2009 Plascon Prism Awards winner announced

Eder's design is of an African icon, the baobab tree, made from recycled plastic and painted in colours from the Plascon 2009 Colour Forecast. The tree ingeniously acts as filtration system and harnesses the power of rain, creating a renewable water source that can be used at lodges, beachfronts, informal settlements, playgrounds, parks and on nature trails.

Her design fulfils the brief, which challenged students to create a space inspired by nature's cycle of renewal and regeneration. According to Plascon, the concept she presented is innovative and creative, yet can be applied in practice.

Challenging brief

"This year's brief forced students to think about sustainability. It was a challenging brief; however it provided students with valuable experience as green design becomes a necessity rather than a nice to have," says Tanya Nicholson, trade marketing manager at Plascon.

Eder's prize is a five-day trip to London to experience the 100% Design Exhibition, the UK's leading architecture and design event in September. In addition, Inscape Design College Johannesburg received a R10 000 grant for a student studying next year.

All 10 finalists' designs were exhibited at Decorex Joburg and can be viewed on www.plasconprismawards.co.za and www.plascontrade.co.za.