LONDON, May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

BE OPEN, the global initiative to foster creativity and innovation, has named Brazilian designer Sergio Matos the Web Choice winner of the BE OPEN Young Talent Award.  The decision was based on the public's overall level of social media activity for the 37 long-listed candidates, through BE OPEN's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/beopenawards.  The Web Choice winner's trophy is a wooden egg in a wooden eggcup, designed by Young Talent Award jury member Raw Edges.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140529/689802-a )
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     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140529/689802-c )

Sergio Matos learned to master and work with natural materials in his native Brazil, so the colours and materials that he uses reflect Brazilian culture, while the concepts for his designs come from memories of the Brazilian countryside, his childhood and the everyday objects he encountered in that setting.  He says: "My pieces mix design and handicraft and involve the work of many artisan families.  I am very happy to have had the opportunity to show the world design from a remote part of Brazil. Thank you very much and I wish the  BE OPEN Award very long life!"

Matos is one of three finalists selected for the design world's newest prize, the annual BE OPEN Young Talent Award, which was launched at this year's Milan Design Week.  €24,000 went to Austrian duo mischer'traxler, to pay their living expenses for a year, along with a unique egg trophy designed by Barber & Osgerby.  Dennis Parren, from the Netherlands, was selected as the Yelena Baturina prizewinner, reflecting the BE OPEN founder's belief in the business potential of the selected candidate.  He received a replica dinosaur egg designed by Front Design.

The theme for the Young Talent Award 2015 will be graphic design.  

Notes to editors 

The BE OPEN Young Talent Award is an incubator for emerging talent, promoting and integrate young designers into the working world. It allows the winner to continue to work at their own pace, experiment with both practical and conceptual projects and discuss their ideas for production with key contacts supplied by the BE OPEN community, including manufacturers, laboratories, industry professionals, experts and mentors.

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SOURCE BE OPEN