Winner: Homeware Design of the Year 2018. The ZandGlas project examines local natural products as a step towards a more ecologically-mindful future.

Design studio Atelier NL asked people to send them sand from around the world for a project they presented as ambassadors at Dutch Design Week 2017.

Over the past decade, Atelier NL have developed a unique research methodology of melting wild sand into glass objects to showcase the colours and textures of the natural world. By carefully sourcing naturally occurring sand from areas rich with geological, ecological or social significance, ZandGlas represents the complex story of sand and its origin.

When fired at high temperatures, these samples produce glass with colours and textures unique to their specific areas.

"From students and scientists to neighbours, children and artists, we bring people into our process. By becoming part of our work, they begin to appreciate the wealth of local areas in new ways and thus identify more deeply with their surroundings," said Atelier NL co-founders Nadine Sterk and Lonny van Ryswyck.

Judges comments: "A powerful, thoughtfully produced and beautifully executed project that celebrates imperfection, natural materials and local idiosyncrasies, whilst simultaneously salvaging quickly disappearing knowledge."

Designer: Atelier NL
Project: ZandGlas
Winner of: Homeware design of the year
Read more: Atelier NL