Alternative Artefacts Danto – ‘Crisscross’, ‘Cracks’, ‘Freckles’, ‘Mycelium’
Winner
Excellent Product Design
Building and Elements
Details
‘Crisscross’, ‘Cracks’, ‘Mycelium’, and ‘Freckles’ are porcelain tile series designed by India Mahdavi for Alternative Artefacts Danto, produced at the company’s 140-year-old factory on Awaji Island. Each explores a distinct ceramic language: raised grid motifs in ‘Crisscross’; glowing crackle glaze in ‘Cracks’; fluid crystalline patterns in ‘Mycelium’; and playful speckled surfaces in ‘Freckles’. Merging Japanese craft traditions with Mahdavi’s bold sensibility, the series reinterprets heritage techniques as vibrant, tactile surfaces—expanding the expressive role of ceramics in contemporary architecture.
The Jury‘s Statement
Vivid, tactile surfaces give the porcelain tiles »Crisscross«, »Cracks«, »Freckles« and »Mycelium« a charismatic presence. The combination of Japanese tradition and confident design creates an expressive ceramic language. The convincing evolution of traditional techniques into striking, versatile elements particularly stands out, as these tiles lend architectural spaces a new sense of identity and embody outstanding design quality.
