Claire McAlister SIDI, Winner of the Bombay Sapphire Design Glass Competition 2008
Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition 2008
Top class glass designer Claire McAlister SIDI, has been declared winner of the Irish final of the Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition, in association with Waterford Crystal with “In Suspense”, and is already looking forward to representing her country at the global final being held in September at London Design Week, the world’s leading contemporary design fair.
The talented young Irish designer, who hails from Glenavy, Co. Antrim and is a student of NCAD will be competing on the global stage against 26 other countries in front of an audience of some of the international design community’s most influential figures, and will be hoping to win the overall $15,000 prize. For many years Bombay Sapphire has had a firm commitment to supporting design by commissioning internationally acclaimed designers and this will be the second year that emerging designers from Ireland have had the chance to shine on the world stage by creating the ultimate martini cocktail glass inspired by Bombay Sapphire.
Claire was announced the winner after much deliberation from the panel judges during a stylish event hosted at the Morgan Hotel on Tuesday, 13th May, 2008.
The judges, industry experts Ciaran Sweeney, Alexander Fitzgerald, Barry Sheehan MIDI President, Cameron Ross MIDI, Sinead Christian, Tiernan O’Morain and Karen Halpin were looking for the ultimate martini cocktail glass. Each of the ten finalists impressed all the judges by creating elegant, innovative and practical yet intriguing designs.
Barry Sheehan MIDI President, Claire McAlister SIDI and Cameron Ross MIDI
Barry Sheehan MIDI commented: “The best thing I can say about the “In Suspense” glass designed by Claire McAlister SIDI is that I want a set of them. It’s very difficult to bring a freshness to such popularly used items as a cocktail glass but the “In Suspense” glass designed by Claire McAlister SIDI is very appealing and was the outstanding entry in this year’s competition. We are delighted that Claire, an IDI member is representing Ireland in the World finals to be held in London where we have high hopes for success.
Claire McAlister SIDI is a final-year student at the National College of Art and Design. The complex infusion of the ingredients in the Bombay Sapphire blend provided Claire with her initial inspiration, for her winning creation, entitled ‘In Suspense’ imagining the ingredients as tiny particles held in suspension within the walls of the bottle. She thought of a tornado, and how it picks-up anything in its path, hurling them into a state of suspension within its powerful form. Claire experimented with smashing and shattering a Bombay Sapphire bottle, stripping it of its manufactured structure and separating it into delicate particles. The effect created was inspiring and beautiful, with the complex patterning and sheer glistening of the glass fragments created a stunning visual impact.
Commenting on her win Claire said: “I am absolutely thrilled – I had seen the other finalist’s glasses and knew it would be a tight competition but it is great. I’m really looking forward to representing Ireland in the global final next month and hope to do my country and college, National College of Art and Design proud.”
She continued to say: “Being presented my glass by Ciaran Sweeney, a designer I admire so much made it all the more special. I think it is great that Bombay Sapphire and Waterford Crystal give Irish students this opportunity.”
Now in its third year, the competition’s popularity with emerging designers continues to grow with more and more countries from around the world taking part. This year, 26 countries will be represented in Milan, including: Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and USA.
The martini cocktail glasses designed by the finalists will be showcased in Milan as part of an exhibition featuring the work of some of the world’s most respected designers who have been inspired by Bombay Sapphire. They include a collection of the ultimate martini cocktail glasses created by Jonathan Adler, Dakota Jackson, Karim Rashid, Marcel Wanders and Eva Zeisel.
RELATED LINKS
www.bombaysapphire.com/