Created in collaboration with stone specialist MM Galleri and Singapore studio Fraction, the trophy concept for the Tatler Design Awards 2020 took inspiration from the resilience of champions
A trophy is a prized object rich with symbolism—it represents a successful milestone for the award recipient while embodying the qualities of the achievement it celebrates. Creating a memorable and meaningful trophy design can feel like a daunting task, but it’s a challenge that local design firm Fraction relished. “We believe that a designer should possess all the resilience of these various definitions of a champion—to connect the beauty of aesthetic with a refined understanding of practicality that a space and its users need,” says Celine Ng, founder of Fraction.
Led by Ng, the studio provides styling services while working on product and interior design projects; she has also designed installations for the past four editions of Singaplural as well as the fair stand of homegrown furniture manufacturer Koda at the International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) 2019.
For this collaboration, Ng and Fraction designer Nicholas Chew worked closely with stone specialist MM Galleri to create an objet d’art that represents the accomplishment of the honourees for the Tatler Design Awards 2020. The final product will be unveiled and presented to the winners during the awards presentation in February.
(Related: 5 Minutes With… Celine Ng, Founder Of Fraction Design Studio)
Known for pioneering the marble bending technique, MM Galleri is able to make natural stone varieties such as onyx and marble pliable by slicing it into ultra thin layers that can be used as decorative veneers. Headquartered in Indonesia since its founding in 1992, the stone specialist opened its Singapore showroom in 2018 and made its presence felt with a statement space clad in white marble veneer. The showroom’s groundbreaking design was feted with the Innovation of the Year accolade at the Tatler Design Awards 2019.
For this trophy design, the stone specialist recommended the use of onyx, which the firm is able to cut and bend with the most narrow profile possible. “When Celine asked me about the most suitable materials for bended marble pieces, I picked onyx as it is a very solid and dense stone with a crystalline structure, which makes it translucent,” says Hillary Tjioe, the Singapore director of MM Galleri. “Our clients love its translucency; they like to play with backlighting to enhance its natural beauty, as it has a different ambience when it is lit up. I was really excited to see the final design that Celine has made, as it has a simple yet elegant look with functionality attached; the trophy can be used as a lamp as well.”