Helen Kontouris has made her mark internationally, not only taking out the top prize in the people’s choice for designer of the year in both 2009 and 2012, by IDEA (Interior Design Excellence Awards), but also receiving a nomination for Designer of the Year for 2013.
Listed in the top 100 designers in the world, Kontouris describes her personal style in three words: “Organic, sculptural, feminine.”
Her creations exude a sense of freedom, with many of them designed to fit perfectly in both outdoor and interior spaces. As an internationally renowned designer, her creations elicit the best comments and admiration from the world’s design community.
“Good design is the best form of ecology,” Kontouris tells Neos Kosmos.
Through her work she promotes a movement “against throwaway-ism” by believing that if a product is designed to be functional and beautiful at the same time, and made from eco-friendly material, then customers develop an emotional connection with it. As a result, they want to keep it much longer.
And now, Helen Kontouris is nominated in the category of design among 26 women at the 5th annual contest ‘In Style and Audi Women of Style Awards’ organised by In Style magazine.
This nomination is a great honour for the Greek Australian designer as she has been devoted to her work from a very early age.
“Design is my life,” she says. “It makes me very happy as it’s a way to express my most creative self. It’s one of my most relaxed and happy states.”
Kontouris explains that “style is a very personal thing for women”.
“It doesn’t have to do with fashion but with personal confidence and a very strong sense of knowing who you are,” she says.
Her trips are a great source of inspiration for her creations; the shapes of her objects, even the choice of materials she uses. One of the most prolific times of her career was when she was on holiday in Samos, designing various objects by the sea. Helen expressed her desire to work with Greek companies and added that designers in Greece should insist to export products at a more international level.
If you are interested in the inspirational, stylish, functional and eco-design of Helen Kontouris, you can vote for her in the contest ‘In Style and Audi Women of Style Awards’ by visiting: www.instylemag.com.au/WomenOfStyle/Nominees/Design-2013