The guiding principle in judging the awards was “the spirit of Cuypers”: the quest for innovation, an eye for aesthetics and functionality, and transcending disciplinary boundaries. This edition also focused on the use and effect of patterns and designs. The nominees for the awards were discussed at length and carefully evaluated by the four-member jury. The award was presented by Vincent Zwijnenberg, alderman for the municipality of Roermond.
Winner of the Harrie Tillie Prize
This year’s Harrie Tillie Prize 2023 was awarded to Fransje Gimbrère. Drawing on her personal perspectives and her interest in materials, she manages to bridge the gap to the industry. Furthermore, guided by her vision, she creates autonomous objects and ventures beyond the beaten path. Her interpretation of spatial textile design, through the combination of materials and techniques, results in unique objects such as gold room dividers—which can easily be called “room jewelry.” The jury greatly appreciates Gimbrère’s existing works, but the best is yet to come!
Winner of the Limburg Design Award
This year’s Limburg Design Award was won by RAW COLOR. This duo serves as pioneers in color research. Together with their team, they give tangible form to the abstract concept of color and, through their sharp vision, reinterpret it in new ways. Whether working on commission or independently, they develop a wide range of products—such as interior color schemes, corporate identities, and installations—with great craftsmanship and an eye for harmony and proportion. RAW COLOR has been producing high-quality work for years, yet this has not yet received the recognition it deserves. That is why they deserve the Limburg Design Award 2023!
The “Harrie Tillie Prize 2023” consists of a cash prize of €1,000 and is intended to support young, talented designers in their artistic development. The “Limburg Design Award 2023” consists of a cash prize of €7,000 and is intended for established designers to help raise the museum’s profile. The prize money will be used for a purchase or a commission for the Cuypershuis. Part of the prize for both winners is an exhibition in a section of the Cuypershuis’s exhibition hall. This exhibition will be on view at the Cuypershuis starting in the spring.