti of the NID Nuovo Istituto di Design in Perugia. Third place for ‘Letter to the Sun’ by Eric Beard from the University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
The three winners were awarded by representatives of local institutions, such as the mayor of Umbertide Luca Carizia, councillor and deputy mayor Annalisa Mierla, and former mayor and parliamentarian Giampiero Giulietti.
Behind in the ranking, though only by a whisker, were the projects ‘Luludi’ by Maria Mazzetta, Alice Palestini and Anna Toppi, from ISIA Pescara, and ‘Creatura del mare’ by Simone Centonze, from IED Milan.
“What we aim for” says the head of the Prize, David Menghini, “is to discover new talents and help them to express themselves, to find their own identity and voice. It is no coincidence that the Award often becomes a springboard for young designers who, after the experience of the internship, establish profitable and lasting collaborations with the manufacture”.
“Mercurio”, the winning project by Helena Litvinyuk
Some shots of the award ceremony
