Liepa Gradauskaitė Lithuanian, b. 2000

Liepa Gradauskaitė (b. 2000) is a designer based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Liepa gathers inspiration and influences from various sources, including the natural environment and her childhood drawings and memories. She experiments with diverse techniques, such as tufting and willow weaving, often employing them in untraditional ways. With experience in product design, accessory creation, and graphic design, sheis interested in working across various fields. Her portfolio consists of a wide range of products - from handmade silver jewelry, to furniture design. Her work explores various shapes, often resulting in a sculptural approach. She blends the boundaries between art and functional design, often transforming the well-known 'Form follows function' concept into a 'Function follows form' approach. Her style could be described as soft yet bold; contemporary yet approachable. Liepa believes that design, in any form, should always spark joy, be unique, attractive, and most importantly – pleasant for people. Liepa Marija Gradauskaitė has been awarded the main prize in product design at the Young Designer Prize 2023.The entries were judged by a panel of international design professionals: Kristian Snorre Andersen (Denmark), CEO and founder of the virtual design and crafts gallery ADORNO, Alessandro Maria Ferreri (Italy), an expert in luxury fashion brands, and Omnigroup (Switzerland), a graphic design studio, Liene Jākobsone (Latvia), Partner of the architecture and design office Sampling, researcher and lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Arts, Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka (Poland), professor, curator, researcher and writer of numerous exhibitions promoting design in Poland and Europe.