The Salão Design Award, the largest product design award in Latin America, is now in its final judging phase, with the announcement of the projects chosen by the judging committee for the second phase. A total of 58 finalists were chosen among 629 entries registered by Students, Professionals and Industry / Retail, coming from Brazil, Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay. The judging panel this year consists of Brazilian designers Bruno Faucz, Brunno Jahara, Letícia Grisa, Nicole Tomazi and Salvatore Figliuzzi from Germany.

The director of the Salão Design Award, Eduardo Nuncio, highlights the importance of the award for the development of the Brazilian design identity, especially considering that the initiative will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018. He says that this important date motivated the management of the award to promote important changes in the regulation. The main one was the replacement of the traditional categories with the awards in the first, second and third places for each class - Student, Professional and Industry / Retail. Three super-awards will also be given to the best products of this event.

The traditional prizes that are still being awarded include the Master Teacher trophy for the best products developed by students and the Alternative Woods Award, given in partnership with the Brazilian Forest Service to recognize the use of hardwood considered not widely used. Nuncio also points out that, in addition to the cash prizes, the Salão Design Award gives its winners a unique showcase for the promotion of their products. "Next year, the award winners will participate in two product shows: in March, at the Movelsul Brasil fair, and in August, during the High Design Expo, which is part of the Brazilian design week program in São Paulo," he adds.

In the final phase of the judgment, the finalists will send their life-size products to the city of Bento Gonçalves, which is home to Sindmóveis, the association that organizes the Salão Design Award. This will happen in January 2018, according to the schedule below. With a history of 14,213 projects entered to date, the Salão Design Award is sponsored by Berneck and Interprint. To learn about the finalists, visit www.salaodesign.com.br!

>> ATTENTION TO THE SCHEDULE

Deadline to register: October 2, 2017, at 11:59 pm

Judgement of the first phase: October 2017

Announcement of the finalists: November 13, 2017

Delivery of products to the final phase: January 11, 12 and 15, 2018

Choice of the award winners: January 22 and 23, 2018

Show and the award ceremony: Movelsul Brasil 2018, March 12 – 15, 2018, in Bento Gonçalves

Second show of the award winners: High Design Expo, August 28 – 30, 2018, in São Paulo

Follow the Salão Design Award in the social media: @premiosalaodesign