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Nina Choty, Élisa Grossetete, Alexandre Pawlak and Gaël Martineau, currently in 5th year at Strate Collège, won the “Excellence Award” at the Franz Award 2011, with a tea set made in partnership with Vietnamese craftsmen the students met during their study trip in 4th year. They were the only French team and traveled to Beijing to defend their project in final. What a nice reward!

Within the Framework of a study trip abroad in 4th year, Nina Choty, Élisa Grossetete, Alexandre Pawlak and Gaël Martineau went to Vietnam. The aim was to create a link between the craft industry and the luxury industry in order to answer the following issue: “How, as designers, could we promote a responsible luxury design which could help the economic and human development of the Vietnamese craft industry?”

When facing the Vietnamese culture, the students discovered numerous crafts coming from ancestral traditions. Getting to know some craftsmen encouraged them to create a series of objects reflecting a cultural melting pot between the East and the West. Among these objects was the TRA SEN tea set or the Art of lotus tea.

Recently, they’ve had the opportunity to participate in an international contest organized by Franz (a company working china) where they could present the tea set. The theme of the contest was “Horizon”.

Following the final that was held in Beijing, China, in October, they won the “Excellence Award” which rewards the project quality and relevance.

Franz video on Chinese TV (national public channel) at 1’54: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150487019717306

Other pictures on Franz website: http://www.franzaward.com/muse/allmuse/2011finalists/fa07500461_cht