Hannover, Germany. The winners of the Carpet Design Awards for 2018 have been announced on 13 January at DOMOTEX in Hannover. The awards are bestowed on outstanding products in eight categories. A total of 24 finalists, three from each category, were picked out from a total of 265 products submitted from 16 countries. In 2018 this prestigious international award for modern handmade carpets is being presented for the thirteenth time at DOMOTEX.

A jury of professionals, chaired by Michael Mandapati, carpet expert and founder of Warp & Werft, New York, selected the eight winning carpets on the basis of the design concept and design properties such as color, materials, structure and quality, as well as product sustainability and branding.

The winners are as follows: in the category Best Studio Artist Design: "Golden Fade” from Salem van der Swaagh, in the category Best Modern Design Superior: "Chaos” from Lila Valadan, in the category Best Modern Design Deluxe: "Galmous Atlas Mountain Rug” from Soufiane Zarib, in the category Best Transitional Design: "Blue Star” from Art Resources, in the category Best Flatweave Design; "Vague Harmony” from Lila Valadan, in the category Best Collection: "Chand LC Collection” from Choudhary Exports, in the category Best Interior: "Mediterranean Capo Boi” from Mariantonia Urru, in the category Best Communication: "Shifting Perception Advertising Campaign” from Edelgrund.

This year's Carpet Design Awards clearly reflect the DOMOTEX keynote theme UNIQUE YOUNIVERSE. DOMOTEX has always provided a platform for trends and the displays this year highlight how products and services are being customized to accommodate the needs and lifestyle of customers and the effects of this trend on the floor coverings industry. The Carpet Design Awards have been adapted accordingly with two new categories, namely "Best Interior" (high-end customized interior design projects) and "Best Communication" (successful marketing or branding campaigns), adding a new edge and topicality to the awards. Individual and original designs – created with irregularly textured knotting, variations in nap and pile, the experimental and random use of color and pattern – characterize the trend towards design customization and the competition itself.

All 24 products that reached the final round of the competition can be viewed until the end of the trade show in the special display Framing Trends in Hall 9, where the focus is on innovative design and interior design trends centering on the keynote theme. Tradeshow visitors can also have their say and vote for their favorite design. The award for the public's choice will be presented at the end of DOMOTEX.

The Carpet Design Awards are staged in cooperation with the magazines HALI and COVER.

Carpet Design Award winners for 2018 – Reasons for the jury's choice

Category 1: Best Studio Artist Design

"Golden Fade" from Salem van der Swaagh
Reason for the jury's choice:
"The jury was impressed by how the maker uses textile waste to create interesting textures in different techniques."

Category 2: Best Modern Design Superior

"Chaos" from Lila Valadan
Reason for the jury's choice:
"The winning rug was felt to have a pattern that reads like a narrative."

Category 3: Best Modern Design Deluxe

"Galmous Atlas Mountain Rug" from Soufiane Zarib
Reason for the jury's choice:
"The jury called this a rug with soul that brings to the surface the best qualities of carpet weaving."

Category 4: Best Transitional Design

"Blue Star" from Art Resources
Reason for the jury's choice:
"In the words of the jury: To take a traditional pattern and turn it into a contemporary look solely through the use of colour is a tremendous achievement."

Category 5: Best Flatweave Design

"Vague Harmony" from Lila Valadan
Reason for the jury's choice:
The winner is a stunning rug that provoked our experienced panel to stop and ask questions about how it is made.

Category 6: Best Collection

"Chand LC Collection" from Choudhary Exports
Reason for the jury's choice:
"Top in this category is an original and well-made collection where each rug references another while remaining unique."

Category 7: Best Interior

"Mediterranean Capo Boi" from Mariantonia Urru
Reason for the jury's choice:
"The winning company takes weaving to a place where textile becomes architecture."

Category 8: Best Communication

"Shifting Perception Advertising Campaign" from Edelgrund
Reason for the jury's choice:
"This is the sort of campaign that makes you stop and look again, said the jury, a true mark of success when it comes to getting the message of your brand across."