Vox Pop

The Stirling Prize, colloquially known as Building of the Year, was awarded to the Laban Dance Centre in Deptford, this weekend. But what non-architectural design has most caught your eye this year and why?

‘I am a big fan of New York artist Danny Rozin, especially his wooden mirror. He exhibited his most recent iteration at Ars Electronica, which substituted the wooden slats with pieces of rubbish collected on the streets of New York. The piece reverses the idea of the screen as an emitter of light to one that creates video using reflected light mechanically.’

Tom Roope, Director, Tomato

‘Sadly, it seems to have been more of a year of lost opportunities than notable innovations. This said, the latest incarnation of the Apple iPod is a piece of pocket sculpture, as is the amazing Casio Exilim card camera that can take hundreds of high quality images silently and instantly. Jasper Morrison’s latest Magis chair is good, Simon Buxton’s Microhouse (available through the Design Museum’s on-line shop) is charming. And in a similar vein, so is Habitat’s beautiful Garland light fitting, Nissan’s Cube car is interesting too, a very practical take on city motoring or a spiritual reincarnation of the Renault 4.’

Sebastian Conran, Director, Conran & Partners

‘Surprisingly, it is the new Volvo SUV – a triumph of design practicality – as well as a visual tour-de-force. Volvo’s engineering design has always been well regarded, but this new range also boasts incredible interiors and marvellous body styling. Volvo has been innovative and really broken the rules here, and I’m sure it will change the way people perceive them in the future.’

Michael Peters, Chairman, Identica

‘Anish Kapoor’s spectacular Marsyas structure in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern. Cecil Balmond at Arup was responsible for the engineering design and all too often engineers are not given the accreditation that they deserve, except when the bridge wobbles.’

Peter Higgins, Creative director, Land Design Studio

‘The office has ground to a complete halt, we are a hung jury between Kit-Kat Cubes, Natalie in the Agent Provocateur calender (see page 88, Jack August 2003 issue) and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione – all of which can be sent pre-wrapped to Poke at 192 St John Street, London EC1.’

Simon Waterfall, Founding partner, Poke

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