Two winners of The Steinar Thomassen Award for excellence in industrial design

The award is generously donated by Steinar Thomassen, a Norwegian Industrial designer who was one of the pioneers in the development of the Industrial Design discipline in Norway from the 1950’s onward. At the age of 95, he established this prize which was first given out in 2017. An interview is published in AHO Works 2016-17 (available here). He aimed to honour and inspire young talent and further the development of the industrial design discipline. Or in his own words:

“I want to give the field of Industrial Design a boost, revitalize the environment support and urge practising designers to work on.”

For the year 2021, two winners were selected. With the following motivations they were given 50 000 NOK each:


Sarah Cathrine Herland:
Has consistently demonstrated excellence in Industrial design throughout her studies for her master. With thoroughness, professionalism and creativity well above what could be expected.  This spans from concepts to the final solutions, production and down to every last little detail. With solutions that address many aspects of a design practice, pushing the limits with both high functional and aesthetic qualities. The contributions span from research to market-ready products, always with an eye for people and planet.

The winner shows an in-depth knowledge of the field of Industrial design as well as humbleness and respect for its history. 

She typically innovates and adapts classic products to answer to the needs and challenges of our contemporary society.

In all her work and in the communications around her processes and solutions the winner demonstrates a true passion for Industrial design.

See her project in the AHO WORKS DIPLOMA + STUDIO EXHIBITION


Jon Erling Fauske
The winner shows impressive mastery of aesthetics development within ship design, an area of enormous complexity. The delivery is a convincing concept that pays attention to strict economic, technological, and human requirements. The winner has moved beyond state of the art, by not only delivering a single ship design, but a system for designing multiple ships. The system is a possible path towards a new and more efficient ship design process. The result demonstrates an impressive ability to realize systemic innovation through industrial design practice.

Throughout his master studies, Jon has delivered many other innovative prize winning projects, covering a broad range of sectors and applications from design systems to furniture (such as Knekk produced by ForaForm). He has consistently demonstrated excellence in Industrial design with inventiveness, thoroughness and professionalism well above what could be expected.

All in all, the winner has delivered an excellent project that is a significant contribution to both ship design and industrial design.

He has consistently demonstrated excellence in Industrial design throughout his studies for his master. With thoroughness, professionalism and creativity well above what could be expected.

See his project in the AHO WORKS DIPLOMA + STUDIO EXHIBITION