Trophy Date | IYAC invited Italian Designer Luca Nichetto to create the pinnacle of his work.
The 2023 IYAC TOP International Illustration Competition Trophy in New York was created with the ingenuity and inspiration of Luca Nichetto, a distinguished Italian designer.
IYAC: Your design for the gold trophy for the IYAC TOP International Illustration Competition in New York is unique and creative. The design of the trophy utilizes a multilobed mirror, which breaks some of the conventional thinking about traditional trophies, what was the inspiration behind the idea of the gold medal?
Luca Nichetto: It's a global event called New York Top, and at the beginning of the idea, this phrase flashed in my mind: experience the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square, where romance comes alive in the heart of New York City. If you are lucky enough to have lived in New York City when you were young, she will be with you wherever you go in your life thereafter, for New York City is a feast for the mobility of
IYAC: It's very romantic and very Versailles!
Nichetto: Hahaha, yes.
IYAC: Do you have any thoughts on the choice of material for the trophy?
Nichetto: The choice of crystal for the trophy is not only based on the purity and transparency of crystal, but also on the fact that it can produce wonderful refractions under different lights, just like the prosperity and vitality of New York's lights, and just like the nature of art, which is colorful, varied and ever-changing. It is the starting point of creation, each crystal is like an unfinished story, each angle contains new inspiration.
IYAC: Why the name "Crystal Palace", what are the new design principles and concepts?
Nichetto: At first I was going to name the trophy "New York City", but one day my 4 year old son, who was looking at the trophy in the sunlight in the study, was amazed to see the trophy in its entirety and said that it was a crystal palace with countless little people with letters in it! Hence the name "Crystal Palace". In the presentation of the overall design, I wanted to show the characteristics of the crystal as much as possible, and at the same time, through the visual elements and design language to create such a situation for the winners to feel and experience wholeheartedly. It is like a bright light that illuminates those who bravely explore the field of art. It is a masterpiece that symbolizes infinite creativity and glorious honor. Under the glitter of each crystal, there are endless stories, infinite dreams, and the endless pursuit of infinite possibilities in art. "The Crystal Palace is a tribute to infinite creativity. It is my hope that this trophy will shine forever, as the eternal light of art, illuminating the path of those who see art as their life.
IYAC: Can you tell us about the meaning of the "Sail of the Sea" trophy and why the blue color?
Nichetto: In order to reflect the difference, I used the color system Color Coding to plan the color and visual impression of the trophy, and finally found the representative color of the attributes of the New York Top Illustration Competition from the visual system of IYAC's color expression, public vision, and publicity, and realized the distinctive azure color.
The blue "Sail of the Ocean" trophy symbolizes the deep ocean and the vast sky, the desire for unlimited artistic possibilities and the desire to explore the unknown. This blue is like an unsketched canvas, waiting to be embellished by the creative colors of each artist.
IYAC: We noticed that the visual element of the "Sail of the Sea" design is not only an abstract sail, but also a visual symbol of an iconic spatial reversal, what kind of message does the trophy hope to convey to the winners?
Nichetto: The "Sail" design is reminiscent of a sailboat setting sail.
"The "Sail of the Sea" trophy, shaped like a sail, symbolizes the creative journey of each artist and is a tribute to artistic diversity and creativity. It guides every artist to move forward bravely, raise the sail of inspiration and start a new journey of exploration. It is a message to each of the award-winning artists that they will become the stars of tomorrow in a world full of creativity and inspiration, and that they will set sail and continue to write a magnificent saga of art. I hope that through these mirrored inverted "sails", the winners of the awards will be able to perceive the legacy of the artistic lineage and its extraordinary resonance from the dimensions of time and space. With the passage of time and space, what is outdated is left behind, and what is classic should be reproduced; the future will change again, but people's thirst for art will remain the same.
I hope that the "Sail of the Sea" will go beyond the definition of an ordinary trophy, it is the essence of art, the crystallization of creativity, the leadership of dreams, and the infinite possibilities of art!
IYAC: Thank you very much to Luca Nichetto for accepting our interview, and I hope that the winners will experience the designer's ideas and inspirations, and cherish the trophies they have received!