Design Exchange, Canada’s Design Museum, in partnership with Nespresso is excited to announce Toronto’s Lilly Otasevic and her Break~Wave proposal as the winner of the Grand Cru/ation design competition. Otasevic’s winning work will be manufactured and on display at Union Station beginning November 11, as part of the museum’s ongoing DX Satellite program.

The Competition

This Summer, designers, artists, architects, engineers, and innovators were invited to rethink, rework, and re-imagine the conventional coffee break for this new design competition. Entrants were challenged to submit proposals for a sustainable, aluminum structure to encourage the recycling of Nespresso capsules, which are made of aluminum, a material that is infinitely recyclable.

“We are thrilled to have the support of Nespresso – a long-time Design Exchange partner – on this program. Nespresso’s commitment to sustainability exemplifies our dedication to building healthy communities and experiences,” said Shauna Levy, DX President and CEO. “I am delighted that Design Exchange can provide the opportunity for practitioners to flex their design muscles, and offer a platform to showcase Canadian talent.”

Proposals were evaluated by an esteemed panel of expert judges that included award-winning architect Janna Levitt from LGA Architectural Partners; interior installation artist Pascale Girardin; designer Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge; architect Manon Asselin of Atelier TAG; Osmington’s Brad Keast; Nespresso Marketing and e-commerce Vice-President, Sylvie Charette; and Shauna Levy, President and CEO of Design Exchange.

The Winning Work

Inspired by the form of Nespresso capsules, Break~Wave, is a low-lying round bench topped with an undulating surface that mimics the organic properties of Nespresso’s velvety smooth coffee.

“This is an elegant solution, the design merges the seating experience with the flow of traffic, within a busy commute. The design responds well to the brand while adding a personal, human touch,” says jury member Pascale Girardin.

Break~Wave will be manufactured in colourways representing the Nespresso Grands Crus: Linizio, Arpeggio, Odacio, and will be on display at Union Station in the newly renovated West Wing. Passersby are encouraged to interact with the structure, to pause and take a moment to rest while enjoying a hot cup of Nespresso amid the hustle and bustle of urban life.

“Lilly’s proposal displays a subtle playfulness in offering a quiet moment during a hurried journey within a hectic space,” says Brad Keast, Vice President of Development at Osmington, the company overseeing the Union Station revitalization.

“We hope that Break~Wave will contribute to more Nespresso moments.” - Sylvie Charette

The Winner

Born is Serbia, Lilly Otasevic studied in Belgrade and has had her work exhibited across Canada, the United States, and the Middle East. Otasevic has always been interested in ecology and the environment, which translates into her work where she uses various sustainable and reclaimed materials to create a variety of design pieces. She has completed several large-scale public art sculptures and industrial design projects in Ontario.

The Exhibition

The Grand Cru/ation exhibition opens November 11, 2016 and will be on view until January 3, 2017. Grand Cru/ation is the latest DX Satellite installation – a Design Exchange initiative that delivers and shares cultural experiences beyond the bricks and mortar of the museum building. Previous DX Satellite initiatives have included Jordan Söderberg Mills’ Anaglyphic Mirrors at June’s Luminato Festival, and 2015 exhibitions: 3DXL - A Large-Scale 3D Printing Exhibition; and Smarter. Faster.Tougher. - An Exhibition on Sports, Fashion + Tech in Toronto’s Distillery District.

About Nestlé Nespresso SA

Nestlé Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned coffee. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 64 countries and has more than 12,000 employees. In 2015, it operated a global retail network of over 450 exclusive boutiques. For more information, visit the Nespresso corporate website:

nestle-nespresso.com.

About Design Exchange

Design Exchange, a not-for-profit museum funded by its members and donors, is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the pursuit of design excellence and preservation of design heritage. At the crossroads of multiple disciplines, from furniture and architecture to graphics and fashion, our exhibitions, talks, workshops, and youth education programs are curated to reflect the popular zeitgeist and contemporary culture while demonstrating the relevance and importance of design to everyday life. We are committed to delivering accessible design experiences and education and we aim to provide the tools necessary to connect design learning to the ordinary and extraordinary. 

For more information and press inquires, please contact:

Jacquelyn Folville

Community Coordinator

Design Exchange

jacquelyn@dx.org

416.464.7745

Nina Boccia

Director of Programs

Design Exchange

nina@dx.org

416.216.2160

Kate Gouron

Director of Programs

Nespresso Canada

katrine.gouron@nespresso.com

514.602.1437