Diana Morant, Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, has announced the winners of the National Innovation and Design Awards 2024. These awards in the design category honor the achievements of Spanish professionals and organizations that have elevated the prestige of Spanish design by making it a component of their business strategies, demonstrating that design is a powerful driver of innovation and competitiveness.
In the "Design and Companies" category, the award went to the Murcian firm Sancal, which has been combining these two concepts for 50 years with the mission of creating "happy products" that make the world a more beautiful and welcoming place. Its designer furniture aims to defy convention, and with each new collection it strives not only to conquer markets, but also to evoke emotions and create memorable moments. Its project, crafted with dedication, creativity, risk, and innovation, and rooted in a local ethos, has already succeeded in attracting clients from over 90 countries. Sancal Diseño has also created a multidisciplinary hub that brings together graphic, product, and interior design projects. With a dedicated art direction guiding the entire design process—from the initial concept and collaborator selection to production and marketing strategies—this approach is a fantastic example of seamless cross-disciplinary design management.
In the Trajectory in Design category, the award went to designer Héctor Serrano for "embodying in an exceptional way the breadth, creativity, versatility, and excellence of Spanish design through striking objects and creations that are recognized internationally and are imbued with joy, beauty, sensitivity, and playfulness,” as the Ministry remarked. Throughout his more than two decades of professional experience, Héctor Serrano has blended innovation with familiarity, working across multiple design disciplines, including interior design, graphic design, product design, and craftsmanship. His innovative approach to reimagining everyday products has led to some of his most iconic designs, such as the Superpatata latex lamp and the Siesta botijo, where craftsmanship and tradition are beautifully reinterpreted. These creations are now found in homes all over the world. With a keen eye for detail and a portfolio that includes products for companies like Roca, Muji, Gan, Moooi, and Faro Barcelona, his versatility is further showcased in his contribution to the winning project of the Madrid Concept Bus ideas competition for EMT Madrid in 2023.
In the "Young Design Professionals" category, Cris Busquets has been recognized as a contemporary reference for a new generation of digital designers. She has made significant contributions to transforming the world of communication through her undeniable global impact and social commitment, as well as her talent for challenging biases and conventions within the profession. Her work includes collaborations with notable companies such as X (formerly Twitter), Automattic (the company behind WordPress), and Holaluz. Her influence on Spanish-speaking digital design can also be seen in initiatives like her first book, Diseño desde Marte, and “Salary Study in the Design Sector”, both of which have significantly contributed to improving working conditions and promoting the profession of designers.
Finally, the Special Mention in the Design and Companies category went to Jose M. Sans Amill SA (Kriskadecor), recognized as an example for transforming artisanal craftsmanship into industrial products that bring beauty, functionality, and identity to homes, businesses, and different spaces around the world. With headquarters in Tarragona and the USA, and after more than twenty years of expanding the brand to over 90 countries, the third generation of the family has made its aluminum chain curtains the go-to choice of designers and architects worldwide in their most iconic projects.
