SILMO 2016 will see Belgian designer Alain Gilles as the chair of the panel of judges at the SILMO D’Or Awards
The next edition of SILMO is scheduled to happen this year in September 2016. SILMO 2016 is one of the biggest events of the optical trade community. It is an excellent platform for networking and identifying the latest trends in the eyewear industry.
In its recent announcement, SILMO has confirmed that Belgian designer Alain Gilles, will be chairing the judging panel at the 2016 SILMO D’Or Awards. Alain has forged an unusual career path. After studying Political Science and Marketing Management, he spent five relatively unfulfilling years working in the financial sector at JP Morgan before deciding to change course and follow his passion for industrial design, aesthetics and creativity.
Embarking on a programme of further study at the Institut Supérieur de Design (Higher Design Institute) in Valenciennes, Alain then completed an internship with his fellow countryman, Xavier Lust before joining Arne Quinze. Building on these two constructive experiences, Alain opened his own studio in 2007. He brings an authentic, straight-forward point of view recognised in 2012 by Biennale Intérieur, the international design event in Courtrai which voted him ‘Designer of the Year’.
“The first priority is never to lose sight of the function of the item or piece of furniture, to remain centred on the user”, he explains. “Next, I focus on the room’s architectural form, how it’s located in the space, its personality according to one’s perception. And then on the graphic power: the contours, interplay of colours, etc. To me, these are the three essential components. In addition, I also try to find exactly the right balance for a product, and if at times it seems too masculine to me, I work on the curves or add a material that evokes a more feminine feel,” Alain Gilles commented.
SILMO D’Or Awards is one of the most eagerly awaited events at the Silmo exhibition every year. This year the SILMO 2016 event is set to be held between September 23 to 26, 2016 at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre.
