Judges Committee - פרס אדמונד דה רוטשילד לעיצוב

Judging Process

The award judges will be elected annually by the Steering Committee, in accordance with the field in which the award is granted. The jury panel will consist of seven leading figures in local design, including academics, curators and researchers, designers, industry leaders, a senior international figure, and a representative from the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation.

The judging process will be conducted in two stages: In the first stage, the local judges will convene for preliminary judging to select the shortlist of nominees, and in the second stage the award entries will be translated into English, and the final judging will be attended by the international judge and the representative of the Foundation. In order to ensure impartiality throughout the judging process, the judges will remain anonymous until the winners’ names are published.

2021 Judges Product Design

Baroness Ariane de Rothschild Baroness Ariane de Rothschild
Chairwoman of Edmond de Rothschild Suisse S.A. since 2019
Baroness Ariane de Rothschild was born in San Salvador and grew up in Latin America and in Africa. After completing her business studies in Paris and New-York, she engaged in an active career in banking with Société Générale and AIG. After having presided over the Executive Committee of the Edmond de Rothschild Group for four years, in 2019, she was appointed Chairwoman of Edmond de Rothschild Suisse S.A. Today, she continues heading all activities of the group extending to finance, wines, hotel management, and private equity. Through an international network of family foundations, she is also deeply committed to social empowerment in the arts, entrepreneurship, science and health, particularly in Israel.
Renate Menzi Renate Menzi
Curator, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Curator of the Design Collection of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich since 2008. Trained as a product designer and in cultural studies at the Zurich University of the Arts and the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Teaches, publishes, and conducts research in the field of design, and was a member of the Swiss Federal Design Commission 2009–2017. Exhibitions and publications: 6 Rooms × 6 Positions, 2021; Ideal Living, 2018; 100 Years of Swiss Design, 2014; Freitag: Out of the Bag, 2012; Make up, 2010.
Prof. Dina Shahar Prof. Dina Shahar
Designer, Senior Lecturer, Hadassah Academic College
Senior Lecturer and Academic Consultant at Hadassah’s Department of Inclusive Industrial Design; headed the department in 2010–2018. Her academic and pedagogical work focuses on the development and implementation of inclusive and social design methods, fields which she writes and lectures about in various conferences and forums in Israel and around the world. She has initiated and promoted pioneering collaborations in the Design for Healthcare field with hospitals and medical services, including projects to optimize patient experience and rehabilitation processes. Simultaneously, she is engaged in commissioned public-space projects, working with leading European companies specializing in outdoor lighting and furniture, as well as site-specific projects for museums, housing for older adults, and cultural institutions in China.
Prof. David Rawet Prof. David Rawet
Industrial Designer and Dean of HIT’s Faculty of Design
An industrial designer, entrepreneur, Dean of the Faculty of Design at Holon Institute of Technology (HIT). Since graduating from Bezalel’s Department of Industrial Design (in 1977), has been an active designer in wide and diverse fields of design through Rawet Design, the industrial design company he founded. Has been involved in more than 700 projects, winning numerous international design awards. He specializes in the design of medical devices and has designed for some of the leading medical device companies worldwide. In recent years, he serves as a design development strategic consultant for companies in Israel and abroad. For the past decade, he has co-owned (with his daughter) “Industrial Jewelry” – a subsidiary company for jewelry and accessory design for women and men, operating in England. The company’s creations are sold globally, including by some of the world’s most distinguished museums’ shops.
Hadar Shapira Hadar Shapira
Industrial Designer, Senior Lectrer, Bezalel
A member of Bezalel Academy of Art and Design’s faculty, who has served as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Industrial Design for 35 years, where she leads the field of ‘Human Body–Technology Interface’. Shapira holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Bezalel and a master’s degree from Tel Aviv University’s Department of Film and Television. With 37 years of industrial design experience in Israel, she focuses on the design and development of wearable technology products for the fields of medicine, functional assistance, sports, and quality of life.
Shlomit Bauman Shlomit Bauman
Artist, Researcher, Lecturer, Curator
Shlomit Bauman is ceramic artist who addresses research aspects of the ceramic design field, which draw their inspiration from cultural, technological, traditional, and methodological questions. She refers to ceramic design as a field of research in the realm of culture studies, examining its methods in the greater context of material culture. Her work is a comprehensive field of activity in which art, research, curatorship, and education on matter and material culture coincide as a way of life. She is the Head Curator of Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, and a Senior Lecturer at Holon Institute of Technology’s Industrial Design Department.
Yoav Ziv Yoav Ziv
Industrial Designer, Senior Lecturer, Shenkar
An industrial designer and Senior Lecturer at Shenkar, who specializes in the field of toys and whose work blends humanistic and realistic elements – which form the basis of his activities. An active designer, researcher, inventor, entrepreneur, and educator, he headed Shenkar's Department of Industrial Design from 2014 to 2020. Ziv's professional activity spans three decades, alongside teaching and the establishment the academic field of knowledge in Israel. Toys and children's products that rely on mathematical, physical and geometric motifs created by Ziv have been registered worldwide as patents or as registered designs, exhibited at international professional exhibitions, manufactured and distributed around the world by leading international companies.

Final shortlist nominees for 2020

Senior Designers: Alex Padwa, Alona Komsky, Avner Sadot, Chanan De Lange, City Peloton: Anat & Ilan Birman, Dov Ganchrow, Ido Baruchin, Pini Leibovich, Prime, Reddish: Naama Steinbock & Idan Friedman, Yoav Tikochinsky

Emerging Designers: Ben Kook, Daniel Pearlman, Elad Kashi, Gal Bulka, Gilli Kuchik & Ran Amitai, Lior Munitz, Naama Agasi, Roee Magdasi, Ron Ferencz, Shira Keret & Itay Laniado, Talia Mukmel

2020 Judges
Visual Communication Design

Baroness Ariane de Rothschild Baroness Ariane de Rothschild
Chairwoman of Edmond de Rothschild Suisse S.A. since 2019
Baroness Ariane de Rothschild was born in San Salvador and grew up in Latin America and in Africa. After completing her business studies in Paris and New-York, she engaged in an active career in banking with Société Générale and AIG. After having presided over the Executive Committee of the Edmond de Rothschild Group for four years, in 2019, she was appointed Chairwoman of Edmond de Rothschild Suisse S.A. Today, she continues heading all activities of the group extending to finance, wines, hotel management, and private equity. Through an international network of family foundations, she is also deeply committed to social empowerment in the arts, entrepreneurship, science and health, particularly in Israel.
Andrea Amichetti Andrea Amichetti
Design editor and curator, Milano
Andrea Amichetti is a designer, editor, curator, and publisher in the field of design. He founded and heads the Italian ZERO magazine, est. 1996, which promotes culture in Italy’s major urban centers in collaboration with leading museums and cultural institutions, including the Milan Triennale, MAXXI in Rome, Fondazione Prada, and others. The magazine is especially known for its innovative design and covers. Alongside the magazine, Amichetti has written, edited, and published books on design and visual communication. Curated exhibitions and guides in various media. An influential figure in the European, and especially the Italian, visual communication sphere, in the last two decades, Amichetti favors collaborating with art directors and designers with an innovative approach in the field of visual communication.
Prof. Terry Schreuer Prof. Terry Schreuer
Senior designer and lecturer at WIZO Haifa
For three decades, Prof. Terry Schreuer has taught, supervised, curated, and authored academic curricula for design studies in general, and in visual communication in particular. She headed the Department of Visual Communication Design at WIZO Haifa (2000–2003), and has won awards and other accolades both in Israel and abroad. After graduating from WIZO Haifa and following her return from London, where she worked as the in-house designer for Sir Terence Conran in the Habitat retail chain and the Conran Shop, she formed a 10-year partnership with the late typographic designer Hava Mordechovich. She subsequently continued to operate an independent studio where she worked with a range of clients, from the Hermitage Museum in Russia to the shipping company UPS. Prof. Schreuer is a member of the Council for Higher Education’s appointments and curriculum approval committees, is involved in and leads international projects in academia and beyond it, serves as a judge in prestigious design competitions, and is a steering committee member of projects in the field of art and design.
Erez Gavish Erez Gavish
Head of the Visual Communication Department at Bezalel
Erez Gavish is a multidisciplinary graphic designer, illustrator, and animator. He heads the bachelor's degree program in Bezalel’s Department in Visual Communication. A science fiction aficionado, he also enjoys creating electronic music with modular synthesizers in his free time. His work integrates diverse practices, including illustration, graphic design, typography, animation, code, video, post-production, and special effects. Alongside his academic work and teaching at Bezalel, Gavish is involved in the design and artistic management of a variety of projects in television media and conducts personal research in the field of design-in-motion. As founder and creative director of the Primus Design Group, he designed brand visibility, icons, fonts, graphic packaging, opening titles, and interludes for the majority of Israel’s television channels.
Zachi Diner Zachi Diner
Head of the Department of Visual Communications Design at HIT
An expert in user experience and digital design, Zachi Diner heads the Department of Visual Communication at the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT). He is a graduate of HIT’s Faculty of Design and Tel Aviv University’s Department of Philosophy and Digital Culture. His two decades of professional experience span the fields of digital design, product development for various media, guiding initiatives from concept to implementation, and development of tools and products—from the planning and research stage, through concept design and development, to data analysis. Diner was previously a partner at Clementina, in which he founded the New Media Department and developed interactive products with major content customers in the U.S., including Warner Brothers, HBO, and Fox Interactive. In 2003, he founded and served as Creative Director at Balora, a company that specializes in user experience planning and digital product design for all screens types. More recently, he co-founded the social enterprise Mindlly and serves as a creative director at ArtBit. In addition, he provides consultation and mentoring in Microsoft’s Startup Incubator, and is an active participant in the mentoring community of Google Campus.
Itzik Rennert Itzik Rennert
Illustrator, senior lecturer at Shenkar
Itzik Rennert is an illustrator, a comic book creator, and an artist. He has worked as designer in the press in leading media channels in Israel, including in creating illustrations and cartoons in multiple national newspapers. He was a member of the Actos comics illustrators group, illustrated children’s books, and served as the art director of large advertising agencies in the country. His works have been widely exhibited in Israel and abroad. Rennert served as a senior lecturer and head of the illustration program at Bezalel, headed Shenkar's Department of Visual Communication from 2007–2012 and master's degree program in design between 2016–2019, and is currently a senior lecturer at Shenkar.
Meira Yagid-Haimovich Meira Yagid-Haimovich
Chief Design curator, Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Chief Architecture and Design curator at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Final shortlist nominees for 2020

Senior Designer category: Hila Ben Navat, Michael Gordon, Lahav Halevi, Yanek Iontef, Keren & Golan, Koby Levy, Rutu Modan, Guy Sagee, Michal Sahar, Nadav Shalev, Ada Wardi

Emerging Designer category: Idan Am-Shalem, Yael Bodasher, Avraham Cornfeld, Dana Gez & Nomi Geiger, Dar Laor, Jonathan Lax, Tali Liberman, Hen Macabi, Dan Ozeri, Danielle Weinberg, Ayal Zakin.

Steering Committee

The Edmond de Rothschild Design Award was formulated by a professional Steering Committee, the members of whom reflect diverse approaches from different fields, generations and institutions within the local design industry.

Prof. Adi Stern Prof. Adi Stern
President of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
Stern has been President of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design since 2015. From 2008–2015, he served as the head of Bezalel's Department of Visual Communication. Stern is a graphic designer, type designer, and a design lecturer and educator. He also writes, consults and lectures on the design and history of the Hebrew letter. His work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions and has won awards in Israel and around the world.
Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli
President of Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art
Rafaeli was elected for presidency of Shenkar and will commence his service in April 2020. He was recently head of the Internet Lab at the University of Haifa, and is a Senior Research Associate in the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy in the Technion. He served two terms as the Director of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Haifa, where he led the department of Business Administration, and took part in establishing the departments of Knowledge and Information Management and the Management of Natural Resources and Environment. He was responsible for founding the Faculty of Management at the University of Haifa. Earlier, he created and headed the Information Systems Area in the Hebrew University's School of Management. Sheizaf's PhD. Is from Stanford University, where he studied and served as faculty as well. He is interested in the managerial, educational, social, business and political aspects of information systems, as well as in literacy, opportunities and digital gap issues.
Galit Gaon Galit Gaon
Senior Design Curator, Chair of Judging Committee
Gaon is a senior design curator and head of the Curatorial Design Program at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art. She has initiated and curated hundreds of exhibitions in various fields, and accompanies designers, curators, researchers, institutions and local councils in content development and cultural programs. Gaon formerly served as chief curator at the Israeli Cartoon Museum, Holon, and at the Design Museum Holon when it first opened. Gaon is a senior faculty member and lecturer at Shenkar College, a lecturer at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and other academic institutions in Israel and worldwide. She is involved in government and private cultural projects and serves on various committees for the advancement of design in Israel and worldwide. In 2019, she founded the first design forum in the Association of Museums, and in 2020 she will head the Shenkar Institute for Research and Documentation of Design in Israel.
Prof. Yuli Tamir Prof. Yuli Tamir
President of Beit Berl College
Tamir is currently president of Beit Berlins College. She is the former President of Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art. Formerly served as Minister of Education and the chair of the Association for Civil Rights. Tamir holds a Ph.D. in Political Philosophy from Oxford University, an MA in Political Science and a BA in Biology, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Alongside her academic engagements, Tamir has been involved in public and civic activities and has written articles and published books on liberalism, education, nationalism, feminism and human rights.
Tal Sagi Faran Tal Sagi Faran
Managing Director of the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel)
Adv. Tal Sagi Faran serves as the Managing Director of the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel) Since 2016, Tal is the Director of the Edmond de Rothschild Center, located at the Foundation’s headquarters on Rothschild Blvd., Tel Aviv. The Center works to promote and nurture artists and designers who are graduates of higher art and design studies in Israel during their initial years of activity. The Center’s activity is based on cooperation with the educational institutions and focuses on providing the artists with tools and on developing their professional skills in the early stages of their careers. Activities at the Center are in line with the Foundation’s vision of promoting the values of excellence, diversity, and leadership. They reflect the Rothschild family’s long-standing commitment and heritage of supporting the arts.
Prof. Ezri Tarazi Prof. Ezri Tarazi
Designer and Researcher, Chair of the Industrial Design Graduate Program at the Technion
Tarazi is an Industrial designer, researcher, writer and theorist in areas of design and design thinking. He is a senior lecturer at the Technion, chair of Design-Tech Lab, chair of the Industrial Design Program and t-Hub, the Technion’s entrepreneurship and innovation center. He founded the Master’s Program in Industrial Design at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and formerly served as Head of the Department for undergraduate studies in Industrial Design. He is a member of the Council for Higher Education and consults to government bodies on industry and education. He is a co-founder of the Israeli IDEO branch and a partner in technological ventures. He established the d-Vision Internship Program in collaboration with Keter Group and founded Tarazi Studio, which specializes in strategic consultation to companies in design thinking and the development of consumer and high-tech products. Tarazi’s work has been exhibited in world-class museums, fairs and galleries around the world.
Anat Safran Anat Safran
Curator, Designer and Artistic Director
Safran is a curator, designer and artistic director. She initiated and curates the Pecha Kucha Nights in Tel Aviv and is the artistic director of the Jerusalem Design Week. She holds an MA in Art from the Haute École des arts du Rhin in Strasbourg, France. Safran is a member of the Arts Council of the Israel State Lottery.
Maya Vinitzky Maya Vinitzky
Design Curator at Tel Aviv Museum, Lecturer
Vinitzky is a curator at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in the Department of Architecture and Design. She is also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Industrial Design at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design.