Deborah Szebeko, the founder and Director of thinkpublic, walked away with the prestigious British Council's UK Young Design Entrepreneur Award on Friday evening. The award was presented by Sebastian Conran at the 100% Design exhibition in London’s Earls Court.
Sebastian Conran, Managing Director of Studio Conran, added "Deborah gave an impressive, compelling and prodigiously clear-sighted presentation on how to integrate design with the public realm. Tenacious about translating design to a wider range of clients, she has succeeded in combining both enthusiasm and common sense to gain the confidence of people who are usually sceptical about design. The judges commend her unique achievements in marrying design with the public sector in a tremendously valuable, straightforward and no-nonsense way."
Following the presentation Deborah was clearly delighted with the recognition: "Winning The British Councils UK Young Design Entrepreneur award is fantastic news for thinkpublic. To receive recognition for the design work we do in the public sector is something we have worked very hard to achieve. We hope that the award can increase awareness of what design can add to solving social challenges in the UK and allow thinkpublic to work with additional public service organisations in the future."
The award highlights the contribution that entrepreneurs in the sector make to the development of the UK’s design industry, through their work and understanding of the market. The presentation of a specially designed blue glass bowl, is accompanied by a visit to India in January 2009 to meet with leading industry figures to enable thinkpublic to understand the market and infrastructure in India.