Julien Renault (Kewlox) - Designer of the Year

Brussels-based furniture designer and photographer Julien Renault has been voted Designer of the Year. In 2016, he took over as creative director of the Kewlox design brand.

There, he designed the new contours of the brand and is also responsible for overhauling the brand's image and visual language.

The award was presented by Le Vif Weekend and Knack Weekend, in collaboration with Flanders DC and Design Nation. In an interview, he looks back over his 15-year career in the world of design, and stresses the importance of patience and authenticity. He grew up in an environment marked by a certain aesthetic sensitivity, and inherited his passion for building, painting and photography from his father. His desire to create developed organically, and the choice of a career as a furniture designer was dictated by his fascination with construction and the influence that furniture can have on the atmosphere of a space.

He sees design as an ongoing journey between observation and creation, inspired by everyday moments and his taste for authenticity. His work as an industrial designer enables him to reconcile functionality and aesthetics to create affordable furniture. This Designer of the Year award confirms the consistency and coherence of his creations.

Read the full interview in ; Weekend Knack (FR) or Weekend Knack (NL)