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Neda Salmanpour Wins Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize

award · 2026-04-22

The 8th Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize has been awarded to Neda Salmanpour. This year's theme revolved around butterflies and biomimicry, urging designers to merge nature with their creations. Salmanpour's award-winning work, titled 'The Kaleidoscope,' incorporates laser-cut metal and onyx to capture the essence of butterflies. By studying their movements, she developed numerical patterns that manipulate light flickering, resulting in a swarm-like visual effect. Her piece will be displayed at Les Salons Van Cleef & Arpels Dubai Opera starting from 4 November.

Key facts

  • Neda Salmanpour won the 8th edition of the Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize.
  • The theme highlighted butterflies and biomimicry.
  • Salmanpour's winning design is titled 'The Kaleidoscope'.
  • Materials used include laser-cut metal and onyx.
  • The design incorporates light that flickers based on butterfly movement patterns.
  • The piece will be exhibited at Les Salons Van Cleef & Arpels Dubai Opera from 4 November.
  • Salmanpour aimed to evoke the feeling of 'butterflies in your stomach'.
  • The prize supports younger designers in the Middle East.

Entities

Artists

  • Neda Salmanpour

Institutions

  • Van Cleef & Arpels
  • Les Salons Van Cleef & Arpels Dubai Opera

Locations

  • Dubai
  • United Arab Emirates

Sources