This new series, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth, unveils the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of collectible design on the global design market, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth offers different views to suit all tastes. Today we speak with Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main®.

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COLLECTIBLE: What does the association Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main® represent?

Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main®: Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main® bring together the winners of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize pour l’Intelligence de la Main® awarded by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. A unique  community with more than 120 singular talents, craftsmen, creators, designers, cultural institutions. 

The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation is the founding and main sponsor of the association. The  laureates work in project mode within a special Workshop program encouraging research and  experimentation. The Lab programme launched 3 years ago brings an additional dimension by playing the incubating role for cross-functional projects, as a result of the collaboration between the winners and external partners... sometimes improbable!

C: What is the mission of the association and how does it respond to environmental and social issues in contemporary creation?

LLIM: Porosity is a real originality and the foundation for the association's missions. This climate of openness to all other worlds of contemporary design and creation confirms the strength of this approach. Thus the confrontations between the savoir-faire of the laureates and the innovation process of external  partners encourages all the laureates towards new horizons, raises awareness among customers and strengthens the access to markets. 

Craftsmanship of excellence is a response to societal and environmental challenges.

C: What is the relationship of the association Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main® to collectible design?

LLIM: Collectible design is an exceptional niche where the question of rarity is very important. Rarity, the production of one-of-a-kind pieces, local savoir-faire, handmade and slow-made are all  fundamental principles in the creative and technical approach of the winners of the Liliane  Bettencourt Prize pour l’Intelligence de la Main®. We will demonstrate it in our space at COLLECTIBLE.

C: How will you showcase the diversity of your community at the show?

LLIM: Encountering the other is at the heart of our interdisciplinary visions. For this premiere at COLLECTIBLE, the community will present itself in an unexpected light and thus create new  encounters. This dialogue between laureates and visitors should be stimulated by a scenography  centred on tools and materials. A daily relay of 4 to 5 winners present will illustrate the diversity of  talents of this unique community.

About Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main®

Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main® association brings together the winners of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize pour l’intelligence de la main awarded by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. A unique community with more than 120 unique talents.

Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main® work in a project mode either within the Workshops (research and experimentation program between the laureates) or within the Labo program (an incubator for cross-functional projects) resulting from the collaboration between the laureates and external partners… sometimes improbable!

This originality constitutes an essential reference of exceptional savoir-faire and collective intelligence, guaranteeing the future of crafts in dialogue with other circles of innovation.

The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation is the founding and main sponsor of Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main® association.

 ©  Les Lauréats de l’Intelligence de la Main®